Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

Greg — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:05:57 GMT

I have been told that if you cut a yearling he will grow faster and stronger than if you leave him a colt. Any proven truth at all to this?

Thanks

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

christienne budge — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:16:39 GMT

This is what is wrong with horse racing. There is no "governing" body, such as the Baseball Commissioner, who can govern these breeding practices. The Arabs are also to blame. They are breeding like mad for speed and for the breeding shed. I do not think a 2 year old should be run so early. I have had two with partnerships and guess what? They both got injured! One I bought myself and put her on a farm to retire because I thought she may be claimed at Phili Park and end up on a slaughter truck. Something has to be done.

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

Chris — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:27:44 GMT

Mr. Stiles:

Just a curiosity question for you.

Are any of these ideas or opinions getting to any of the "Powers That Be" people in horse racing ???

Or is all of this really just for the readers to vent with ???

I'm mainly asking this because "IF" the ideas and opinions presented here really are getting to someone important, I'd like to know what that person thinks about some of them.

Maybe you can invite them to chime in here from time to time...ya know ???

Just a thought !!!

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

Chris — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:28:10 GMT

Personally I believe that Breeders are to blame because this is where our whole industry is created from. And if they're breeding a speed mare to a speed sire instead of a sire who can put a little more stamina into a foal, then YES they are to blame.

I agree that Trainers are also to blame, but only so much for them though. I think that you have to keep in mind that...

#1...A Trainer can really only work with what he's given.

And #2...The Trainer has to please his Owners. And if he's being pressured by his Owners to run them more often, then he really has no choice but to keep the choices of races shorter so he doesn't break down his horses.

Overall I believe that it's EVERYONES FAULT. The Breeder, Trainers, Owners and Racing Secretaries.

* Breeders for breeding speed instead of stamina or Turf.

* Trainers for not trying to stretch out a horse.

* Owners for not having the patience to allow a Trainer to take more time to stretch out a horse.

* And Racing Secretaries for not writing longer races.

Just a thought !!!

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

hank — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:49:56 GMT

I totally agree with Wnad on her article on Aug 20th, everyone is blaming breeders, I believe as much fault lies with the trainer, patience lack of money or what ever it seems as though they want to give horses "bullet works of a half mile" then try to run them long and wonder why they get tired and go lame. Hit hard and fast, and hope for the best is the way today. Love to watch those long turf races from Europe on TVG.

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

whoapony — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:27:55 GMT

Do you know why people breed for early maturing sprinters? Because breeders produce what makes money. Precocious sprinters develop quickly and look good at the sales, producing higher sale prices. Plus, most of the time the poplular new sire prospects are the blazing fast sprinters and milers. They are the horses commercial breeders will pay high stud fees for. Look through the Stallion Register. There are precious few sires specializing in older or distance runners commanding a high fee. The ones that do (Dynaformer comes to mind) earned their high fees through years of producing top quality runners.

If we had more distance races then maybe the focus would shift, but it's sort of the chicken and the egg. If we bred horses for distance, then racetracks would card them because they would fill. Or, if the big money at the track and then the breeding shed and sale ring came from sound, distance horses then that's what breeders would produce. Look at Sunday Silence. He was sold to Japan because American breeders weren't interested in a horse that excelled over 1 1/4 miles for two racing seasons. Devil His Due, a horse who ran classic distances and medication free in forty starts can't get the top mares and his stud fee has dropped. Something needs to happen to break the cycle, but I don't know the best place for it to start.

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

Bellwether — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:58:19 GMT

don't race any 2yo's till sept...they are just running them in the ground (Second of June) one of many...breed not really that weak...it's the human factor thats the weak one...Long Live The Dirt!!!

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

STEVE STONE — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:26:22 GMT

Hello Martin..Perhaps this opinion column is not the appropriate venue for my thoughts..however its somewhat germane to the overall big racing picture..As an aside to your question as to why todays thoroughbreds are not as durable as those of yesteryear..being questioned by members of the racing community..perhaps they can answer why less than 41,000 fans turned out in perfect weather to witness the Travers Stakes at the Old Spa? This event..the oldest in the country and certainly one of the most august on the racing calendar..next to the Kentucky Derby itself normally draws close to 70,000 fans..The NYRA team I am sure are pondering this disappointing attendance day..True attendance is endemically soft throughout the industry..however there is something radically wrong when these numbers are so paltry for this race day..irrespective of whom was entered or not running.... The meeting there has been plagued with some adverse weather which has kept the attendance down throughout....however..Travers Day was glorious and pristine.....This industry has so many moving parts and components..like others..however if the numbers are not reversed at some point..I do not believe you will have to worry about why todays thoroughbreds are not as constructed soundly as they were in another era..No one will be in the stands to see them run anyway..I certainly hope someone out there has some answers..There are enough groups and associations involved in the sport to hopefully spawn an solution before its to late..Thank you always for your window...Steve Stone..East Hanover..New Jersey...

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

Dr. Don — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:55:00 GMT

I have been involved in a racetrack practice for almost thirty years.It is very obvious that the integrity and sport aspects of thoroughbred racing has been somewhat replaced by greed and the fallacy that it can be a profitable business. Very difficult The pressure that is now put upon the horse is in reality a culmination of nall the pressures exerted for larger fields, More money wagered, etc. Let us not forget they are not machines with replaceavle parts. I have seen many, many horses who should never have been put into training or maybe even have been bred. Never forget speed kills

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

ofelia — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:21:36 GMT

Thoroughbreds are distance runners and Quarter Horses are sprinters. Why do we continue to accept 6F and 7F racing of Thoroughbreds? I would love to see racing go back to the setting of beautiful parks, horses running on turf and champions that run year after year. I love racing but I am beginning to prefer steeplechasing where I have been able to see McDynamo (son of Dynaformer) run three years in a row. McDynamo was a horse that was gelded because he did not make it on the track but went on to excel over jumps on turf. I think if thoroughbreds raced longer distances on turf, Dynaformer would rank up there with Danehill and Mr. Prospector as a sire.

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

T.J. — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:45:58 GMT

Let's not forget that tax breaks for horsebreeders were taken off the books in 1986. That emphasized the need for early returns; i.e., sprinters.

We won't see those tax breaks again. Still, I'd like to see more graded stakes races stretched out to 10f, 12f or 2 miles. Good trainers will have no trouble finding horses for them.

Until then, owners of stayers rather should send their horses overseas, where many so-called slowpokes make worthy careers beginning at 12f.

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

da3hoss — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:59:06 GMT

Anytime the breeders (of any breed, dog or horse) breed for the whim of the buyer it is a sure bet the breed will go downhill...it takes a special person to stay true to the foundations and what's best for the breed & its future.

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

Rick S — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:56:40 GMT

Peggy, how do you know the 5 yr old mare was not sound?

I had a 5 yr old FTS about 20 years ago... he was a June 28 foal, and I did not feel he was ready to run till he was 5. He was easy to break, but he was just not ready to be a race horse.

And he was sound in all 17 of his starts.

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:29:48 GMT

the quote...

"But the breeders who brought us Man o’ War, Secretariat, Northern Dancer, and Buckpasser did not expect to make a profit from their horses. These people served as a conduit for money that flowed from business and industry to the kingdom of the horse."

I, appreciate this comment. Maybe it is as close as it can be to the mind set, "Sport of Kings". I would love to see some current kings be gentlemen, also. Money is certainly necessary. Could there ever be a balance between the money and the honor in the current kingdom?

re: Cash Flow - by Martin Stiles

STEVE A — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:17:37 GMT

Maybe so was so fast, they couldn't catch her till she was 5.