Starting gate procedures

[DuncanPatch]

I propose that human starters standing in the gate be eliminated. They are unnecessary, they agitate the horses, they are occasionally hindrances in the horse getting a good start.

I also propose that ponying be eliminated. They too are unnecessary, create an additional expense for owners, and have a tendency to not allow the horses to break off naturally for a good warm-up after the post parade.

After years of watching English racing, and being impressed with how infrequently there are problems with loading and starting, I think America should adopt their method.

Just think: horses who do not run on any drugs, who warm up properly, and who load quickly with gentle handling. Why, we actually might get new fans to watch!

[Rachel Alexandra]

Blame the US jockeys for most of it.
Try getting rid of the handlers in the gate and see how many protest. Try getting rid of the pony and watch how many horses get ran off with before the race.

[wangkw]

To train a young and green fellow get himself accustomed in a human environment ?

Usain Bolt has been ponied that way before making his dominance felt I guess.

[tmqh]

My sentiments exactly. I have a filly that can be a little "hot" at times when going to the gates, but a good majority of them are. She was raced about a month ago and when she would not cooperate fully, they "tonged" her ear. Needless to say, she reared, dumped her rider and was extremely angry, so much so that she completely shut down after the gates opened. When she got back to my farm that night, she had pus oozing from her ear and continued to do so for 3 days following the race. Now I have a filly that refuses to let me touch her left ear and is even more apprehensive about approaching the gates. At each race now, we have to jump through many hoops to advise the jock, pony girl and headers how to handle her following the post parade so she dosen't end up on the starters list. Needless to say, I was furious and I'm a nervous wreak everytime she races now. They created an issue that was never a problem for her until that point.

[wangkw]

If blindfolding her wont help can try to wave a piece of clothe in front of her with the ordor she loves until she follows in.

They can be very stuborn..I saw in HK racing some horses had a tug o'war against 6 or 8 handlers before reluctantly
giving way.

[Jean]

Why is there so much problem loading european horses at the Breeders' Cup?

[wangkw]

Is there any study to show fillies tend to have more loading problem ? Logically speaking this should be the case.

[cewright]

....they "tonged" her ear. ....

Could you explain this to me?

Thanks

Chuck

[wangkw]

Tong = Poke through = 捅.

[DuncanPatch]

In answer to Jean's question about difficulty loading European horses in the BC, I would expect that it is because the loading procedures here are very different and raise a horse's anxiety level. Euros are not accustomed to being pulled, pushed, hit, and made to stand in a gate with a giant-sized human over their heads holding the bridle. (Remember, their eyes magnify.) They form a circle, walk quietly, and peel off with a starter to enter the gate, at which they have been better schooled than their American counterparts. American horses are more used to it -- but they don't "like" it very much, and act accordingly. It raises the injury risk to horse, rider, and starter for no good reason. (Example: Smarty Jones cracked his skull in the gate -- what did we learn from this?)

I have seen 20-horse fields in England usually load in less than 2 minutes, while I have seen 8-horse fields in America usually load in 3 or more minutes. I have also seen horses here declared non-starters because the starter held the horse's head after the gate opened. And there are those horses who are so agitated and busy pulling against the starter's hold that they miss the start by a length or two. Ridiculous.

[xfactor fan]

If you watch Japan racing, horses are expected to walk calmly and alone to the starting gate, walk inside and stand quietly until the break. No ponies at all. And of course they have all that Halo blood via Sunday Silence. I swear, that every other race horse over there is by Sunday Silence or one of his sons, or out of a Sunday Silence mare.

Perhaps the US training methods should be questioned?

[tmqh]

The headers keep a set of metal tongs in their pockets for horses that are stubborn, fractious, etc. They are similar to a set of tongs you would use when grilling, except I believe they may be spring loaded. When applied, it squeezes the ear and clamps down until the person holding the tong releases. Same as basically an ear twitch. I have been to the track and have witnessed the asst. starters snap the tongs in their hands and horses went crazy because of just hearing the noise. Now, I'm not a bleeding heart and when my horses need reprimanded, they are, but that is painful and uncalled for. I know they are under pressure to get everyone loaded in a speedy manner, but my opinion is that it creates more issues with problem loaders/starters than it helps.

[DuncanPatch]

Xfactor, I agree: American training methods need to be questioned -- and not just for starting gate procedures. I've been a passionate fan for 55 years, a serious player for 25, and it is so disheartening to see a great sport go into decline and develop such a narrow vision of what racing could be. Training 2-yr-olds for speed: why? Running on lasix: why? Lasix means you can't run very often because the electrolyte level is reduced and takes time to replenish. Young horses are not given time or training to develop bone density, hence more breakdowns. Replacing dirt with synthetics will not help horses who have not yet developed bone density.

I realize there is a lot of money involved in breeding and I understand the need to get horses onto the track and earning a paycheck as quickly as possible. But if the horse is trained in such a way that they do not reach their potential (lack of stamina, too few long grass races, for example), as so many are, how does this help the breed or the sport?

I am missing Sea The Stars more and more every minute. He is the only horse I've seen since 1973 to whom I would compare the mighty Secretariat.

[Tucumcari]

UMMMM NO Ponies are good as are assistsnt starters... Be in the gate and you'll get it. And yes, I have done both. If the horse is schooled, they don't need tongs nor is the pony an issue.

[Toccet02]

UMMMM NO Ponies are good as are assistsnt starters... Be in the gate and you'll get it. And yes, I have done both. If the horse is schooled, they don't need tongs nor is the pony an issue.

Do you really believe ANY horse can be schooled to behave well in these settings? Aren't there some who just will never "get it"?