LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The trainer for Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz The Law has come under scrutiny for comments he made about protesters who plan to be outside the gates of Churchill Downs Saturday attempting to disrupt the race.
“I don’t know what these guys are going to do, these rioters," 82-year-old Barclay Tagg said. "Who knows? All I know is you’re not allowed to shoot them, and they’re allowed to shoot you. That’s what it looks like to me, so I don’t know what to think about it.”
Barclay Tagg, trainer of Ky Derby favorite, asked about concerns over protests, just said: "I don’t know what these guys are going to do, these rioters, Who knows? All I know is you’re not allowed to shoot them and they’re allowed to shoot you. That’s what it looks like to me." pic.twitter.com/UCyMGKAQ4k
— Eric Crawford (@ericcrawford) September 1, 2020
Tagg, who arrived in Louisville late Monday, said he wasn’t aware of events that had transpired in the city over the past several months, with nearly 100 consecutive days of protests or demonstrations by groups seeking justice for Breonna Taylor.
Until Freedom, a national group that moved to Louisville to focus on Taylor's case, has urged officials to cancel this year's derby and accused the city of cracking down on protests to "lighten the mood" before the event.
"You want to have a successful Derby and other occasions that help to make this city look good - arrest the cops," said Tamika Mallory, the co-founder of Until Freedom. "Arrest the cops."
