News from North California - Saving Bay Meadows
The appeal by the "Save Bay Meadows"Committee was heard before the
1stDistrict Court of Appeals on September 19. By all accounts, a
decision is due by the Court before the end of the calendar year of
2007. If successful, the citizens group will push that the Bay Meadows
development be put to a vote by San Mateo residents as to whether they
want the proposed project to move forward. If the appeal is denied, it
basically ends any hope that Bay Meadows will not be developed in the
near future. It seems almost certain that Bay Meadows Land Company would
start their project in the fall of 2008.
Charles E. Dougherty, Jr. CTT Deputy Director (First Published: 01 Dec 2007)
Jerry Hollendorfer - interview with a racing legend
Jerry Hollendorfer is the classic case of the big fish in the small pond. Small in stature but giant in achievements, ";The Dorf" has become a training legend in Northern California. During the past 21 years, Hollendorfer has led every meet at Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields. That staggering total reached 61 this year following his 33rd straight Bay Meadows title and 28th consecutive Golden Gate crown.
Steve Schuelein (01 October 2007 - Issue Number: 5)
In at the deep end - Mike Back, the trainer and mechanic
Fair Meadows racetrack in Tulsa, Oklahoma is sheltered under the shade of the city’s imposing skyscrapers, yet once there the eye is riveted by the busy jumble of pick-up trucks and horse trailers, cowboy hats and shiny belt buckles. The stabling area is well stocked for the mixed racing meet. Walk down the barn and pick a nose to scratch from among the heads stretched over the doors of their cedar chip-bedded stalls: Quarter Horse, Paint, Appaloosa or Thoroughbred.
Frances J Karon (01 October 2007 - Issue Number: 5)
The Equine Heart - how it works to power a racehorse
Exciting new advances in ultrasound image technology have provided a better understanding of both the anatomy and function of the heart at rest and during exercise. In the last 30 years many veterinary clinics and universities with equine departments that study equine physiology are able to study the heart of the equine athlete in their own sports performance laboratories, while exercising on a high-speed treadmill.
Robert Keck (01 October 2007 - Issue Number: 5)
Should Horsewalkers be Round or Oval?
Dr David Marlin (01 July 2007 - Issue Number: 4)
Reinventing the Wheel - the Kurt Equine Training System
The combined forces of Italian trainer Daniele Camuffo and the enigmatic Turkish businessman Mehmet Kurt have brought to fruition a project first dreamt up by Kurt himself more than a decade ago.
Niki Sweetnam (01 October 2007 - Issue Number: 5)
Long Layoffs - training a horse to win after months of not running
With Thoroughbreds racing fresher and less frequently these days, traininga horse to win off a month layoff is commonplace. But when a trainerstretches his Thoroughbred’s layoff to six months or longer, and he winsthat first start back, that’s special. Doing it consistently stamps a trainer as one of the best in the business.
Bill Heller (01 October 2007 - Issue Number: 5)
Hoof Matters - concentrating on the foot rather than the shoe
In 1889, for the fourth edition of his book “The Racehorse in Training with Hints on Racing and Racing Reforms”, the English jockey turned horse trainer William Day added a chapter on shoeing, his preface stating one topic, highly important to all owners of horses, might advantageously be added…the aim to deal with facts and to avoid speculation.
Caton Bredar (01 October 2007 - Issue Number: 5)
Who is Controlling Racing's TV Signals?
For all the differences between the horseracing and betting landscapes in Britain and North America - size, history, administration and race and bet types, - one similarity of principle has emerged over the last five years. The live televised racing scene has crystallised into two entities, and the impact on both the foundation and prosperity of the sport and the availability of its betting facilities has been thrown into the blender.
Howard Wright (01 October 2007 - Issue Number: 5 )
Should sales catalogues include information on medication?
Geir Stabell (01 October 2007 - Issue Number: 5)
What does the future hold for Great Lakes Downs?
Shane Spiess invested his future in the Michigan Thoroughbred industry nearly a decade ago when Great Lakes Downs opened in Western Michigan.
Troy Ruel (01 October 2007 - Issue Number: 5)
''Jarred Up'' horses - observations by a racecourse farrier
At the height of the flat racing season how many different terms are used to describe horses that lose their action? The description depends very much upon those that are explaining the condition and what is perceived to be the cause and the effect; the animal simply becomes scratchy and non free flowing in its movements. The exciting cause reveals itself as being “JARRED UP.” At this early stage no observable foot specific secondary condition is presented.
Peter Baker (European Trainer - issue 19 - Autumn 2007)
Current research on Pelvic Asymmetry in Racehorses
Steeplechase racing in particular is a high risk sport for the horse. There is currently some fairly extensive research into racehorse injuries and fatalities on the racecourse, with previously published scientific reports on the subject being widely available.
Nicole Rossa (European Trainer - issue 19 - Autumn 2007)
Max Hennau on life as a trainer in Belgium
Max Hennau used to train between 50 and 60 horses in Belgium. In 1973, he campaigned the colt Commodore to a domestic Triple Crown. Ten years later he handled the Belgium champion Little Vagabond. Bought for 1,000 guineas at Tattersalls in Newmarket, the small horse with a big engine won six races on the bounce at home and ran third in the Prix du Petit Couvert (Gp3) before being sold on to France. “Those were the days…,” he says.
Geir Stabell (European Trainer - issue 19 - Autumn 2007)
The Equine Heart - Anatomy, Function and Performance
Exciting new advances in ultrasound image technology have provided a better understanding of both the anatomy and function of the heart at rest and during exercise. In the last 30 years many veterinary clinics and universities with equine departments that study equine physiology are able to study the heart of the equine athlete in their own sports performance laboratories, while exercising on a high-speed treadmill.
Robert Keck (European Trainer - issue 19 - Autumn 2007)
Should sales catalogues include information on medication - it's a case of black and white!
Not too long ago, I saw a TV interview with Terje Haakonssen, three times World Champion snowboard rider. When talking about his lifestyle, and that of the general public, he made an interesting point; “Look carefully at what you eat, take it seriously,” he said, “People don’t. You know, a man is ever so careful about what quality of petrol and oil he gets for his new car. But when he has filled it up with the best he can find, the most expensive, he buys a full-fat cheeseburger and a large coke for himself.” Perhaps many of us value our cars more than we value our bodies.
Geir Stabell (European Trainer - issue 19 - Autumn 2007)
Racing power - supporting muscular effort through nutrition
The powerhouse for a horse in training is found in its large muscle mass. Whilst genetic makeup within the Thoroughbred breed has a large impact on a horse’s innate racing ability, dietary factors will also influence subsequent performance.
Dr Catherine Dunnett (European Trainer - issue 19 - Autumn 2007)
Transitions in California Racing
Warren Stute has changed barns. If he can hear me, I know he will smile.
I always took his smiles as more than just smiles. They were messages
of approval. Warren exercised horses for as long as he was able. When he
no longer could do that, he rode his pony until he could no longer do
that. For the last few months, he would walk back and forth to and from
his barn. Near the end, his son, Glen, would almost have to carry him to
the track and back. But Warren wouldn't give up. He was a horse
trainer. Nobody who gives up is a horse trainer. Everyday with every
horse is a new challenge and a new inspiration to keep trying.
Edward I. Halpern, CTT Exec - (01 October 2007 - Issue Number: 5)
Northern California Report
As the summer fair racing circuit of 2007 starts to wind down, the
anxiety as to what Northern California's overall racing circuit will
look like starts to grow. By all indications, Bay Meadows will not race
after 2008.While many horsemen held out hope that Bay Meadows would be
spared of their development plans and continue to race, that scenario
looks less likely each day. In fact, the Bay Meadows Land Company (BMLC)
is telling the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) that they would
only like to race until July of 2008. It is very disappointing that BMLC
has taken this position, as they made such an issue of not originally
being granted an exemption for the synthetic surface mandate. The CHRB
granted the waiver, with BMLC now saying they can't race past the summer
months. Go figure! The CTT is very involved in negotiations in trying
to get Bay Meadows to commit to a stabling program through the fall if
they do not race after July of 2008.
Charles E. Dougherty, Jr. CTT Deputy Director (01 October 2007 )