Not sure how many of you read either Dan Illman’s or Steve Crist’s blog at DRF, but they’re both pretty great. Not only do each of them have their own distinct blogging style, they both have active comments and and conversations.

Today’s Formblog (Illman) has a particularly great discussion about synthetic track, breakdowns, drugs and the breeding industy. Here are some snippets:

A commentor writes:

It’s hard to buy into the idea that polytrack is saving horses when you review the recent Arlington meet, for example which saw several breakdowns. Also, there were many other horses vanned off after their races at Arlington and Del Mar, who may not factor into the fatality statistics. Polytrack is not the answer. The obvious answer, as we’ve discussed on this blog ad nauseam, is getting tough on the drug problem in the sport… not just on illegal substances, but the levels of approved legal ones. When a horse is loaded up on pain killers (like Cobra venom!!), there is nothing stopping that horse from going all out because they can’t feel the stress being placed on their joints.

…

executives to form a coalition aimed at eliminating drugs on a nationwide scale. Heck, it’s been done in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Why not here?

The answer is simple. The breeding industry won’t allow it to happen, and the racetracks won’t allow it to happen. A national no-tolerance policy would drastically reduce, at least in the short term, the number of racers in the United States. Valuable stallions that pass on bleeding or other unsoundness issues would be rendered worthless. Less racers means less breeding prospects (mares, stallions). Less breeding prospects means less money from public auction. Less racers means smaller fields. Smaller fields means less handle. And, that isn’t acceptable from an industry standpoint.

[he continues on for several more paragraphs with some more good points]

And that’s just part of the conversation… it’s worth it read the entire thing in context.

Over at Equinometrics, a blog you should be reading if your not, in his BC wrap up post Marshall makes this great point:

Hooray for the connections of Hard Spun who took a risk by entering him in the Classic despite the fact that he did not appear to be a 10 furlong horse and seemed to be a cut below the other top 3yos. His $1,000,000 earned for second place was as much as the entire purse for the Dirt Mile.

I know I thought they were idiots for not entering my beloved Hard Spun in the Dirt Mile. Guess who was wrong about that: me! (and a few other folks) Only 3 of my 10 voters thought he should be in the Classic. Hats off to you 3! Wienie note: I have to rig that Poll Archive page up a little better… it’s on my to do list.

And last but not least… are you sick of reading about the BC? What kind of champion are you, weakening in the final furlong… if you can hang on til the wire go read Randy Moss’ BC blog post. His on air charm is 100% transferable to his blog and he’s always got a good insight or two.