The Long Run

re: The Long Run

predict — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:17:10 GMT

southbendfarm,

I would add Big Brown to that list of who should have won the TC. I agree with Pedigree Ann( is your name Ann or is it a play on "analysis"?), that training is so different between American and European racing, and our constant use of Lasix makes me believe we don't develop the strong bones needed for the stress of distance racing. The type of race training we have shows in our dominance of the Kentucky Derby and Breeder's Cup Classic, where as Europeans dominate the BC Turf. I agree with the German angle, I love to see the presence of Acatenango in a horse's dam side especially when linked with a sire side showing the speed of Ahonoora as we see in Animal Kingdom.

re: The Long Run

chucky — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:08:54 GMT

Pedigree Ann - Curious about your statement. Who are these current USA bred that are taking europes races? As they say they all get there but are these top group 1 races?

Sure training methods could potentially add a few more yards of distance to a horse running ability but there is no way we can ever train a Black Caviar to win the Melbourne Cup.

MZ - The australians breeds primarily sprinters. They hardly breed for their premier race the Melbourne Cup. Sort of how we do not breed for the triple crown anymore.

BIG QUESTION - chicken or the egg? why were the great prestigious races shortened? Was it the tracks? or was it the connections of the horse knowing the stock couldn't run that far? Me thinks it's the latter.

re: The Long Run

Cassandra.Says — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:57:34 GMT

The horses running today do not have different genes from their parents and grandparents. How could they?

There were some splendid staying pedigrees going to the post in the Belmont.

When the service fee of a horse like Dynaformer rises from $5,000 to $150,000 it's hard to maintain that breeders shun stallions who are stamina sources. What Classic winner has not been given a fair shot at stud?

Horses are not so narrowly specialized that we should think it normal that a horse could get 10f on a dead track with the elan Orb showed in the Derby and subsequently be running on fumes and stalling out.

Who will fault Revolutionary's pedigree? Linebred to Hoist the Flag/Tom Rolfe/Ribot through a mare who pressed the pace in the G1 10f Alabama and drew clear in 2:02 1/5.

Observers and connections said Revolutionary characteristically over-ran the finish of his breeze. He never blew out the iconic match.

Let me suggest something: when your horse hasn't done anything in his work he hasn't got anything out of it.

The only change in breeding patterns I can see is the embracing of inbreeding fostered by this generation of pedigree consultants.

Medication, now, there's a change.

If one of the effects of diuretics was a need for a long recovery time between races, what would the Belmont look like? What would training look like?

Points to ponder.

re: The Long Run

p funchess — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:56:45 GMT

The Belmont winner had 5 hits of Turn To (twice thru Hail To Reason) .....'nuf said.

re: The Long Run

mz — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:08:19 GMT

I don't know where I was reading this but someone made a comment about how some fillies and mares were getting set to run a "distance" AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT A 1 1/8 MILE RACE!!

Sorry about the capitals but I couldn't believe it!

As long as they keep cutting down the classic races in distance, who in N. Am. is going to breed for distance? How come we can't be more like Australia: the Melbourne Cup is 2 miles but even though that is their premier race, they're still able to breed Black Caviar's?

I think we miss a lot by breeding to the mean of short races and I worry that eventually we'll end up mashing together quarter horse racing and thoroughbred racing.

(Ok - rant over)

p.s. I am looking forward to Animal Kingdom at Royal Ascot -- even if he is only going 1 1/4. First time since Omaha that a K.D. winner is running at Royal Ascot. Too bad he's retiring soon after --I would have liked to have finally seen a K.D. winner in the Arc.

p.p.s. Even though I rant, I am also looking forward to the speedy Wesley Ward babies shoot down the track at Royal Ascot.

re: The Long Run

Pedigree Ann — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:50:44 GMT

Sadler's Wells was a USA-bred. Many current USA-breds handle a distance of ground when trained in Europe. It is not so much the bloodlines as the training methods used. The emphasis on speed training while doing less training total plus long rests between races makes it hard to build the muscle, bone, and hard to run a fast 12f.

re: The Long Run

Lakeway — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:57:49 GMT

Totally agree with ThoroGreats, and have to add - and how much better might he have been if he'd only had good ankles...

re: The Long Run

SOUTHBENDFARM — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:19:01 GMT

LanceS hit the nail on the head. Belmont winners seem to be the ones to sire Derby and Belmont winners yet our breeders dont seem interested in breeding a horse to go 1 1/2 miles. Which is mind boggling as this means no Triple Crown winner as they have to be able to go 1 1/2 miles in the final race. We have had several horse who should have won the race...Sunday Silence, Silver Charm, Real Quiet, Point Given, were all horses who should have won the Triple Crown, but were either given a bad race in one of the 3, or simply were 2nd best in the Belmont. I again call on our KY breeders to go to Germany and import 4 or 5 German bred stallions who seem to be replete with stamina. Animal Kingdom is out of a German Bred mare, and he seems to love going a distance. Hopefully he will become a top stallion and rejuvenate the Blushing Groom Sire line.

re: The Long Run

LanceS — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:19:44 GMT

What's interesting here is that Belmont winners have been arguably better sires as a whole than Derby or Preakness winners. While any race will be spotty, it's hard to beat the likes of A.P. Indy, Lemon Drop Kid, Birdstone, and Empire Maker among recent prominent sires.

re: The Long Run

ThoroGreats — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 03:36:18 GMT

EASY GOER, true stamina to go along with brilliant speed at sprint distances to 8f, and great stamina at 10f and longer.