Lukas and O'Gorman As Benchmarks

Looking at those injury stats, last post, if they show anything at all it is that it is unnecessary to have a 50% year (or worse) permanent injury rate in your stable. For those, such as Bramlage, that can stand at the clubhouse turn in the Derby over a downed 8 Belles and pronounce on national TV that this stuff "just happens"--well, Lukas and O'Gorman stats indicate that there is a difference in training methods, and hence there is "causation" of some sort, and so it's other than Bramlage's disservice to the sport. There are reasons these horses go down.

The training method of this man, D.W. Lukas, was uncovered by Australian Vet Ross Staaden in his book "Winning Trainers". Blow to the sport that the printing was discontinued.

Staaden's book contained Lukas's training logs, and Lukas's descriptions that Staaden had to pry the info out of Lukas. This was year of Winning Colors, Steinlen, Red Attack and Blue Jean Baby et. al. the height of the Lukas stable. "Tis a fine revolution Horatio, and thanks to Staaden, we had the trick to see it!"

There is zero similarity between O'Gorman and Lukas training and yet both have stats that separate them from the pack of strictly conventional trainers I looked at. O'Gorman because he breezes twice a week, and Lukas because he sends his horses to the track more than any other-- 22 times a month.

O'Gorman and Lukas thus will serve as my benchmarks in analyzing the trainer injury stats to relate frequency of speed work with the injury rate. I'll make this analysis, next post.

Training:

Wed. 12/15: Pasture romp with speed bursts.

Thurs. 12/16: walk-trot under tack for 10 min.

Fri. 12/17: Tack work was scotched when it took me 30 min. to catch 'em. Out of time. Riderless 5 x 4f with speed bursts.