Re: A League of Her Own (428 Views)
Posted by:
Street Sense (IP Logged)
Date: September 18, 2007 05:47PM
Flighted Iron, sometimes you need to read between the lines and use a little common sense. In addition, if you keep your ear to the ground, you can find out things about the horses that aren't reported in the press.
I was out at Fasig looking at horses in July when I got a call from a friend (my vet) who witnessed Rags to Riches come off the track lame. A number of other people got similar phone calls, because the news didn't take long to spread among the salesgrounds. The next day, the press reported Pletcher saying the filly came down with a fever and would therefore not be going out to the track. The conversation around the salesgrounds that day went something like this: "Did you see how Pletcher reported it as a fever?" "Yeah, right <laugh>".
After that, she was then reported pulled up by her exercise rider. You read about that one. After that, she was then reported to have gotten yet another fever and missed work. Do the math.
It's clearly obvious something was up with the filly but they couldn't find what it was. After multiple vet opinions, they decided to go forward with caution until such time as the problem presents itself in such fashion that it can be diagnosed. The race pushed the problem to the forefront - they now see the fracture that was brewing.
This isn't uncommon, to not be able to find exactly what is ailing a horse, or to move forward cautiously with a horse despite knowing that *something* is there. I know, I've done it. Know others who've done it. I wouldn't do it again though, not race, because my experience hasn't been positive as it's pushing your luck.