RIP, Social Slewpy

[Rokeby Forever]

Another casualty from the new surfaces that are "proven to save lives:"

http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 07USA4.pdf

How does a horse break down on its own on such a safe surface? I thought these things happen only at Bay Meadows!

Of course, if this chart were from Bay Meadows, the usual blowhards would be screaming their heads off - this would have been posted as soon as it happened.

But it's Hollywood......so nooooooooo - not a word from them.

Some people think to write, "Hollywood Park installed its 'Cushion Track' last fall and has subsequently seen a dramatic reduction in injuries." Ever notice how these people hide in a closet when there is a breakdown at Hollywood, or any track with a new surface?

RIP, Social Slewpy.

[CA Michael]

Only you would find glee in the death of an $8,000 claimer.

[Toccet02]

What I find interesting is a 5 YO making only his 5th start.

[ratherrapid]

anyone (besides Rokeby ) have any stat's on polytrack injuries?

[zinn21]

Rok, the synthetic surface is not a cure all for breakdowns but it is a positive step forward and a consensus safer surface for racehorses. Nobody is hiding when a horse breaks down on a synthetic surface. Any breakdown on any surface is a tragedy.

You dismiss breakdowns are a product of unsafe racetracks but even the President of Bay Meadows, Jack Lebeau conceded the BM surface was unsafe. See the quote from the recent CHRB meeting approving 2008 BM dates, below taken from The S.F. Chronicle article dated 7-3-07 written by racing columnist Larry Stumes:

"During Tuesday's teleconference, Shapiro questioned Liebau on the condition of Bay Meadows' dirt track. During Bay Meadows' 55-day winter-spring season, an abnormally high 18 horses had to be euthanized because of injuries sustained in races or training on the dirt track. An additional seven died after injuries on the grass course.

"What steps have been taken to make it safer?" Shapiro asked.

"We have added various polymer substances to make it softer," Liebau answered. "The statistics from the last meeting are not acceptable."

Breakdowns occur because some horses are brittle, some owners and trainers push forward when rest is needed and when racetracks are hard, loose and inconsistent.

We need safer racetracks and better oversight/restrictions on medications used to mask unsoundness.

[Toccet02]

again, 5 starts at age 5 is perhaps a red flag that the track is not the only factor here.

[Rokeby Forever]

Only you would find glee in the death of an $8,000 claimer.

Interesting statement, Michael - who's the one that was keeping score of them at Golden Gate/Bay Meadows, and "gleefully" totaled the losses at $650,000?

What happens when horses break down left and right at Del Mar? Are you going to hide your head in the Polytrack?

Zinn, I agree 1,000% - breakdowns are the result of the factors you mention. But to claim that these new surfaces are a "cure all" is to sell the same snake oil that that sold Breathe Rite Nasal Strips.

[Foggytrip]

I think the Del Mar meet is going to really put poly into perspective. They are already having issues with it, the grumbling is being hushed, however you cant hide during a live meet.

I think the poly is a fine surface for training, and I even like it in a mild climate, for a mild season...Say like Arlingtons meet, its been great. Turfways surface 5 days into winter was a disgrace, Delmars surface is already being said unsafe and melting. Its just not an allweather surface and shouldnt be marketed as such.

[CA Michael]

Rokeby,

Apparently you amuse yourself with your caustic, off the wall misstatements of fact, and inverted logic. You have yet to make a substantive addition to an issue under discussion here, and you seem to delight in twisting the words of people who do have some familiarity with the facts to somehow prove your misguided point. You offer no actual tangible proof to your bellicose statements, preferring instead to ask only rhetorical, wife-beating questions. I don't think you serve a purpose on this forum other than remind the rest of us what we should strive not to become.

[Rokeby Forever]

You're so right, Michael....I use your DIRECT QUOTES to justify my "off the wall misstatements of fact and inverted logic," and I pull race charts from comic books to help "prove my misguided points." and to offer "no actual tangible proof."

What are horseman saying about their stock after spending the morning on Del Mar's new surface?

If anything, this new crap will give a butcher a license to be a butcher..."Gee, I'm training on the safe stuff - I can be even harder on my stock now!"

[horsenuts]

Horse racing is trying to get it right but there are no easy answers to break-downs and injuries. They are trying with Polytrack and the like but this is not an easy problem to solve. Break-downs have been occurring since racing started and I don't believe they will ever be eliminated, unfortunately.


I raced horses at Remington Park the first few years it was open and they were using "Equitrack". It was a novel idea but it was very hard to keep the track consistent due to weather and environment. Also, the oil used for binding the materials together wore out and after a couple years of frustrating battles with the surface RP gave up and went to dirt. Still, I admired their committment to a cutting edge technology for the hoped for purpose of the betterment of the sport


I've seen numerous horses break down on turf courses as well as dirt so a magic elixr in the form of a racing surface remains elusive..... but at least horse racing is trying to address the problem.

[horsenuts]

You're so right, Michael....I use your DIRECT QUOTES to justify my "off the wall misstatements of fact and inverted logic," and I pull race charts from comic books to help "prove my misguided points." and to offer "no actual tangible proof."

What are horseman saying about their stock after spending the morning on Del Mar's new surface?

If anything, this new crap will give a butcher a license to be a butcher..."Gee, I'm training on the safe stuff - I can be even harder on my stock now!"

Rokeby, why don't you go get a stable of horses and show how it's done? It's obvious no else can, save the few folks you advocate.

[Rokeby Forever]

My stock is training in NY and is living to tell about it, Horsenuts.

[horsenuts]

Good and I wish you the best. But always remember any horse can break down on any track no matter who has them as Ruffian, Go For Wand, Pine Island and Barbaro can all atest.

[Rokeby Forever]

I wish you the best as well, Horsenuts.

When Ruffian broke down, it was an era when Belmont Park was rock hard (think how fast Secretariat ran). The track was made deeper in mid-1970s and has stayed that way since. I'll compare Belmont's safety record over the last 30 years to ANY track in the country. If you have to go back to Go For Wand to think of a Belmont breakdown, that's a pretty record, in my book. Even crooked Pine Island didn't break down at Belmont.