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...
assistant hopefully problems
My assistant said he didn't have any problems with the track, and hopefully he doesn't.
problem spoken
All the horsemen I've spoken to, don't have a problem with it.
brother deal five four instead races run six weeks
Brother Derek is four weeks instead of five. I don't know what the big deal about this is. All his races have been run in five or six weeks. I don't see any problem.
continues crossed fingers keeping
Everything continues to be great. We're just keeping our fingers crossed now.
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.
nervous
I was nervous about it, They're all in the same boat.
care
We have to take care of the kids.
asked shows until whatever
I think he can do whatever he's asked to do until he shows he can't do it.
fortunate thankful
I feel very fortunate and thankful that we were OK. That's all you can be. You go on with life.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.