Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

sceptre — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:02:47 GMT

Mr. Waldrop:

I notice that others have already commented about the Paragallo matter, but none yet have mentioned the Canani-The Pamplemousse issue. It's unbelieveable how racing journalists have attempted to portray Canani as the "good-guy" in this matter. The truth is that it took an association vet during a cursory pre-race, race-day exam to discover the tendon issue. Fact is, it was her duty then to scratch the horse-she didn't need Canani's "permission". This incident offers ample evidence of the need for far more thorough and constant monitoring of these horses. You can't rely on these trainers or the owners... Also, in a more ideal world (as witness the Paragallo matter), there should be routine inspection of the care afforded horses at farms as well.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

For Big Red — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:06:22 GMT

TO MERRYWRITER: Thank you for your kind words. :)

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

For Big Red — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:05:14 GMT

TO RUNNINFOOL: You wrote, "There are so many caring, trusting, and respectable horsemen/women that do right by their animals, yet there are a few bad apples."

Two problems with that point of view.

First, incidents like the widely reported neglect case of owner Ernie Paragallo's horses (www.nytimes.com/.../05horses.html), and this past Saturday's case of trainer Jeff Mullins violating New York rules by giving Gato Go Win medication in the detention barn before the Gotham, give all owners, trainers and racing officials a huge black eye.

Second, where are all the "caring, trusting, and respectable horsemen/women" when cases such as these come to light? The silence is deafening. Mullins, trainer of I Want Revenge, one of this year's Derby favorites, has a long history of fines for various infractions in multiple racing jurisdictions. His "rap sheet" of 27 infractions dates back 23 years to 1986. That's a rate of slightly more than one a year. When is enough, enough?

More importantly, this sport's economic life blood is gambling. How the heck are we in the general public going to be able to trust that any horse Mullins runs is clean?

When a high-profile people in the sport, like Mullins and Paragallo, can't keep their acts clean, how can we trust anyone in the sport?

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

real change now — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:25:47 GMT

How can you cry about the unfairness of the animal rights activists' and fans' issues with racing while back patting yourself for minor, un-enforceable changes (while skirting most humane reforms).

The same week that:

1.one of the KD favorite's trainers is caught in the detention barn

2.one of NY's leading owners has horses found with major neglect of health care and food to his horses before shipping them to "unknown destinations". Then former stories come out as well.

3.the leading track ownership corporation in the country is in bankruptcy proceedings

Try, try again to give us a legitimate reason to support and applaud a platform--Support the Anti-Slaughter Bill, change claiming rules to allow owners to be more humane with their claimers, adopt and enforce real penalties to trainer, horse and owners, and please (in addition to steroids)address the real, masking drugs and joint injections that are known culprits in breakdowns.

Why would new owners, bettors or fans be attracted to the sport right now when the industry reeks worse than AIG? Why should current owners, fans and bettors stick with the sport when every week there is a new black eye?

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

John Nickelson — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:16:03 GMT

Alex,

The raceday medications are the elephant in the living room. You, as the leader of our sport, should bypass the industry and go straight to congress demanding a federal law banning raceday medications.

Until you do this you are just a front man and will never be taken seriously.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

snowy morning — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 04:24:26 GMT

Obviously your 10 month improvement is better than nothing, but still too far away from Industry's civilization. You haven't even come up to regulate 'First things First' on drug rule yet, such as; ban lasix on racing day (it can be started in Triple Crowns & Breeders' Cup, this year), stiff penalties to owners & trainers, like minimum $10,000 penalty & one year suspention. Absolutely No Eclips Award for suspended trainer. And most importantly, should set mandatory Social Security system apply to owners for their horses'sake.

Until materialize the above as first step, there is not much hope

left for industry's future.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

goodwin — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:19:53 GMT

1. ZERO tolerance for medications infractions. Period! No year, or 45 - 90 days "off", and then business as usual - you are forever out of the game. Go sell insurance, or something!

It makes the sport look VERY scummy, as if it protects its own (well, doesn't it?)

And, yes,

2. A national authority (just like baseball, football, and basketball) to enforce the rules. Period.

3. A voucher to breed - inspections for conformation, general health, etc. for breeding rights. And no more procedures to correct incorrect conformation in foals! (geez - this SHOULD be pretty elementary!)

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

merrywriter — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:58:12 GMT

As 'dray 33' pointed to the crux of the matter, I will put it in order: STOP over-breeding. STOP slaughter. STOP medication abuse.

'For Big Red' should write either for ntra.com or BloodHorse.

But in the end as 'anon' pointed out: "The number 1 problem with racing - No one cares, watches, is a fan, (or) knows about horse racing." I've been complaining about this: how difficult it is for a beginner to find out about the terms used in the sport in order to become knowledgeable and then participate. No racing connection is interested on their websites of having a primer. And the sport is failing because of it.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

For Big Red — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:38:03 GMT

I need to correct an error I made in my previous post above. I said that Friesan Fire and Chocolate Candy both last raced on 2/14. Not so. What I was trying to get at was that they both would have had the same amount of time between their last and next races: FF between the Louisiana Derby and the Kentucky Derby, and Chocolate Candy between his last race and yesterday's Santa Anita Derby. Otherwise, my point about how very differently the two colts are/were being trained up to their races is absolutely correct.

The situation with The Pamplemousse also bears mention on this blog. Some clockers have been reporting the colt had not looked right in his recent works. Forgive my skepticism, but I believe the stable knew something wasn't right with the colt, but they were planning to race him anyway. Thank goodness for the inspection by the state/track vet. This situation goes straight to the heart of the excellent point made above by fb0252.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

RunninFool — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:44:20 GMT

I love this game! There are so many caring, trusting, and respectable horsemen/women that do right by their animals, yet there are a few bad apples...

Unfortunately the horse does not have the ability to make all the decisions for itself....yet did A-Rod, Barry Bonds, etc. Congress got involved with steriod use in baseball, has this really helped? Did the Team owners get penalized for their players indulgence? Or did they just "look the other way" while they paid these players millions to perform and create revenue for them!

I would say if you want to cut to the chase, the term integrity and accountibility should be applied vigoroulsy to the owners/ownership groups.

Make the owner more responsible! When Pletcher/Assumsen went to the sidelines for their "drug" infractions, did the owners still have their horses run under assistant trainers? Of course!

What if the owner had to go to the sidelines for 6 or 12 months...not able to make money to justify their investments or tarnish their reputation? And if an owner had a history of running unsound horses,or having a record of catastrophic breakdowns...they should be penalized or after %, be ruled off the track...

I not saying the trainer doesn't share some of the blame, but ultimately, the owner has the decision making power whether or not his/her charges are under the appropriate care.

Responsibility needs to start where the money trail ends...the owner!

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

Bellwether — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 06:06:08 GMT

good work to U & your people @ NTRA...this world CAN NOT & WILL NOT FUNCTION WITH OUT DRUGS...that goes for HORSES & HUMANS...just don't use them to CHEAT...LONG LIVE THE KING!!!...

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

sceptre — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:49:54 GMT

The vast majority who have posted to this blog feel that not enough is being done to minimize injuries/breakdowns/catastrophic breakdowns. I, for one, wonder if we're only communicating between ourselves, or is the AUTHOR (Mr. Waltrop) reading any of this.

As regards For Big Red's comments-

I feel some of your suggestions have merit. I doubt that better support-type wraps could accomplish much for an animal of such size running at those speeds. A complete map of the equine genome would be only a very rudimentary first step-it will take many many years before insights derived from this project will produce much significant change relative to prevention of injury. The human genome is fully mapped, yet scientists are just beginning to make meaningful use of it. Better shoeing techniques will offer some help, as would a more scientific approach to safer racing surfaces. But, most of the above, and your positive suggestions will take years to produce significant positive change. In my earlier post I touched upon another avenue which I believe could produce meaningful change more quickly. I see it as a more direct approach, and its consequence may motivate the industry toward those other ideas you suggested. I'm suggesting that we enact far more stringent monitoring requirements for horses in training. Yes, it's expensive, but it's something we can do now. The technology exists today (and a somewhat helpful, simple blood test is also forthcoming). These horses should be checked out thoroughly on a regular basis--a team of vets, scans, close observation, etc. If administered properly, imagine how many horses would be barred from competition-how many catastrophic injuries would be avoided. Read the articles on the subject, and you will discover that the vast majority of injuries, particularly catastrophic injuries, had a pre-existing cause. Forget about that "bad step" mentality-it's bogus, but it's what the trainers and associations would prefer you believe. Set up sophisticated diagnostic tools at the tracks and hire a proper team of vets. The tracks will fight against this-their fields would grow smaller-less wagering revenue, etc. The trainers will hate it, also many owners. They'd all rather bury their heads and let the horses assume the risk. So let's hear Mr. Waltrop's take on this. I'm suggesting we drastically cut down on these injuries at the source-something we can accomplish rather quickly-if we really have the will. Who should pay for it? This can be debated, but the individual states come first to mind.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

For Big Red — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:17:47 GMT

TO ALEX: I applaud anyone who works to improve safety and conditions for both horses and backstretch personnel. I heartily welcome the leadership exercised by the NTRA over the past year. So please do not take what I'm about to write as a knock on you or the NTRA's efforts.

Unfortunately, with the sport in trouble on so many fronts, I can't escape the feeling your efforts may be too little, too late. Additionally, I think it's a bad mistake to complain about "well-organized, well-funded animal rights activists," when nearly all of the sport's problems have been self-inflicted. They are long-standing and have been all but totally ignored by racing's "powers that be" for decades.

Now, in a belated reaction to the horrible publicity surrounding Barbaro and Eight Belles, as well as other high-profile breakdowns over the last few years, the NTRA, Jockey Club, and others are attempting to put band aids on several gaping wounds. Nevertheless, it's better to start with band aids, I suppose, than never to start at all, so here are a few doable, realistic suggestions for the Alliance to consider:

1. Take advantage of 21st Century science. Fund research into support wraps and better shoeing for horses' legs. Many modern materials are light, yet strong. Similar to what happened in auto racing with the development of head-and-neck restraints, if race-day wraps and shoes could be developed to provide support, anti-torsioning, shock-absorption, and protection characteristics, use of such equipment should be mandated for all races and workouts in the U.S. Horse racing is always going to have its dangerous aspects, true, but safety can and should be improved considerably.

2. Again, take advantage of 21st Century science to fund research into Thoroughbred genetics. Has the entire Thoroughbred genome been mapped? If not, why not? What can genetics tell us about inheritable defects? About bone density and strength? About inbreeding vs. outcrossing? Even about what would constitute a genuine outcross in Thoroughbreds. Are there any insights from genetic research that breeders could apply to their mating choices to produce sounder horses without sacrificing performance?

3. A study of training practices could also help. Although training is an art, not a science, perhaps a study could reveal some worthwhile, useful advancements. fb0252 makes an excellent point, above, in saying that he/she believes entries are being permitted for horses without sufficient foundation. I don't know if "sufficient" is the right concept, since every horse is different, but the point is a good one nevertheless.

A case in point is Friesan Fire this year. For the first time in many years, I've allowed myself to become emotionally interested in a racehorse. So I'm scared witless by his extremely unusual training schedule. FF and Chocolate Candy both raced last on 2/14, but their schedules since could not be more radically opposite. What if some objective, scientific data existed for the benefit of both trainers and the public? Would Hollendorfer or Jones be using such widely differing approaches for their colts? Would the public appreciate having objective data by which to evaluate their approaches? We can't know, because (as far as I know) such data doesn't exist. So all of us, trainers, owners and public alike, are in the dark.

4. Finance and/or support a network of post-racing rehabilitation and retraining centers in every state where Thoroughbred racing occurs. Speaking for myself, I don't want to fall in love with any of these horses anymore, because it hurts too damned much when they collapse in a broken heap on a racetrack. Or when I find out that champions like Ferdinand and Exceller, both of whom I saw race, are accorded no more dignity than a bug. At least we get to hear about stallions sometimes, but rarely do we hear the fate of geldings and mares.

Anyway, I wish you every success in all your efforts to improve safety, and thank you for this blog.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

jim — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:26:35 GMT

Don't stop with anabolic steroids. If you truly wish to prevent catastrophic breakdowns, ban cortisone injected into joints, shock wave treatments on race day, vegetable blocks, develop a good test for EPO,...

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

Cheryl, Newmarket, UK — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:44:20 GMT

hobodog, I can't comment on the whip rules in the USA but I can tell you that here in the UK they are very strict. Jockeys caught over-using the whip or hitting the horse in an incorrect position are heavily fined and banned from race riding for a period of time.

The whips used here in the UK have been heavily modified and are cushioned and very flexible so it is next to impossible to get any real force behind them.

The other point to make is that a whip is an essential tool for any rider. Whenever I ride (pleasure horses) I always carry a whip.

The whip can act as a safety measure in helping to keep a horse straight and prevent it from crossing paths with another horse - a very dangerous situation.

Back to the original point of this post, the perception outside the US is that US regulatory bodies are still too lax. Medications of all kinds are banned in all other major racing nations, so it is long over-due that the US follows.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

sceptre — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:45:38 GMT

Agree with many of the sentiments expressed by those disillusioned. fbO252 touched upon what I've long believed is the worst problem-the need to much better monitor these athletes (the horses). Problem is, fbO252 suggests this only for the Derby entrants-his apparent motivation is to protect the sport, not the horses. The owners and trainers essentially have total control of their horses' well-being. Unfortunately most are either ill-equipped, and/or improperly (selfishly) motivated to do what's right. The states and racetracks are not sufficiently motivated to provide the necessary manpower and technology to properly oversee the horses' well-being. Eliminate all the drugs you want, this is far from the central problem. Understand that racing is inherently dangerous to these creatures so we must do our best to compensate for that fact. Yes, I've heard all the rationalizations, but the bottom line is that one would be hard-pressed to justify the sport of horseracing from an ethical perspective. If we could all accept that as a given, perhaps we would then implement truly meaningful change.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

Giraffe — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:30:12 GMT

Transparency? Just try to find out what happened to a horse that broke down or was pulled up during a race. Most of the time the race caller or the broadcasters (HRTV/TVG) don't even mention that there was a problem. Race results from DRF don't tell you anything either, except that the horse broke down and/or did not finish. I've e-mailed several tracks in attempts to find out what happened to certain horses and can't even get the courtesy of a response. I don't suppose Bloodhorse or NTRA would consider confirming and listing the names of injured/euthanized horses?

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

hobodog — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:01:44 GMT

How about we do something real simple.I love horseracing.Nothing more beautiful or natural than a horse running his heart out.The one question I always get from friends who are casual viewers of horseracing,is why the whip?As an animal lover,I have no answer for them.I would never hit any animal to get it to do something for me,and know matter the reasons given for it's use,the perception of a whip being used on a horse is a negative to many people who both follow the sport zealously or casually.If the powers that be want to be taken seriously,and I applaud many of the things they are doing,why not do this simple thing.Get rid of the whips.I'm pretty sure the horses will still run as fast as they can.Remember that is what they are bred for and that is what they want to do.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

noholme — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:36:02 GMT

I agree with Van Cushny in the post above, especially regarding the statement in the column: 'Race-day medications have been virtually eliminated nationwide.' Lasix and bute don't qualify as race-day medications? There are very sound reasons these substances are banned everywhere but in the U.S. and Canada (as another responder has commented.) They mask other, illegal substances which imperil animals and their riders. (Snake venom, however, will cop you a slap on the wrist.) I am also surprised that there has not been more push from the jockey and vet communities on this issue and on general (un)soundness issues when in one case their lives and in the latter their livelihoods are at stake.

While it is difficult not to be critical of the industry's response generally ('alliance' to my mind is just another word for committee), i appreciate that its fate and regulation ultimately rests in the unsteady and often oblivious hands and heads of politically appointed operatives at 38 racing commissions which neither govern uniformly or punish transgressions uniformly and this makes for a shambolic response to such things as race-day medication.

As Ray Paulick has noted on his Website, Alex is fighting a one-man war here and we should support him in so far as he can reform what has become an archaic and fossilized industry. It is some comfort to know that at least one leader seems to be treating this issue with some seriousness, even if his definition of 'race-day medication' seems to fall short of credible.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

Mike Relva — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:37:02 GMT

TO:DAWN

Great points!

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

Richard R — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:35:19 GMT

Glad to hear that anabolic steriod use has virtually disappeared. Too bad I had to go to the sidelines for a year while the using horses were getting them out of their systems because nobody in the industry cared enough to make public which horses were/were not previously using steriods to give bettors a heads up about where performances might be expected to decline. And because some jurisdictions chose to delay the ban it's not clear to me about the status (wheres and whens) of ban enforcement today. Rather murky transparency if you ask me.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

John — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:23:31 GMT

Alex,

Where is Tommy Thompson in all this?

You dragged him out for the announcement last fall but aside from one interview in the Wall Street Journal, I haven't heard a word from the monitor.

Your stats sound nice but some hard factual evidence that this progress is actually happening would make your announcement more plausible to me.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

Tracy — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:58:18 GMT

All I know is we were very lucky to have Barbaro and Eight Belles,even if it was too short.In their memory so many great things for horse racing are happening.Let's look at the positive!

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

KLO — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:51:45 GMT

I'm not sure why so many racing fans seem to think there's something you - or anyone except the feds - could do to instantly and magically "fix" Thoroughbred racing in the U.S.

The simple fact is that the Constitution has allocated this regulatory power to the states, and that power will remain with the states unless the federal government decides to step in - and I highly doubt Thoroughbred racing is on its list of priorities right now.

Until then, the industry will have to be creative, and the NTRA and other organizations have really stepped up to supplement the fragmented regulatory system. The efforts to implement the steroid ban last year - especially the use of "graded" status for stakes races - illustrated the power of private regulation.

If that sort of power is used to implement the full Alliance accreditation system - and that process is already in motion - I hope you get the pat on the back you deserve, rather than this mostly uninformed vitriol.

On the subject of Lasix and bute, however, I believe that, regardless of whether the drug ultimately helps or hurts racehorses, we should examine whether it accomplished its original purpose - to let horses race more often. If not, if horses are racing *less* often than they were when the drugs were legalized, then it probably doesn't belong in racing.

re: Unprecendented Progress - by Alex Waldrop

Liz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:14:54 GMT

Frankly I don't see a lot of progress. I still see horses running on Lasix, I still see thoroughbreds falling through the claiming ranks until well-intentioned people spend money they don't have trying to say them from slaughter. Used up, many suffering from chronic injuries, rescue organizations search for homes for 'lawn ornaments'. The sport needs serious regulatory intervention. The NTRA is trying, I just don't know if they will be successful.