Last updated 05/08

I never want to be one of those loud mouth people who complains without making suggestions. In part I thank art school for that. In “crit” classes (critiques – you show your work and discuss it with your fellow students) you’re never allowed to say that you either like or don’t like something without discussing why (at least if your professor is on the ball).

The hardest part of any situation that produces hurt, anger and/or frustration is not being able to unequivocally say “it happened because of X”, “it’s X’s fault”.

When the fault is obvious you have a clear cut place to channel that anger, hurt and/or frustration… or at the very least, a starting to point to understand why it even happened!

What happened in the Derby is a very sad symptom of a lot of complex and interwoven issues. As the media coverage escalates and the “activists” call for our heads, I think it’s our duty to make suggestions about how to proceed. It’s hard, for me at least, to defend our sport (that I love) by saying that we have installed some synthetic tracks. Why? We need to do more, a LOT more.

So here are my ideas. They’re meant to start a discussion that includes gathering more ideas and suggestions, refining these and tying to figure out how to make them actionable. None of these are original ideas and certainly have been discussed elsewhere, but this is meant to compile them into one big list.

Keep 2 things in mind 1) these are ideas, not decrees and 2) that I created this list throughout the day (i.e., haven’t been laboring over it), so consider it a draft or a “brain dump” (one of my most hated corporate expressions, right up there with “bio break”… ). Also, the order is random.

Enough with the caveats, here’s the list…

Collect data on all break downs to determine:

– age, sex, equipment, connections, breeder, race type (general information)

– lineage (any developing patterns in breeding)

– surface type & condition (was the track sealed?, synth, dirt, grass, etc – do tracks keep maintenance records?)

– necropsy (condition that could have been foreseen with a certain exam?)

– New: information should be a publicly accessible database, not just for breeders but for everyone (dana – added 05/06)

– New: convene panel of equine vets to determine parameters for acceptable proportions of height, weight and leg circumference (Aelinie – added 05/08)

Also, let’s find out what other countries are collecting and learning.

Ban whipping

– “most horses will give you everything they have without the whip” – Jerry Baily

– “I think we should do away with whips completely” – Randy Moss

– “…usually the horses that want to run don’t have to be whipped” – Jim Squires

– “Our sport looks to newcomers like a bunch of people beating horses with sticks” – comment at GbG

Ban drugging, period

– Race days meds

– Ban steroids (test before sales)

Create serious consequences

Not only for trainers but for owners and vets – when everyone is on the on the line there is more pressure to adhere. Consequences should also exist across jurisdictions.

Stop over sealing tracks

Create national standards for track maintenance and fine when track conditions are found to be unsafe with bigger fines when horses are injured because of it.

Breeding

– Reduce number of mares covered to a reasonable annual amount – New: 75 – (Cyd – added 05/08)

– Compile data from at least the past 5 years on all recorded breakdowns to find sire patterns (use the first bullet point under “collect data”)

– New: penalties for rushing off to stud – (Superfecta – added 05/06)

– New: stop breeding unraced horses – (Superfecta – added 05/06)

– New: Jockey Club could refuse to register the offspring of stallions who couldn’t at least make a minimal number of starts (Jen R – added 05/08)

Racing Ages

– Do away with 2yo racing and race them longer

– Create race conditions that do not allow horses with sires under 5

– New: Only race 2yo at the end of the year and only on turf – (Katie – added 05/06)

– New: 2yo under saddle sales end – (Katie – added 05/06)

– New: cutting back the distance of 2yo races – (Jen R – added -5/08)

Derby

– Limit the field to 14-16 horses

– Change the graded earnings structure to favor more appropriate horses

BC

– Don’t let Derby aged horses run in the Classic / “Distaff” (as an incentive to keep them running longer)

Educate “consumers”

– Why do people routinely buy horses out of unsound sires?

– Why are unsound horses rushed off the track to breeding career?

– Minimize “demand” through education

– New: make data from breakdowns (mentioned above) publicly accessible so people can do their own research (dana – added 05/06)

Bone Scans

– New: Some sort of sanctioned bone-scanning process before every horse’s next race? Kind of like a sobriety test—you don’t pass the exam, you’re scratched – (Ernie – added 05/05)

Progress

– New: What I would like to see most of all, however, is some progress – (Nick – added 05/06)

– New: Some of these things can be done more quickly than others, like banning racing – set some time lines and communicate about them regularly – (dana – added 05/06)

– New: top to bottom of audit of the whole industry (Jeremy – added 05/07)

– New: National ruling body created should also include a broad cross section of interested parties (Joan – added 05/08)

And lifetime bans for crap like this.

I think the NTRA (Hi Alex!) should create a task force charged with taking a serious look at how to make racing more safe that addresses issues across the board create a national ruling body with the authority to make and enforces changes. Not just synthetic surfaces but looking at all of the above, and possibly more, to see how each thing contributes and what can be done to address it. It’s daunting, but it would be a start. [New]

That’s what I think, what do you think? And I don’t want to hear “you’ll never be able to” or “no one would ever”…

I wouldn’t be surprised if this poll ended up unanimous, but let’s just see.

In our last poll, put up admittedly close to the Derby, Z Humor turned out to be a winner after all with top vote count for biggest surprise as Derby winner with 4 votes. Not far behind was Recapturetheglory and Eight Belles with 3, although 2 of those votes for Eight Belles came in after the race (way to show some respect people).

Cowboy Cal, Anak Nakal and Bob Black Jack all received 2 votes while Adriano hit the board with 1 vote.

Thanks to all who voted, except for maybe the two that voted for Eight Belles after the fact, didn’t your mama raise you right?

Derby 2008 was the Worst Derby Ever.

As I said over at John’s post about Sour Grape Kool-Aid, I’m not quite ready to deal with Big Brown the horse vs. Big Brown the implication. My friend Joan sent me this before the Derby:

Here’s all I have to say about this year’s Derby: if Big Brown wins, which he won’t unless all of the stars in the sky are out of alignment and the racing gods are out to pasture, I’ll be sick to my stomach. Because if he does, the “me too!” school of copy cat management will ensure we see more lightly raced horses next year and a new decline in the Derby fields going forward.

Mix in a trainer with a “checkered past” full of violations, an owners group that wants to go public and a whole lotta crass bragging and they make Curlin’s connections look like sissy suburban kids trying to look tough.

Big Brown ran a thrilling race, one I’ve watched less than my customary race replay watching habi-trail due to general upset-ness and the need to process what the F just happened. Not that anyone is going to show up in the Preakness, but I still want to a few more things, for example, how would he do in speed duel? Can he really rate as nicely as he did yesterday when he doesn’t have to?

Usually, I would have gone to the The Office with Swifty, but as fate would have it he had a function to attend out of town. I went to my beloved Belmont with Jessica & Teresa… I had a great time with them but let me say that I won’t be going back to Belmont, or any track, to try and play a card at another track unless I can get a table with my own TV.

One bright note was that as we entered we ran into Alan from Bug Boys on his way out. It was nice to have an impromptu mini-TBA meet-up and we agreed that we would plan to meet up at Belmont some time soon.

I played the card here and there with no success. My biggest issue was that I couldn’t find a good place to settle in and get to work. I really need to have a home base in these situations. When I’m going to the track to play the card it’s easy, I pick a spot in the stands, put my crap there and I get down to business. For the Preakness I’ll definitely be back at The Office with Swifty, and hopefully Jessica and Teresa too.

Another “feature” of the day was that the snazzy new GIANT flat screen TVs (which are really nice) didn’t have the sound up so we had to watch in silence as the Derby unfolded. Jessica liked Gayego, Teresa liked Cool Coal Man and we all know I liked Pyro. As they turned into the stretch it was clear none of them were in the mix. At first I thought Big Brown was Court Vision, which was exicting but then I saw the saddle cloth. It really looked like Eight Belles could have caught Big Brown for a second, but it was not meant to be.

The simulcast signal didn’t have the breakdown so we had no idea it had happened. We were very busy expressing our outrage and dismay for the many disgusting implications a Dutrow/IEAH win with a lightly raced colt with bad feet had for our beloved sport which is already teetering on doing itself in without this.

Oddly, there also was not a lot a celebratory trash talk going on that one would expect in simulcast outlet. From what I can tell most of the folks on our floor were rooting for Pyro. A few minutes later Swifty sent me a txt saying “who broke down?”. I called him immediately and he said there was a horse “laying on the track”.

It took a few minutes to figure out what was going on but when he told me my heart sunk. I think the worst part was having to walk back over to Teresa and Jessica and tell them.

With the exception of Pyro, I felt pretty good about my read on the situation. Denis of Cork ran a great race with Bo-rail giving him almost exactly the same ride he gave Street Sense last year. Tale of Ekati did well and Anak Nakal improved.

Here’s what I did:

Pyro to win

Pyro exacta boxed with Tale of Ekati, Court Vision, Z Fortune, Eight Belles and Denis of Cork

Exacta box of Tale of Ekati, Court Vision, Z Fortune, Eight Belles and Denis of Cork

Tale of Ekati, Court Vision, Z Fortune, Eight Belles and Denis of Cork to win

Pyro over Anak Nakal, Visionaire, Gayego, Big Truck and Smooth Air

Pyro boxed with Colonel John

One surprise was Recapturetheglory. Although I guess it wasn’t a surprise since the splits were slower than I anticipated and my notes about him were that he needed slower splits to do well. His owner/trainer said that “he left most of his race in the paddock” as he acted up a bit and didn’t respond well to the crowd. I would have loved to have seen what he could have done had he brought most of his race with him!

Speaking of which, I’m still bummed about Pyro. It looked like he had the room and but no gas in the tank. Blinkers Off over at Railbird, easily my favorite Derby reporting, noted Friday that there was a rumor floating around the backstretch a little birdie told him that Pyro has “chips”, as in bone chips. If they come out with this news in the next few days I will be even more grossed out than I already am, if that’s possible, with the cash out mentality that’s ruining racing and horses.

Here’s my take on the Eight Belles tragedy… let’s not fool ourselves, it could have just as easily happened in the Oaks. Good bye Derby 2008 and good riddance!

This phrase has been on my mind lately as it pertains to racing. News of IEAH stables plans to create a hedge fund out of their “holdings” (Big Brown, Court Vision, Kip Deville, just to name a few) is what solidified it. That’s not say that they’re the only ones, but they certainly aren’t trying to hide behind any notion of love for the sport or their “holdings”.

Meanwhile, the games have begun and it’s open season on racing… surely the biggest form of sanctioned animal cruelty not only exist but to be celebrated as entertainment for the wealthy. Off with their heads!

On the other side of the fence you have the “horses break down, it’s a sad part of the game”. Both arguments are reductive and frankly won’t change anything if they’re not tempered with some realistic data about what the problems are and how to address them. But where to start?

Start with Jim Squires current piece in The Rail, entitled a Horse Lovers View From Inside The Industry. As Swifty said during our morning phone chat “I wish everyone in America would read this piece”.

It’s also true that American thoroughbred racing demands more of its animals at an earlier age than other countries and puts more pressure on them mentally and physically than do the other breeds. The tragic breakdowns that dismay the public invariably occur in the two- and three- and four-year-old races to animals that have for the most part been in training since they were 18 months old.

…

Why do we do this? Because we are always in a hurry to make our fame and fortune, whether we are raising animals, trading stocks, pioneering software or driving to the corner grocery. In my life I have seldom heard anyone say, “don’t go so fast, no need to hurry.” And in horse racing, it’s almost never the trainer who is in a hurry. Certainly not trainers like Larry and Cindy Jones or Michael Matz, whose horses have suffered spectacular injuries before worldwide audiences. In fact, it is usually the owners who are in a hurry, although there is no reason to believe this is the case in either the Barbaro or Eight Belles tragedies.

Yes, the cash out mentality. On a post about over medication earlier in the year I received this comment from a trainer that reinforces this notion:

i train horses on the southern California circuit. sadly overmedication is the rule rather than the exception. horsemanship was valued 20 years ago and more but today many of the high profile trainers depend on veterinarians to make all their decisions. i can’t just blame trainers or vets because many owners make unreasonable demands of the trainers and force their actions with little concern for the welfare of the horses. i wish that we could enforce a zero tolerance policy towards drugs. the sport would be a lot better and many horses might live a few more years.

But let’s not get reductive, there are many pieces to this puzzle. Fellow TBA-er Superfecta points out what in my mind should be obvious to anyone serious about addressing issues:

Sometimes injuries just happen – even the sturdiest breeds of horses can take missteps and break a leg (or two); the fact that the US doesn’t do a follow-up on every injury (as is required in many other countries) is one reason we simply don’t have the numbers to say what is drug-related, shoe-related, breeding-related or simply dumb-luck-related. We should.

It’s hard to address issues when they are unknown. This inflames the “they just happen” vs. “it’s cruel and it should stop” war. Being able to determine the percentage of true accidents vs. true accidents that might not have happened given sturdier breeding stock, over medication, tracks that play like highways and/or training too early would be a step towards being able to actually TAKE ACTION to address these issues that MUST be addressed.

But the owners aren’t the only ones who have this mentality, we see it elsewhere too. One of my personal favorite Derby blogs, Take Off That Silly Ass Hat (with an almost Nostradamus like url) sums it up like this.

Every racetrack in America soups up their main track to some extent for its respective big day(s) of racing. Times at Belmont are usually quick on Belmont day. But the track at CD on Derby and BC Day would be a huge running gag if the results weren’t so freaking tragic. After Pine Island and Fleet Indian both broke down in the same race in BC ’06, I hoped I’d seen the last of the paved highway in Louisville. Today, with the Elite Squadron race and the eventual breakdown of Eight Belles, it apparently is still an issue.

Over the summer last year the New York Horseman’s association took issue with NYRA about their insane over sealing of the track and the effect it was having on the horses. As speculated over at Take Off That Silly Ass Hat, it seems like track officials are interested in creating scenarios where records are broken as a last ditch effort to get people to their tracks at the expense of the horses.

The list goes on, over whipping, “legal” and illegal drugging, having 20 horses in a race to begin with! We can’t go on paying lip service to the safety and well being of horses without addressing it and addressing it in a way that’s not reactionary.

For instance, what are the implications of using artificial racing surfaces that are akin to chemical dumps? What does it do the horse, jock and track staff that have to breath it every day? I know I wouldn’t want to be a person in a position to actually have to make these decisions, I’m sure the pressure to react is intense, but substituting one bad situation with a potential other one doesn’t sit well either. The bottom line is we need to make decisions with with facts, which means we have to actually have some facts.

I work in a corporate setting and have for (too) many years. It’s the same thing, no one wants to analyze problems let alone actually address them. Everything is a reaction to “show progress”…. i.e., a band aid. We need patience, hard work and dedication to solve these issues… not people in a rush to cash out.

Seriously, what an awful day, although I did spend it in good company.

More later. Rest in peace Eight Belles.

Final preparations at the rail at Churchill (blake seely)

Which big day depends on who you ask… it’s Free Comic Book Day, the opening of Pike Season in New York state, the Million Marijuana March and National Scrapbooking Day (personally I think those last 2 go together quite well!).

No matter what day you’re celebrating and have fun and good luck!

Happy Derby Day!!

Court Vision, the Classiest of the Class! (Sarah K. Andrew)

Derby Day is upon us but the picture is still fuzzy. Let’s break it down high school yearbook-style and see if we can make any sense of it:

Cool Coal Man: Class Nerd. Has done his homework in his eight starts with a trainer (Zito) who has seen his share of Derby wins. Also in contention for the Cutest Blaze superlative.

Tale of Ekati: Biggest Flirt. He won a Grade 1 but I cannot include him in my wagers.

Anak Nakal: Class Slacker. Most likely to creep up into a tri or super.

Court Vision: Classiest of the Class of 2008. Best pedigree and trainer (Mott) to get the job done.

Eight Belles: Most Valuable Player. With 9 lifetime starts, this filly has been in the starting gate more than any other horse in the field. Also a shoo-in for Prettiest Girl.

Big Truck: Teacher’s Pet. Mr. Tagg can’t say enough about his favorite pupil.

Visionaire: Most Likely to be Seen at a Party. Has raced at 6 different tracks.

Pyro: Class Bully. Pyro is the richest horse in the field and he’s beaten quite a few Derby starters.

Colonel John: Most Likely to Succeed. Good post, impressive works, consistent record, well-bred. And based on the videos that can be seen on his website, it looks like he can handle the dirt.

Smooth Air: Mr. Dependable. Has never finished worse than third.

Bob Black Jack: Class Motorhead. He has the need for speed.

Monba: Shyest. It’s win or lose with Monba- he has never finished second or third.

Adriano: Best Dressed and Most Deserving Connections. Roses would perfectly suit this son of A.P. Indy, owner/breeder Courtlandt Farms, trainer H. Graham Motion, and jockey Edgar Prado. Plus, his silks are awesome.

Denis of Cork: Most Likely to be on the 5-year-Plan. Working up a storm, bred for the Derby distance, but the first Saturday in May of 2010 seems like it would be a better date for him.

Cowboy Cal: Class Jock. Ultra-consistent, but his surface limitations pose a huge question. Wouldn’t it be something if Pletcher got his first Derby winner on a horse who is ML 20-1?

Recapturetheglory: Class Clown. Worst silks. What exactly is on those things… a wombat?

Gayego: Class Troublemaker. What the heck do I do with this horse in my wagering?

Big Brown: Most HEXED. Front wraps, 3 lifetime starts, 20-hole, and worst of all…recipient of the 2008 Kashmir Hex.

Z Fortune & Z Humor: Class Couple.

When it’s all said and done, my Top Derby 5 are: Colonel John, Court Vision, Pyro, Denis of Cork, Monba, and Visionaire. OK, that’s 6. Happy wagering and best of luck to all!

Gettin’ lucky in Kentucky… a.k.a., the Derby infield! (blake seely)

It’s the eve of the big dance and time to get down to business. Without further adieu, here are my thoughts on the bachelors and bachelorette!

Pyro:

I love you. I’ve always loved you. Barring any traffic trouble or just plain old bad luck, I think you can get the job done, particularly with your excellent post position. But if anyone can handle traffic, it’s you.

I don’t pay any attention to those who don’t think you’re fast enough or are concerned about your Beyers, they don’t know you like I do. I just wish all those public handicappers would quite picking you so your odds would be about 8-1!

(will definitely box with Pyro, will probably place individual win bets depending on the odds and possibly box all of them as well)

Tale of Ekati:

I knew you could do it in the Wood, the pace was going to be to your liking and you had done your homework. Now, here you are, primed and ready and more than likely going to get fractions on the fast side, just like you like them. While I’m not jazzed about your post position I have faith that you can get yourself in the a good position and work your magic!

Court Vision:

I know you tried in the Wood, and did you look game. In fact it looked a bit like some more distance would have been good for you! Breezing into town and putting in some impressive works was the way to go. That in combination with your traffic practice in the rowdy Remsen and win over the surface in the Iroquois has my head turned. And let’s not forget that you prefer your fractions fast!

Eight Belles:

We all know I like the ladies, and you’re no exception! At first I was a little skeptical looking at the fractions of your races, but your two best performances were in the races with the faster splits. That in combination with your stellar work at the track and my birdie telling me that you’re looking good is enough for me to be out and proud about thinking you’ve got a shot! I only wish I had placed a Larry Jones Oaks/Derby Double wager!

Z Fortune:

I know I thought you couldn’t be a doctor, but you buckled down and have shown us that you’re serious. Believe me, people have noticed too. Paging Dr. Fortune?

Denis of Cork:

I’m not concerned about what happened in Illinois. I know you’ve been working nicely at Churchill and know this is going to be your kind of pace, even though you have definitely shown some flexibility in the pace department (if not a touch of change of pace training!). And let’s not forget, you’ve already won at Churchill.

(definitely have a shot at being on the board, will more than likely box with Pyro and a few others)

Smooth Air:

I like you. You know that distance is an issue for you and you work on it constantly, that’s a turn on! I also know you like some fast fractions… if the track is sloppy tomorrow you move right up to Like Like. Heck, at your current odds I may as well count you as Like Like!

Big Truck:

Nice works! I think the pace is going to be your style too although if the track is sloppy I have to look elsewhere. Bluegrass? What Bluegrass? Grass is green, duh!

Visionaire:

Speaking of the Bluegrass, your finish position doesn’t at all indicate how impressive your 10 wide run was. You didn’t have enough room in the Risen Star, and who knows what the hell happened in the Gotham other than you won it. If it’s a sloppy track tomorrow you and Smooth Air are my giant tri box with Pyro.

Gayego:

You looked great in Arkansas (even thought your jockey whipped the living daylights out of you in the stretch!!). The fractions look to be to your liking, but I have to say it, I’m concerned about your post position. But I still think you’re hot!

Anak Nakal:

What? You heard me right. I know that I “officially” broke up with him but he’s gotten his act together a bit. Let’s review, he improved in the Wood, has improved works, has won at Churchill and takes those annoying blinkers off. The pace should be right up his alley so at his price I’m willing to get him in the mix.

Colonel John:

Listen, I like everything I see. I really do. You can handle any kind of pace scenario, you had a nice gallop out after your impressive win in the Santa Anita Derby and your work at Churchill was duly noted. But just because Gayego’s form transferred to dirt doesn’t mean yours will. Look at Big Truck, he worked a great bullet over the surface at Keenland and where did that get him? I’ll probably box you here and there but I’m still a little a skeptical of you…

Big Brown:

Listen hot stuff, I’ll be really happy for you if you smash the field, particularly with your post position, but I can’t get behind you just yet. I’m just not ready, so don’t push me, ok?

Best of luck to everyone!!

It looks like Chelokee was just injured in the Alysheda. He dumped Ramon Dominguez in the stretch and it looked like he was hobbling after the fact. Dominguez got up but no word on Chelokee yet. Dammit.

Update: he was vanned off with a right front ankle fracture that did not break the skin. There should be more updates after the X-rays… ugh.

Churchill Downs (blake seely)

ESPN2 has the oaks under card! I had no idea, mind you, I can only wager on the Oaks online.

The weather is hideous at Churchill! I missed the Louisville Stakes, but they replayed the stretch run which featured winner Ginger Punch hopping over a puddle… impressive!

I didn’t handicap the Oaks (or much of anything yet), but I’ll be placing a little sloppy track exacta of Bsharpsonata & Little Belle.