Figuring It Out

Frequency, or more accurately for most conventional stables "lack of frequency" of breezing/racing qualifies imo as the 2nd, 3rd, 4th biggest problem in the sport just behind the #1 problem of lack of bettors. Failing to work horses is of course but a subtext of the "trainer problem" that has plagued this sport certainly since I came in in the mid 1980s. We lose owner after owner and all their connections due to any variation of trainer incompetence, lack of knowledge and common sense, or flat out inability due to lack of money or riders in terms of giving horses needed track work.

Doubt the extent of the problem? Then reconsider, as documented on the blog, that conventional trainers with D.W. Lukas as the #1 example permanently injure one third of their horses every six months:

http://ratherrapid.blogspot.com/2007/01/lukas-and-injuries-stats.html
(URL failing--see 1/27/07 post on Lukas injury stats.)

The injury rate is nuts and it's amazing to me the sport survives at all with what happens.

The above illustrates that if as horse owners/trainers we want to survive in the sport short of spectacular con jobs on unwitting new owners we must figure out mandatory breezing/racing frequency in terms of fracture resistance, i.e. the minimum amount of fast work the horse MUST do to avoid permanent injury.

I think we look at this in the following parameters:

1. How soon CAN we work again after a breeze/race?
2. What is the IDEAL spacing of breeze/races?
3. What is the MINIMUM frequency we must achieve?

And, to the above I'd add what I've already established (sort of) on the blog that these works must be carried on minimally for 4 furlongs at :12.5 sec/f speed, i.e. anything slower or shorter is insufficient for appropriate bone remodel and maintenance.

I've already noted that the old time trainers with at least some of their horses were working them every three days, and that with variations this CAN be done. I'll take a close look later as to whether three day spacing SHOULD be done.

I've also noted that of late--starting probably in about 2002--we have seen more and more conventional trainers morph their stables into more intense training than the D.W. Lukas model of breezing every 9-10 days to the point many of these breeze every 5-7 days though many, like Todd Pletcher, will interject literally weeks of no works after races which serve to reduce the overall averages.

Starting next post I'll analyze the three questions I presented here--how often can we go, must we go and what is ideal. I suspect this will be a fairly lengthy discussion.

Training:
Wed. 10/1: Rod off. Art riderless speed work.
Thurs. 10/2: Art off. Rod trots 1 mile and does 10 min. mostly slow gallop riderless work.
Fri. 10/3/08: Art 1.6 miles medium gallop. Rod: 1.25 mile trot + 2 miles riderless medium intermittent with several fast spurts.