State of California

[Steve]

Interesting article that explains a few things going on in California racing:

http://www.chrb.ca.gov/press_releases/2005_12_01_press_release.pdf


Steve

TW

[Rudy]

Thanks for the E-Bay info,What are your feelings on the poly-track??Rudy

[Steve]

I am all for it. Safety is always a concern. Putting aside the obvious safety reasons for the horsemen for a moment I think in all my years the witnessing of a horse going down is one of the worst sites imaginable.

If this new substance can improve safety for all concerned even 1% lets get with it Track Owners.

As handicappers we will get it sorted in time.

Steve
TW

[ken]

The main things they could have done so far was to harrow deeper with less water or add more dirt to the cushion. SA and BM were slower lately except for SA this week.
Too hard a surface was causing too many leg problems and costing trainers day rates! (research shows too hard or soft can be bad). SA grass is slower also.
The stamina exhibited Sunday at SA was due to an extremely fast track- workouts, plus under 1:40 mile marks were common that day. Tha SA track has been faster this past week than the week prior.
All Southern Ca. tracks now publish average workout speeds- if you believe in that sort of thing.
Sunday 2-5 thw 4f dirt workout average was about 1 3/5 slower thaqn 2-12.

[ken]

Ca racing-

The main things they could have done so far was to harrow deeper with less water or add more dirt to the cushion. SA and BM were slower lately except for SA this week.
Too hard a surface was causing too many leg problems and costing trainers day rates! (research shows too hard or soft can be bad). SA grass is slower also.
The stamina exhibited Sunday at SA was due to an extremely fast track- workouts, plus under 1:40 mile marks were common that day. The SA track has been faster this past week than the week prior.
All Southern Ca. tracks now publish average workout speeds- if you believe in that sort of thing.
Sunday 2-5 the 4f dirt workout average was about 1 3/5 slower thaqn 2-12.
_________
Polytrack- Turfway early speed has been holding well lately- could be due to more water or more frequent harrowing. There is a UK website that instructs on Polytrack maintenance; and the maker of the USA polytracks has Q + A on their website.

[ken]

I have gotten feedback from several trainers and refined this list:

DANGER SIGNS A RACEHORSE MAY HAVE A LEG/FOOT PROBLEM::

01) More than 3 months' layoff between races
02) 2 or more gaps in racing frequency of more than 6 weeks
03) 3 or more consecutive races with gaps of 2 weeks or less
04) 2 or more consecutive unusually slow workouts
05) Lugging, drifting, swerving more than once within 1 or 2 races,
especially on turns
06) Awkwardness while trying to switch leads
07) excessive bobbing while running, (like a merry-go-round pony).
08) Any problems leaving the gate in a race
09) 5 or older stretching out or shipping to a slower pars track (wearing down)
10) Losing normal early speed
11) Lung infection (possible parallel sign of overwork)
12) New front wraps
13) 1 month in training while showing no works.