Racing

[IMustBeCrazy]

Good news on the racing front. Congress has set up a subcommittee to investigate injuries and drug usage in the racing circuit. The whole article is here
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=11932

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Excellent!!!! Of course, with Congress - it's a crap shoot - but at least they're looking into it.

[DoxieLover]

This came out yesterday about Big Brown. Hope we will not see a Eight Bells repeat on the 7th.


HORSE RACING
Big Brown has slight crack in hoof
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner has missed two days of training and will miss several more days. But trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. is confident his horse will be ready for the Belmont on June 7.
By Larry Stewart, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
May 26, 2008
Big Brown's Triple Crown run has hit a snag, although it's deemed a small one at this time.

It was learned Sunday that the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner has a slight crack on the inside of his left front hoof. He has already missed two days of training and will miss at least several more while being treated by specialist Ian MacKinlay for what is commonly referred to as a "quarter crack," which is a vertical crack in the hoof wall. This crack is five-eighths of an inch long.
"We're all concerned because there's a big race coming up," trainer Rick Dutrow Jr.was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "But Ian has us pretty well relaxed. He's telling me it's nothing and he'll be fine in a few days."

Unlike the two-week turnaround between the Derby and the Preakness, there's a three-week break before the Belmont. The third leg of the Triple Crown will be run June 7.

"If it was two weeks we would be nervous, but this way I'm as cool as we can be," Dutrow said. "It's bad that this happened, but it's good that it happened at this time."

Mike Iavarone, Big Brown's majority owner, told the horse racing network TVG that this injury is different from the ones that sidelined him for 45 days late last year and another 45 early this year.

MacKinlay said the earlier injuries were abscesses, first in his left hoof, then the right, and they caused wall separations. MacKinlay said they were mistakenly referred to as quarter crack Dutrow said Big Brown could feasibly be back training by Thursday.
MacKinlay, who is treating Big Brown with a combination of iodine and alcohol, has repaired more severe injuries. He helped Touch Gold fight off a leg injury from the 1997 Preakness and go on to win the Belmont and spoil Silver Charm's Triple Crown try.
Describing this as a much simpler task, MacKinlay said, "This is a very, very minor crack. We'll put a set of wires in, stitch it up and then patch it."
Said Dutrow: "The horse is in great shape. He doesn't know anything is wrong with him. When you touch it and put pressure on it, he's going to give. But the worst possible thing that could happen is he doesn't make the race, and that will only hurt human beings."Meanwhile in Southern California, Ian Pearse, the Australian synthetic track expert who has been working closely with Santa Anita, will oversee more tests on the track's drainage capabilities this week, said Ron Charles, Santa Anita's president.
"After the testing is completed, we will be making a final decision on what to do," Charles said.

[Admin]

That is awesome news on the subcommittee. It's a start!

But trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. is confident his horse will be ready for the Belmont on June 7.

The public is now on the watch, they will have to be very, very careful as to whether he runs or not .

[Beth]

Sounds to me like this horse has chronic foot problems. And the statement that the horse doesn't know anything is wrong is scary too - God gave us pain for a reason. To protect us from FURTHER injury. If he has no pain, the stress of a race could make it worse. I also of suspicious of WHY he has no pain. The only way I know to heal quarter cracks is to let them grow out. Ain't no hoof that will grow out a quarter crack in 3 weeks. I wonder if the pounding stress of hitting the track has caused already deficient hoof walls to give? I also wonder who will come out on top - the horse or the money. My bet is on the money unfortunately

Beth

[DoxieLover]

I SAY THE MONEY ALSO..

[Admin]

The only way I know to heal quarter cracks is to let them grow out. Ain't no hoof that will grow out a quarter crack in 3 weeks. I wonder if the pounding stress of hitting the track has caused already deficient hoof walls to give? I also wonder who will come out on top - the horse or the money. My bet is on the money unfortunately

Me too Beth. You know the pounding has made it worse, how could it help but not? They will have to watch it, the public outcry if anything happens to him will be immense. I wonder if anyone has started a petition to not race him? Do we have enough information?

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

He's had chronic problems with quarter cracks which is the main reason he hadn't raced much before the Derby - he is an impressive horse, that is for sure....but no triple crown is worth his loss.

[scoobysmom]

This is so sad. I don`t have a horse but I would think running and hoof hitting ground "hard", wouldn`t be good for it. So sad.

[snowshoehair]

Hay Shelley,

How's Mr. Scooby? And how are you today? Sending prayers your way....

[Shadow]

But the worst possible thing that could happen is he doesn't make the race, and that will only hurt human beings.

Anybody wondering if it's about the money, just needs to read that. The worst thing would be him not racing?? And it would hurt the humans??

What about him having to be put down or HIM being hurt - how do these people think???

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

I think they think in terms of debits and credits and balance sheets...maybe....not all of them...but enough to control what goes on...

[Admin]

Shadow,yes, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I wish we had somewhere to write letters and express our concerns.

[Shadow]

I agree Gale, although it probably wouldn't do any good

And thanks for whoever ( I think Beth) explained quarter cracks. That's what I thought when I heard - they just have to grow out but I've never had to deal with them & wasn't sure.

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

I guess we can write letters to the individual state organizations that oversee racing. Or the jockey club?

[Admin]

What would be best? I'm not familiar enough to know.

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Well, all registrations have to go through the Jockey Club, I think. There's not one board that oversees racing in all states. Each state has its own racing board, I believe.

[Shadow]

My original post went poof - Gale, are mesing with Mercury again?

Anyway, I asked if there was one specific group that oversees the races or decides if a horse CAN race or is that up to the owners?

I see Penny answered part of that. So where is the next race held? Is that who would decide if he is fit to race? Sorry, I never watch races, so I don't know where they're held at.

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Well they race in florida, maryland, arizona, new york, Kentucky, Illinois, West Virginia (harness racing only I think), and probably other states as well. Generally, each race track has its own "season" so the horses can race at the other tracks, although I believe that they overlap on occasion. For instance, Keeneland, here in Lexington has a fall and a spring racing schedule.

this is the link to the jockey club

http://www.jockeyclub.com/

[Admin]

Thanks Penny. I sent them a letter. Go to the contact section and there is plenty of room to send a note.

[Shadow]

Thanks Penny, sent the note.

[DoxieLover]

I know they are racing at Hollywood Park in So. California until July.

[DoxieLover]

PETA sent this to me this morning. I asked about if a petition was to be started to keep Big Brown from racing with the quarter crack.

Hi Sharon,

We have indeed demanded this of the industry and you can feel free to keep checking for updates at http://www.peta.org to find out more about what we’re doing. We’re also having a massive demonstration this weekend at the Belmont in response to the important reforms we’re asking of the industry as a whole. Please let me know if you have any other questions!



David Salisbury, Assistant Activist Liaison

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals757.622.7382 x8237, DavidS@peta.org


They also sent me more info on rodeos. They are a little out there, but are good for info.

http://www.myspace.com/officialpeta

[Admin]

Thanks Sharon. I thought I read today that it was official that Big Brown was going to race. Anyone else?

[Admin]

I snitched these off the ABF. I'm sure they won't care. Big Brown's feet.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockandrac ... et-219439/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockandrac ... et-219439/

Here is the entire thread on ABF discussing the quarter crack.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/alexbrow ... sg=24714.1

[snowshoehair]

Hmmmm, that crack looks creepy! Especially to have all that force on it for that long during the race! Owie!

[Madge]

Definitely OWIE!!! Hope it gets better soon!

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

And not only that - the Belmont is the toughest race of the three - it's the longest....I think Big Brown is a great horse....but his is too much even for him - his hooves and reoccuring quarter cracks are the reason he didn't race but 3 times before the Derby. A triple crown winner is not worth the pain and potential further damage to him!

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Pray they scratch him.

[Admin]

Another view of his hoof.
http://horsephotos.com/watermark.jsp?photoID=82725