Horse Racing Holiday Wish List
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I love horse racing almost more than anything in the world! It’s a fantastic sport that challenges the mind, gets the blood pumping when watching these majestic athletes give their all and warms the soul when all the blood, sweat and tears that jockeys, trainers, owners and horses put into the sport are rewarded in the winner’s circle. I want horse racing to be the best it can be, so we can show others what they are missing, but I need your help, Santa. I made a little wish list, and was hoping you could look at it while your reindeer are taking a “pitstop” during this weekend’s deliveries?
First, can we please get rid of all the synthetic racing surfaces in this country and go back to dirt racing? Horses (and reindeer last time I checked) are bred to run on dirt or grass, not waxy carpet fibers. These racing surfaces have rendered Keeneland’s Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup dirt prep races virtually irrelevant, and Turfway Park is littered with more horses from Beulah Park than Churchill Downs. California’s synthetic surfaces have done more harm than good by causing drainage problems for racetracks. Santa Anita just removed their “polycrap” due to 2 years worth of drainage problems. Hollywood Park had to cancel one of their programs a few weeks ago, because too much rain caused drainage problems. I thought these surfaces were “all weather” and just soaked up water? Proponents claim that synthetic surfaces are safer than their organic counterparts, but numerous studies have shown that is not the case. The only things these surfaces provide is a second turf course when the first one cannot be used due to inclement weather.
Next, if we want our sport to be taken seriously in America we need to get rid of the endless “alphabet soup” organizations (NTRA, TOBA, ARCI, etc.) that “govern” horse racing and have 1 central ruling body. Major sports like football, basketball, baseball, hockey, auto racing and even tennis all have 1 organization looking out for the best interests of the owners, athletes, etc. Boxing is the only other sport I can think of that uses the “alphabet soup” method, and it’s fallen so far down the sports’ food chain that underwater basket weaving gets better ratings. Horse racing’s new commissioner would handle issues such as: equal medication products and doses for horses, a universal set of punishments for trainers, jockeys, etc. that break the rules of the game (drugging horses, themselves, etc.), and consistent rules for multi-race exotics when scratches occur during the sequence of the wager, FOR ALL STATES! Can you imagine if NFL football games had different rules in different states? For example, in Florida the Miami Dolphins receivers have to get 2 feet in bounds for each completed pass, but if they travel to Kansas City, MO to play the Chiefs they would only have to get 1 foot in bounds for a legal catch. How about if athletes in New York could use Human Growth Hormone, but not in Michigan? WHAT!?! We need a consistent, level playing field in all states to make owners/trainers comfortable shipping horses to compete and to help gamblers feel confident when putting their hard earned dollars through the windows.
Last but not least, I’m sick and tired of jockeys being able to plead their cases to stewards when objections and inquires arise! Stewards are supposed to be impartial judges making rulings where hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars are on the line. Rather than looking only at the video evidence, which doesn’t lie, they interview the only biased people involved! What do you expect jockeys to say, their livelihood is at stake. Do you see NFL referees interviewing players after witnessing a potential foul? NO! Players try to plead their case, but referees huddle together, shoo lingering players away and come to a conclusion. Furthermore, what happens during the questioning portion of an inquiry when 1 jockey’s native language is English and another speaks broken English or none at all…who do you think the stewards may favor after talking to both? I’m not saying it’s right, wrong or indifferent…it’s human nature, so take that part out of the equation.
On a more serious note, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and nothing but the best of success in 2012. Over the past year, some things have occurred in my life that helped me realize each day we have here with one another is the best gift of all. Its cliché, but we need to cherish each day like it’s our last, because we can’t go out and buy more time, or go to a store and refund a day if we had a bad one. I know we all have to work to support ourselves and families, but please spend this precious time doing what you enjoy to make you and those around you happy.
Please be sure to follow me on Twitter-@Cappercorner and/or friend me on facebook.com to continue the horse racing conversation!
What the Nation is saying about Horse Racing Holiday Wish List...
Great wish list Jasen! I think the inquiry issue is more complex than just whether or not the jocks are interviewed. DeadHeat had a good point about how police interview both parties, but your point about how other sports handle fouls was valid as well. Maybe the jocks could be interviewed after the edict is handed down.
Shadowno, it is a slow read isn't it?! Glad you checked it out.
HD thanks for the White Paper link. Quite a read for those of us without bio-mechanical engineering degrees :) Interesting to note they incorporated a shoe study. I've noticed a number of no-cal trainers are consistently running without rear shoes on the Tapeta.
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/files/folders/40704/download.aspx
Here is link to what is refered to as the "White Papers" and is good read for info on a complex issue---http://www.grayson-jockeyclub.org/resources/White_Paper_final.pdf. One can also go to engineeredracingsurfaces.com and click on news ans Stats. When looking at studies and srticles it is important to look at who did them and how were they conducted. Of course more than one study should be taken into account in any case.
Capper, not the specific site but it does nicely incorporate the California study as does the AVMA site which reports the fatality drop off at 37%. Know Turfway has amazing numbers as well. The past Santa Anita meeting (2010-11) on the dirt had 19 fatalities. The 2009-10 meeting on Synthetic had 6 reported fatalities although some racing dates were lost due to weather. Really liked the NY stats which are kind of amazing and impressive considering all four of the NY surfaces bases are so distinct (Loam/Silt, Clay, Sand and Stone Dust/Limestone). The current Santa Anita base is sand, so in theory it should mimic Belmont. Maybe NY horses are just tough, particularly my favorites, the hard asses that winter at Aqueduct.
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/files/folders/40704/download.aspx
Sorry, hit enter while typing that last one. Hey Shadowno, I really think it depends on the dirt surface. No arguing that study shows fatalities dropping in CA, but it also shows (on page 9) NY dirt tracks were safer than any of the synthetics. Here's a link to the study, though I think we're both referring to the same one.
Jasen; I have always thought EXACTLY the same way as you regarding interviewing the riders regarding inquiries. I always imagined it went something like this: rider that claimed foul: "HE FOULED ME". Rider that had claim lodged against him: "NO I DID NOT FOUL HIM!". Okay, okay, I imagine it's a little more involved than that, but won't those answers be basically what the riders will say in so many words 100% of the time? I have always thought interviewing the riders to be ridiculous considering the dozens of angles the judges have at their disposal to use to base their judgement on.
shadowno, I think saw somewhere also that Santa Anita had two fatalities in 2010, and 10(?) after the dirt track was installed. Granted that is just one measure of fatalities, but like you said, things like that seem to point to a safer surface, if those numbers are correct.
Jansen do you have a cite for your assertations regarding synthetic saftey or is it just your opinion cited as fact? The CHRB study conducted by Dr. Rick Arthur would indicate it is a safer surface when measured by equine fatalities and Keenland has held a fatality free meeting which is unheard of in modern racing. Personally, i dont have a preference, they run, we bet, regardless. Turf, Dirt, Slop, Sealed Wet Freeways, Synthetic. If they return to their barns healthy it is a big bonus to all parties.
Number one wish for all the years since I first complained about it to the BloodHorse: BRING back some stamina to the breed by carding real stamina contests at graded stakes levels.
Sorry. I guess I am interested in more than a couple of horses that under performed coming off a prep race. If I understand you correctly, my counter would be Animal Kingdom. Also, are you saying there is a specific reason the synthetics caused under performance, and is it a known fact that was the cause? Thanks.
Capper, I guess I am interested in more than just how some horses under .
Hey HorseDynasty, on the synthetic surface issue all you have to do is look winners of the Blue Grass and Keeneland BC dirt prep races. Also, look at the winners of those prep races at Santa Anita when they had their synthetic surface, and how they underperformed on racing's biggest days.
I totally agree with #2, more cooperation in this industry would go a long way to solving our problems. But I have to say I disagree about stewards & inquiries. Stewards have to talk to the jockeys because it's part of due process. And just because they listen to them, does not mean it changes their decision much - I have spent time in a steward's stand and most of the time they had made their decision before they even talked to the jocks.
I am an ” ask why” person, one of those people who ask a lot of questions to fully understand so please don't take my questioning wrong. I am curious how you/anyone came to their conclusion on synthetic surfaces? I should maybe rephrase a question that I asked before that was not worded right on my part. I wonder how many people have had any experience with synthetic surfaces? I also wonder if the whole makeup of the synthetic surfaces are understood? Now, before you ” label” me I am neutral until I further look at the issue myself, my first and foremost concern is the safety of the horses.
I agree with the one governing body and synthetics. We need to go back to dirt and turf and just cut out the middle man. On the inquiry point, i'm kinda ehhhh. Police interview both parties and get eye witnesses. In school if there was a fight they talk to the kinds involved and somebody who just saw the fight. Maybe that is what should be done. If there was a jock riding close behind, get them up there to answer some questions.
Jasen, I sure hope Santa is listening to this great list!
Meet Jasen Mangrum
My interest in the Sport of Kings goes back over 25 years with my father taking me with his friends to the old Ak-Sar-Ben Race Course in Omaha, NE. From those early experiences I was able to read the Daily Racing Form before the age of 10. Once The Woodlands opened in Kansas City in 1988, I became totally hooked on the sport studying racing charts after homework and tennis practice. In recent years, with the explosion of handicapping tournaments, my love for handicapping the races has risen to a new level. Primarily focused on New York, Chicago and Louisiana racing, I have now been forced to study races far and wide in attempt to find “cap horses” in the tournaments I play. I have also dabbled in horse ownership within syndicates and on my own.
My fondest memories in racing include Silver Charm’s 1997 Kentucky Derby victory. Both my father and I selected him, which made for a memorable day. The best race I’ve seen was Tiznow’s first Breeders Cup Classic win in 2000 when he outdueled Giant’s Causeway down the length of the Churchill Downs stretch. My biggest windfall as a gambler was a pool-scooping pick-4 win, paying over $6,600 at The Woodlands in 2005.
The point of this blog is to get everyone out there a few winners, but also to go in depth at how I come to the conclusions that I do. From week to week, I’ll explain angles I think are important to locate winners. I encourage others to post picks they like too, but please explain how you come to your conclusions. That way everyone can learn a little more about this great game, and add another weapon to their handicapping arsenal.-Best of luck, Jasen Mangrum