This week's California Vet List

[CA Michael]

http://www.chrb.ca.gov/VETLIST.pdf

Much to my dismay, the list has not been cleaned up (horses removed after years of inaction), nor does it always clearly state when a horse has broken down. IMO, all fatal injuries should be named as such. As it now stands, a horse who loses a few teeth in a starting gate accident shares the same "injured" notation as one which has broken a leg and fallen.

In addition, both morning and afternoon incidents should be included on the list, not just the latter.

[geowarrior]

I went through it and it is hard to assess what's going on - what does 'unsound' mean? It could be anything.

[zinn21]

I counted roughly 720 horses on the list. That's almost a Backstretch worth of horses. No wonder we have so many short fields.

[CA Michael]

Exactly. Of course what the list DOESN'T show are the sore animals who haven't been caught by the track vet. How many of them are laid up at the track (by trainers who don't tell their owners the full story)?

[louis finochio]

To Mary Sayers DVM: Would you please explain the correct way that a layman would interpt the vet's list. Thanks, Louis.

[BJ]

http://www.chrb.ca.gov/VETLIST.pdf

Much to my dismay, the list has not been cleaned up (horses removed after years of inaction), nor does it always clearly state when a horse has broken down. IMO, all fatal injuries should be named as such. As it now stands, a horse who loses a few teeth in a starting gate accident shares the same "injured" notation as one which has broken a leg and fallen.

In addition, both morning and afternoon incidents should be included on the list, not just the latter.

The list does not include many known breakdowns at all. There really should be a "legend" of explanations for terms, and sections for horses that had to be vanned off and/or euthanized. But then again...I suppose the explanation would be that it doesn't belong on a Vet's list because if the horse no longer exists, neither the Stewards, nor the Vets need the info.

Maybe this is something the owners and breeders need to be keeping track of and publishing or requiring the tracks to maintain and publish. Pretty clear to see how this is all very much ENABLED... Sweeping it all under the rug, that is!

[BJ]

I went through it and it is hard to assess what's going on - what does 'unsound' mean? It could be anything.

It means it couldn't get by the Vet and will have to work a certain distance to be able to get by the Vets and Stewards, in order to be entered to race again, I believe.

[geowarrior]

I guess my point is that 'unsound' could mean a number of ailments. BJ is right, a legend is needed. Otherwise there's not much point in publishing a vet list.