Re: bc question (830 Views)
Posted by:
Strike (IP Logged)
Date: June 24, 2019 09:20PM
All of us are reading everything printed about the horse deaths and Hollendorfer being banned at Santa Anita and Golden Gate. Anything I say can and will be criticized because there are many who want horse racing to permanently end -- others who just want the problems fixed (including me) and yes, even some who do not believe there is a problem.
What I do know after owning horses continuously since 1990 in Southern California -- the trainers know. They know when their horses are sound. They know when a horse "has heat" that requires vet inspection. They know when a horse is unsound. They know when a horse's attitude changes -- horse is angry, doesn't eat normally, has diarrhea -- they know everything.
In general, horses fracture because they are unsound. OK -- they were fracturing when there was ridiculous rain in LA and were running on sealed tracks -- that was a serious problem and I believe that practice is ending. They were also fracturing at Del Mar a few years ago when the turf course was replanted and racing began when there was not adequate grown grass and only water was used to try to soften the surface (shame on Del Mar).
The trainers need to learn to change their attitudes about working out and running unsound horses. The Stronach tracks also need to back off the pressure they place on trainers to fill races with a threat of losing stalls if they scratch a horse. I understand that practice has ended. The "void claim" rule should help along with independent vet exams but the trainers know the condition of their horses. The penalties need to be severe on the trainers who violate new rules in place (Hollendorfer) or our sport will end -- certainly in California.
On Thursday there is a scheduled meeting in New York to specifically discuss the BC location and should it move to Churchill. I predict they will leave it at Santa Anita. We will see.