Dutrow's "Methods"
Big Brown's non-training since the Derby continues with the announcement today that the horse has a new quarter crack on the left front discovered Friday 5/22 supposedly resulting from an abscess. Numerous questions of course on which one might write a book, to include the particular treatment for the quarter cracks, the use of glue on shoes held on the quarter area of the hoofs by a copper strip and epoxy, as well as general theories on treating quarter cracks, and last but hardly least, Dutrow's (ignorant imo) statement that he's unworried about missed training that could carry into Thursday 5/29 exactly 9 days pre-Belmont (June 7).
This news changes the whole tenor of this post as I was preparing a somewhat humorous rendition of the dynamic between Dutrow and his exercise rider Michelle Nevin, and what they were (were supposed to be) doing with this horse.
After Eight Belles the entire country has awakened that vis a vis horse racing something is rotten in Denmark, and my own post Derby mood hardly improves by watching the powers that be deal with every peripheral issue except what really counts which is the preparation of the horse through training and pre-race diagnostics.
Now, due to luck or questionable practice, we have a lightly raced and trained colt going into a 1.5 mile race with one planned breeze and another "blowout" on race morning presumably under a 150+ lbs. When Dutrow says that he's unconcerned about missed training could he possibly be thinking "cannon bones" or Eight Belles, or that we know through research that there is significant bone loss/resorption that results from three weeks of bed rest. With bone like musculature its "use it or lose it". I'd have been far more comfortable to hear Dutrow say this morning, "I'm very concerned."
My own point of view was that after Eight Belles they should have cancelled this year's Triple Crown. They'll go on with it of course, and I still will hope to be proven wrong and that Big Brown, like War Pass, Rags To Riches and countless others will survive the race after training or lack of training on the bare edge of structural soundness.
Unknown after today's news whether I'm in the mood for light analysis of all this, or any analysis at all. Pondering.
Training:
Fri: 5/23 both colts riderless 2 x 1 mile in mud though the surface was ok. Art was then walked under tack in the paddock as we're trying to avoid a cuppy surface on our pasture track. Rod took his maiden voyage under tack walking about 50 feet whereupon Nob promptly jumped off and declared that was enough walking for tack work day #1. I'd prefer Jerry Bailey, but for us Nob will have to do. The 2 yr. old is showing some slight cannon bone/shin heat that without a doubt results from a too fast workout a couple of cycles back where I'd planned 90% speed and allowed 'em to go all out. Violation of my own rule--never exceed the plan particularly for speed. This is minor but we'll back off slightly with Rod in the next days.
Sat. 5/24: Off due to weather. First one we've missed in a while.
This news changes the whole tenor of this post as I was preparing a somewhat humorous rendition of the dynamic between Dutrow and his exercise rider Michelle Nevin, and what they were (were supposed to be) doing with this horse.
After Eight Belles the entire country has awakened that vis a vis horse racing something is rotten in Denmark, and my own post Derby mood hardly improves by watching the powers that be deal with every peripheral issue except what really counts which is the preparation of the horse through training and pre-race diagnostics.
Now, due to luck or questionable practice, we have a lightly raced and trained colt going into a 1.5 mile race with one planned breeze and another "blowout" on race morning presumably under a 150+ lbs. When Dutrow says that he's unconcerned about missed training could he possibly be thinking "cannon bones" or Eight Belles, or that we know through research that there is significant bone loss/resorption that results from three weeks of bed rest. With bone like musculature its "use it or lose it". I'd have been far more comfortable to hear Dutrow say this morning, "I'm very concerned."
My own point of view was that after Eight Belles they should have cancelled this year's Triple Crown. They'll go on with it of course, and I still will hope to be proven wrong and that Big Brown, like War Pass, Rags To Riches and countless others will survive the race after training or lack of training on the bare edge of structural soundness.
Unknown after today's news whether I'm in the mood for light analysis of all this, or any analysis at all. Pondering.
Training:
Fri: 5/23 both colts riderless 2 x 1 mile in mud though the surface was ok. Art was then walked under tack in the paddock as we're trying to avoid a cuppy surface on our pasture track. Rod took his maiden voyage under tack walking about 50 feet whereupon Nob promptly jumped off and declared that was enough walking for tack work day #1. I'd prefer Jerry Bailey, but for us Nob will have to do. The 2 yr. old is showing some slight cannon bone/shin heat that without a doubt results from a too fast workout a couple of cycles back where I'd planned 90% speed and allowed 'em to go all out. Violation of my own rule--never exceed the plan particularly for speed. This is minor but we'll back off slightly with Rod in the next days.
Sat. 5/24: Off due to weather. First one we've missed in a while.
posted by rather rapid at
12:02 PM
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1 Comments:
Good read RR-
I've been thinking about Afleet Alex and his stumble/win in the TC a few years back.
Never seen anything like it before or since on such a grand stage.
Not a coincidence that his trainer worked him much harder than today's bunch. Even interval trained a bit.
Eight Belles couldn't negotiate 10% of that undue stress due to her light 'training'.
These days trainers like Dutrow don't feel track work is important because they basically don't do any.
I am developing a Beyer-like number to assess the fitness of a horse in training during gallops and breezes, should be interesting.
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