Michael Matz
Michael Matz
Michael R. Matzis an American race horse trainer and former Olympic equestrian team member who was inducted into the show jumping Hall of Fame. He lives in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. As a trainer, he has scored two wins in the Classics, the 2012 Belmont Stakes with Union Rags and the 2006 Kentucky Derby with Barbaro. Matz also was named "person of the week" by ABC News for his heroism in saving four children from the crash of United Airlines Flight 232...
behind closer figures good himself naturally run sharp short spot
It's a short run to the first turn, but he should be able to put himself in a good spot right behind Sharp Humor, who figures to set the pace. Naturally I'd like to be closer to the inside, but it shouldn't be a problem.
good horse work
We thought he was a good horse from day one. This horse makes me shiver when I see him work on the dirt. He really does have a lot of talent.
best confidence control gives good horse job olympic race starts type
He's the real deal. I think I have a very good horse. He's the type of horse that gives me that confidence he can do it. My job right now is to do the very best I can for him. One thing that's different from my Olympic experience, I was on the horse and had to do it myself. I have no control once the race starts now.
asked shows until whatever
I think he can do whatever he's asked to do until he shows he can't do it.
nervous
I was nervous about it, They're all in the same boat.
care
We have to take care of the kids.
deal everybody fresh horse
We have a fresh horse. I really don't see that big a deal of it, but everybody did. If this horse would have lost, I think I would have been lynched tomorrow.
grateful guess job lucky pilot plane survive terrific time
The pilot did a terrific job getting the plane down. We were lucky enough to survive that crash. It's something you're grateful for, and I guess it just wasn't my time ...
fresh hope horse saturday
I hope we have a fresh horse come the first Saturday in May.
asked coming everybody fine questions seems worked
Everybody seems to have questions about this or that, but he's worked fine and done everything we've asked of him coming up to the race. He couldn't be better.
answered asked hope later rather sooner sure
So far, he's answered everything that's been asked of him. I'm sure sooner or later he's going to get beat, but it hope it's later rather than sooner.
knocked
That's everyone's concern. In a 20-horse field, you can get knocked out before you get to the first turn. Nothing you can do about that.
crutch happen help hit hope plane thankful turbulence wife
I try not to think about it. The times you think about it are when you are on a plane and you hit some turbulence and you hope it doesn't happen again. Right now, you can't help but get on airplanes and fly. I'm just thankful my wife and I were OK. Then, you go on with life. You can't use that as a crutch not to do anything.
asked dirt far grass handle last time trained whatever worked
Whatever we've asked him so far he's done, so we're going to try the dirt now and if he doesn't handle it, we'll still know that we have an exceptional turf horse. He'd only worked one time on the grass before his last race, and he's trained well on the dirt.