LEADS II

Alydar, outside besting Affirmed in the Arlington Classic. Notice obvious left lead.

And, the horse raced 26 times. My understanding is that they never did get him to change leads in the stretch. Trainer: John M. Veitch. Yes, that John Veitch.

What's the concern anyway? If Alydar can race on one lead, and the Europeans, how about our every day race horses?

First, what is it that happens? 1 1/8 mile race, horse correctly changes leads into Club House turn, back to right lead on the backstretch, left around final turn, and at the 3/16th into the stretch the horse refuses the right lead change. Could be for any of a number of reason--the confusion and mayhem at that point distracts the horse, it may be in such position vis a vis a competitor that it's unable to go through the necessary motion, might be injured on the right lead, or, as happens, downright rider negligence or rider effort to change and the horse just declines.

Why does it matter--and it dam well better--to our sanguine horse owner? As we may imagine, if we're dealing with animals fragile as egg shells (I prefer "egg membranes" as the appropriate metaphor), how much more difficult is it in terms of geometry to injure that horse going half a mile on one lead as opposed to just 3/16th of a mile? They fracture all the time with correct lead changes. How much more likely is it to create a fracture or beginnings of a fracture line when a horse is asked to go 1/2 mile on one lead, all out?

Who knows, but I'd guess the %s in this would be other than pretty. In this sense, is insisting on correct leads even a question?

But, Alydar did it, you say. Let's put Alydar's lead changing in perspective. My understanding is that Alydar refused galloping on his right lead even in training except on the back stretch. Apparently the horse was trained from day one--and he won the Champagne Stakes as a 2 yr. old--in this manner of lead changing. They did everything possible to get it correct but were never able to persuade the horse. In this scenario, quite obviously, the horse developed enough fracture resistance in its left lead that the horse withstood racing in this manner.

It's quite a different story for our horse that normally changes leads and then all the sudden, surprise, is raced a half mile on one lead. This horse's skeleton will be over born for the reason that insufficient fracture resistance for this exercise had been developed in training.

And, what of these dudes? Are they on the left lead as they're supposed to be around the Clubhouse turn at what looks to be Saratoga?

Both horses look to me to be on the right lead, though it's hard to tell. The outside horse is leading with it's left but his position and body language speaks right lead. The inside horse horse to me seems fairly obviously on his right lead although the rider is looking down and so may have just awoken to the fact that the horse is on the wrong lead. You look down at the front leg strike when you're trying to see what lead your horse is on. Take note than when horses are on the inside lead around turns their heads generally are fairly noticeably cranked to the outside. Both these horse heads are turned the other way, which indicates probable right lead. The bane of every owner--two jocks jawing with each other instead of paying attention to their mounts.

Training:
Fri. 10/14 Off.
Sat. 10/15 light riderless + 4 x trot gallop up and down hill. Wanted speed but horse this night has difficult breathing (his norm) going into the gallop and then is a bit out of control trying to get his breath. Rider decides just to hand on, and the last two probably went in :16s. A little breeze likely in next two days.