Mucho Macho Man's Trainer

[TJ]

Some first hand insight into his trainer Kathy Ritvo, she is a true horsewoman and knows how to train and better yet knows her horse. Watch these interesting videos and get a glimpse of the how's and why's of training through this humble lady.....those of you that think training is cut and dried....there are constant changes being made, even as they gallop by you and an audible is called...as Kathy will mention, she is a hands on trainer! For those that weren't aware, she was a heart transplant recipient, where, in the bottom video link, they get into it without mention...a bit confusing if you don't know the story, I wish her all the best in this years Derby. TJ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nn0Gs62 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFKTlONUDw&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxMAxEta ... re=related

[Whirlaway]

I like this woman and I admire her courage and forthrightness - no doubt she is as good a trainer as the best of em' and knows what she is talking about. This lady is great for the Game and we need more like her . . .

The thing is, I just don't recall any trainer running a Derby contender 7 furlongs twice and then running the horse another hot and fast five furlong lick just before the Derby. The first 7 furlong work was a Giant Killer . . . I know the horse is a the tall strapping kind that is growin, moving and changing, but is she over doin' it? How many other trainers are puttin' that much work into their horse? I think none. Most of the trainers are working them just enough to maintain their edge. It would appear that she is going beyond the norm and taking away the stored energy the horse will need for that extra quarter mile.

[Jorge]

Thanks for posting those three videos.
Great story on a great human being!

Let me also add this video on Mucho Macho Man's sire and Kathy Ritvo.
Thanks again!!

[TJ]

Thanks for posting those three videos.
Great story on a great human being!

Let me also add this video on Mucho Macho Man's sire and Kathy Ritvo.
Thanks again!!

Hi Jorge,
Glad you enjoyed them. TJ

[TJ]

I like this woman and I admire her courage and forthrightness - no doubt she is as good a trainer as the best of em' and knows what she is talking about. This lady is great for the Game and we need more like her . . .

The thing is, I just don't recall any trainer running a Derby contender 7 furlongs twice and then running the horse another hot and fast five furlong lick just before the Derby. The first 7 furlong work was a Giant Killer . . . I know the horse is a the tall strapping kind that is growin, moving and changing, but is she over doin' it? How many other trainers are puttin' that much work into their horse? I think none. Most of the trainers are working them just enough to maintain their edge. It would appear that she is going beyond the norm and taking away the stored energy the horse will need for that extra quarter mile.

Hi Whirl,
That's what you don't get...each horse is an individual. Kathy stands at the rail and watches her horse train....when he goes by her and she thinks he needs more she tells the rider and the gallop is increased. Some need much more than others....I'll tell you this, if he doesn't race well and it's because of the reasons you cite....Mrs. Ritvo will be the first to blame herself. You don't get to a race like this if you can't train a race horse. These aren't cookie cutter trainer's here that train the way they saw someone else train or train only one way for every horse they have....there's just so much you can do when handicapping....you may be over diagnosing here:>) TJ

[DDT]

Whirlaway

Just what do you mean by stored energy, do you actually think that physical exercise permits the horse to store energy? Please explain.

DDT

[Bast]

I like this woman and I admire her courage and forthrightness - no doubt she is as good a trainer as the best of em' and knows what she is talking about. This lady is great for the Game and we need more like her . . .

The thing is, I just don't recall any trainer running a Derby contender 7 furlongs twice and then running the horse another hot and fast five furlong lick just before the Derby. The first 7 furlong work was a Giant Killer . . . I know the horse is a the tall strapping kind that is growin, moving and changing, but is she over doin' it? How many other trainers are puttin' that much work into their horse? I think none. Most of the trainers are working them just enough to maintain their edge. It would appear that she is going beyond the norm and taking away the stored energy the horse will need for that extra quarter mile.

FLAMING PHYSIOLOGICAL HOGWASH.

You need to do some research into how horses are actually put together.

[ratherrapid]

are these the same person. they look different and sound different in the vids?

as to Derby training, Mucho Macho Man to me seems a specimen. what shows in the public workouts looks very good, and also very good compared to what the other horses are doing. is the devil possibly in the details with Derby training? Ms. Ritvo for reasons unfathomable has this horse in glue on shoes. red flag that trainer understands the little stuff.

Whirlaway possibly stems from the Kiaran McGlaughlin less is better school. I am always interested in what these trainers do on their off days. Mucho Macho Man seems a threat in this race based on what shows. will be watching with interest what Ms. Ritvo does with the horse the rest of the week. Woman trainer wins the Derby, possibly!!!

[TJ]

are these the same person. they look different and sound different in the vids?

as to Derby training, Mucho Macho Man to me seems a specimen. what shows in the public workouts looks very good, and also very good compared to what the other horses are doing. is the devil possibly in the details with Derby training? Ms. Ritvo for reasons unfathomable has this horse in glue on shoes. red flag that trainer understands the little stuff.

Whirlaway possibly stems from the Kiaran McGlaughlin less is better school. I am always interested in what these trainers do on their off days. Mucho Macho Man seems a threat in this race based on what shows. will be watching with interest what Ms. Ritvo does with the horse the rest of the week. Woman trainer wins the Derby, possibly!!!

Hi ratherrapid,
She is a Mrs. Ritvo, (formerly of the Petro clan) she's married to Tim Ritvo (an ex jock) who retired his trainer's license when he took a good job with Gulfstream Park and Frank Stronach this season. In case you didn't find these on PQ all ready here's some works that went to video along with another story about MS. Petro....her story is worth telling over and over:>) The works works for Mo and Stay Thirsty weren't todays. TJ

Another Ritvo story 3 years after her heart transplant:
http://www.kentucky.com/2011/05/01/1725 ... plant.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTD199IR ... r_embedded uncle mo (outside)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96U5t0gKBdQ&NR=1 stay thirsty (inside)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlfREftg ... re=related mucho macho man

[kimberley mine]

It would appear that she is going beyond the norm and taking away the stored energy the horse will need for that extra quarter mile.

Stored energy comes from food. It's a week out from race day--there is PLENTY of time to load the body with the food necessary to store glycogen in the muscles.

What she is doing isn't taking away stored energy....what she is doing is adding the cardiovascular fitness to keep the horse from burning the energy stored in the muscles BEFORE the last quarter mile is over.

[Whirlaway]

It would appear that she is going beyond the norm and taking away the stored energy the horse will need for that extra quarter mile.

Stored energy comes from food. It's a week out from race day--there is PLENTY of time to load the body with the food necessary to store glycogen in the muscles.

What she is doing isn't taking away stored energy....what she is doing is adding the cardiovascular fitness to keep the horse from burning the energy stored in the muscles BEFORE the last quarter mile is over.

Replenishing the glycogen stores in the muscles usually takes one to five days, so your "plenty" of time is subjective depending on the amount of depletion. She worked him as sharp seven, a slow seven and a sharp five - likely his stores will be replenished, hard to know if replenished at maximum levels. It will be interesting to see what she does with him between now and Derby day.

~

Bast wrote:

FLAMING PHYSIOLOGICAL HOGWASH.

You need to do some research into how horses are actually put together.

There you go again . . . flappin' those gums! If you were the trainer you said you were, you'd know about these kind of things.

[Whirlaway]

I'll be away doin' my Derby handicappin . . . have fun!

[TJ]

Replenishing the glycogen stores in the muscles usually takes one to five days, so your "plenty" of time is subjective depending on the amount of depletion. She worked him as sharp seven, a slow seven and a sharp five - likely his stores will be replenished, hard to know if replenished at maximum levels. It will be interesting to see what she does with him between now and Derby.

Hi Whirl,
This statement could be correct if the horse is doing a whole lot more than ever before (and looks in bad flesh)....in my experience this is one of the most important forms of training...when used and understood will make a horse run without tiring. As well as replenish his system's stored fuel overnight....it is this type of training that kicks in this energy sytem in the horse which in many cases is on the sluggish side, but if he's being brought into it as described below....and I have a feeling he is....it will be interesting to watch him run.
Back in the day, this was known as the "glycogen depletion theory" and is still very important in training. As I said....it is a kind of sluggish system in many horses but they found out the more you depleted and loaded the muscle, the more glycogen was able to be stored within the muscles and the system itself began to kick in like it never did before. The muscles become like a sponge looking for nourishment. A horse trained like this is always looking to suck up nutrients to convert to glycogen for fuel. The more you trigger this response of depleting and loading the muscles in the horses body, the more efficient that system becomes and the more fuel the horse has when he races. It's one of the most important factors in training, at least in my opinion/experience. When enough glycogen is NOT stored in the muscles to burn as fuel for energy, the next fuel used is stored fat, but that is better used when the horse is going slow (two forms of fuel, like a hybrid car...which I just bought:>)....although, fats are of very little help at high race speeds. When the fat and glycogen are depleted...the muscle itself is used...causing the horses system to cannibalize it's own muscle tissue....which accounts for scrawny, weak looking race horses.....which is why I said to check the flesh on Mucho. Once you get this energy sytem working to it's max it is pretty amazing....we used to call it burning the "blue flame"...it was so efficient, a horse could run on and never got tired... better than any "hopped" horse ever could....only it's legal.....but needs to be understood. When this first started...a long time ago, people were feeding way too many carbs without depleting the muscles and horses actually foundered from it....they went nuts feeding corn, and high carb foods.....people always think more is better....not always:>) It's why the glycogen depletion theory lost favor over the years....but those that understood it continue to watch their horses run out of their skin....win easy and come home looking for more. TJ

[Bast]

It would appear that she is going beyond the norm and taking away the stored energy the horse will need for that extra quarter mile.

Stored energy comes from food. It's a week out from race day--there is PLENTY of time to load the body with the food necessary to store glycogen in the muscles.

What she is doing isn't taking away stored energy....what she is doing is adding the cardiovascular fitness to keep the horse from burning the energy stored in the muscles BEFORE the last quarter mile is over.

Replenishing the glycogen stores in the muscles usually takes one to five days, so your "plenty" of time is subjective depending on the amount of depletion. She worked him as sharp seven, a slow seven and a sharp five - likely his stores will be replenished, hard to know if replenished at maximum levels. It will be interesting to see what she does with him between now and Derby day.

~

Bast wrote:

FLAMING PHYSIOLOGICAL HOGWASH.

You need to do some research into how horses are actually put together.

There you go again . . . flappin' those gums! If you were the trainer you said you were, you'd know about these kind of things.

Maybe you should look up what "physiology" means.

[Jorge]

Thanks for posting those three videos.
Great story on a great human being!

Let me also add this video on Mucho Macho Man's sire and Kathy Ritvo.
Thanks again!!

Oops for some reason the video on Macho Uno and Kathy Ritvo didn't appeared. Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6yzPXXW ... re=related