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Transfering race track lameness blame
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I.CE T R A C K L A M E N E S S B L A M E
Everyone seems to be passing the buck as to who is at fault for the unacceptable level of race track lameness. The brunt of the blame has usually fallen on the veterinarian, who has often needlessly assumed the responsibility. Recent research in sportsmedicine, however, has shown that the biggest cause of lameness and permanent breakdown at the track is fatigue brought on by inadequate conditioning of the horses. Of course every trainer defends his training schedule to the dying breath. When it is perfectly obvious that a horse breaks down due to inadequate conditioning, the trainer (sometimes justifiably) blames the owner for wanting to push the horse too fast. In an effort to encourage better conditioning the Southern California Thoroughbred Racing Association and the H o r s e m e n ' s Benevolent and Protective Association have devised the "advanced training schedule for Southern California thoroughbred tracks. "The theory behind the advanced training program is that trainers have the opportunity to prepare horses 60 t o 90 days away from a race with recorded workouts," according to an article in the Santa Anita Track Record. However, a study made of the activity of 1693 horses stabled at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park for the 1981 spring-summer advance training program showed extremely limited activity for these horses. More than half of the horses, supposedly in advanced training, had no recorded workouts and had no record at all with the Daily Racing Form by the end of the season. A surprising 52.6 percent of the horses in the advanced training program never did start in a race that season (1981). Of the 891 thoroughbreds stabled at the tracks with no workouts, there were probably hundreds of individual reasons why stall rest and a hot-walker were the extent of a horse's "conditioning." To be fair, we must assume that some horses worked out incognito. But data from the
JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE is published bi-monthly (6 times yearly) by William E. Jones, DVM, P.O. Box 1127, Wildomar, CA 92395. Copyright 1982© by William E. Jones, DVM No part of this publication may be reprinted or copied either wholly or in part without permission of the publisher. Telephone 1-714-678-1083. SUBSCRIPTIONS may be obtained by writing to the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Subscription Dept., P.O. Box 1127, Wildomar, CA 92395. A six-issue subscri ption is $30 for mailing inside the United States. Library subscriptions are
76
survey are highly suggestive that trainers, in general, do not believe track workouts to be an important part of conditioning. Some "revolutionary thinking" trainers are taking a hard look at the accumulating facts in the field of exercise physiology. There is even a newsletter out now, devoted to the development of better conditioning of equine athletes. In a recent issue, (Equine Sportsmedicine, June 1982) trainer, Doug Menezes, sums up his impression of his first year of training using a new technique called "interval training." He says he has learned a lot about fitness and a lot about injury prevention. "1 learned that the horse can do a lot more work than people think and that they benefit from more of the right kind of work. I think it's a whole new ballgame, this sportsmedicine, and that it's going to revolutionize the industry." Even well-known personalities in racing are beginning to realize some changes are in order. After the running of this year's classic races, Billy Hartack was quoted as saying, "Too many horses are breaking down, there's got to be something wrong. 1 see it all the time. They go a quarter of a mile out of the gate and the riders flat pull 'em up. Just because one horse breaks down doesn't mean the trainer isn't doing his job, but if several of his horses keep breaking down, I beleive he should be called in to talk about it. Put him on notice. 1 feel strongly about this." There is an increasing amount of data which suggests that proper conditioning of muscles, heart and lungs are essential if a horse is to compete at his maximum level. These data also suggest that without proper conditi~oning, muscle fatigue leads to bows and fractures, and the incidence of lung bleeding is higher. It seems that the equine athlete does not require workouts as often as its human counterpart. But, regular workouts at a speed and distance that will stress the horse seem vital to the development and maintenance of racing soundness.
$50. Overseas subscriptions are $50 in U.S. funds, drawn on a U.S. bank. Payment must accompany subscription order. CHANGE OF ADDRESS:Please give six (6) weeks notice before moving. Send your old address label plus your complete new address to: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, Subscription Dept., P.O. Box 1127, Wildomar, CA 92395. ADVERTISING: For current rates and space availability, contact Ann Slatten Jones, Advertising Manager, P.O. Box 1127, Wildomar, CA 92395. Telephone 1-714-678-1083.
EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I.CE T R A C K L A M E N E S S B L A M E
Everyone seems to be passing the buck as to who is at fault for the unacceptable level of race track lameness. The brunt of the blame has usually fallen on the veterinarian, who has often needlessly assumed the responsibility. Recent research in sportsmedicine, however, has shown that the biggest cause of lameness and permanent breakdown at the track is fatigue brought on by inadequate conditioning of the horses. Of course every trainer defends his training schedule to the dying breath. When it is perfectly obvious that a horse breaks down due to inadequate conditioning, the trainer (sometimes justifiably) blames the owner for wanting to push the horse too fast. In an effort to encourage better conditioning the Southern California Thoroughbred Racing Association and the H o r s e m e n ' s Benevolent and Protective Association have devised the "advanced training schedule for Southern California thoroughbred tracks. "The theory behind the advanced training program is that trainers have the opportunity to prepare horses 60 t o 90 days away from a race with recorded workouts," according to an article in the Santa Anita Track Record. However, a study made of the activity of 1693 horses stabled at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park for the 1981 spring-summer advance training program showed extremely limited activity for these horses. More than half of the horses, supposedly in advanced training, had no recorded workouts and had no record at all with the Daily Racing Form by the end of the season. A surprising 52.6 percent of the horses in the advanced training program never did start in a race that season (1981). Of the 891 thoroughbreds stabled at the tracks with no workouts, there were probably hundreds of individual reasons why stall rest and a hot-walker were the extent of a horse's "conditioning." To be fair, we must assume that some horses worked out incognito. But data from the
JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE is published bi-monthly (6 times yearly) by William E. Jones, DVM, P.O. Box 1127, Wildomar, CA 92395. Copyright 1982© by William E. Jones, DVM No part of this publication may be reprinted or copied either wholly or in part without permission of the publisher. Telephone 1-714-678-1083. SUBSCRIPTIONS may be obtained by writing to the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Subscription Dept., P.O. Box 1127, Wildomar, CA 92395. A six-issue subscri ption is $30 for mailing inside the United States. Library subscriptions are
76
survey are highly suggestive that trainers, in general, do not believe track workouts to be an important part of conditioning. Some "revolutionary thinking" trainers are taking a hard look at the accumulating facts in the field of exercise physiology. There is even a newsletter out now, devoted to the development of better conditioning of equine athletes. In a recent issue, (Equine Sportsmedicine, June 1982) trainer, Doug Menezes, sums up his impression of his first year of training using a new technique called "interval training." He says he has learned a lot about fitness and a lot about injury prevention. "1 learned that the horse can do a lot more work than people think and that they benefit from more of the right kind of work. I think it's a whole new ballgame, this sportsmedicine, and that it's going to revolutionize the industry." Even well-known personalities in racing are beginning to realize some changes are in order. After the running of this year's classic races, Billy Hartack was quoted as saying, "Too many horses are breaking down, there's got to be something wrong. 1 see it all the time. They go a quarter of a mile out of the gate and the riders flat pull 'em up. Just because one horse breaks down doesn't mean the trainer isn't doing his job, but if several of his horses keep breaking down, I beleive he should be called in to talk about it. Put him on notice. 1 feel strongly about this." There is an increasing amount of data which suggests that proper conditioning of muscles, heart and lungs are essential if a horse is to compete at his maximum level. These data also suggest that without proper conditi~oning, muscle fatigue leads to bows and fractures, and the incidence of lung bleeding is higher. It seems that the equine athlete does not require workouts as often as its human counterpart. But, regular workouts at a speed and distance that will stress the horse seem vital to the development and maintenance of racing soundness.
$50. Overseas subscriptions are $50 in U.S. funds, drawn on a U.S. bank. Payment must accompany subscription order. CHANGE OF ADDRESS:Please give six (6) weeks notice before moving. Send your old address label plus your complete new address to: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, Subscription Dept., P.O. Box 1127, Wildomar, CA 92395. ADVERTISING: For current rates and space availability, contact Ann Slatten Jones, Advertising Manager, P.O. Box 1127, Wildomar, CA 92395. Telephone 1-714-678-1083.
EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE