Quality Road Banged Up

[going4stamina]

Anybody remember a few years ago a good sprinter that Todd Pletcher had that absolutely was a nutcase? I am pretty sure he was a chestnut gelding and would do crazy things, jeopardizing everybody before the gate, in the race, whatever. I was always in fear he was going to cause a major accident.

Makes me wonder if any TP horses get a little "device" or something as part of their gate training? Or maybe they have a rough exercise rider that is creating a learned gate issue?

Of course, horses just have bad days, and maybe the other horse was a bad actor for a while?

[bdw0617]

spightstown?

[Hops]

Keyed Entry

[going4stamina]

That's it Hops--Keyed Entry--boy was he a nut and a danger, surprised he wasn't ruled off.

[Shammy Davis]

Ian McKinlay on BB and other remedial shoeing.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 962826372#

[Shammy Davis]

Hoof restoration from Horse Care Forum:

http://www.pedigreequery.com/forum/view ... 474#233474

[Shammy Davis]

From NY Times Apr 24. QR had previous problems.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_ ... again.html

[Shammy Davis]

http://hoofcare.blogspot.com/2009/04/qu ... s-ian.html

[Tucumcari]

It was an admittedly unfortunate situation!!!
As far as the blanket goes, Santa Anita has pads that they put in the stall instead of on the horse. As well as the gate isn't cold metal it is covered in vinyl(???)
Likely the horse needs time, schooling, and a mental break. Something Pletcher isn't really fond of.
I am sure there was embarrassment by the connections. How could there not be.

This said, I have yet to read the entire thread, so sorry if I repeated someone else's sentiments.

[da hossman]

Going4stamina - Pletcher and no one other than bush track trainers use any batteries, cattle prods or other devices in training TB's to break from the gate. Such techniques can make a horse rocket out of the gate but they also make a horse flip over in the gate. The biggest concerns of a TB trainer are loading safely, standing quietly and breaking safely. No TB trainer is trying to win a 200/400 yard dash.

All TB's get their early training from someone at a training center, almost always not their race trainer. Pletcher has probably not put a horse in the starting gate for the first time since he worked for his Dad starting(breaking) horses in FL 20+ years ago.

Once a horse gets to the track its daily training is on a public track for all to see - to imply that anyone at a public track would use any sort of device is ridiculous.

[karenkarenn]

Da hossman-
Actually Tod Pletcher worked for Charlie Whittingham and Charlie told him that he was never allowed to call him Charlie just MR. Whittingham.
Karen

[karenkarenn]

"TODD PLETCHER BIO
Born 06/26/67 in Dallas, TX
Wife, Tracy; sons, Payton and Kyle; daughter, Hannah
Todd began working for his father, Jake Pletcher, as a hot walker at the age of 7 at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. Jake Pletcher was training quarter horses and thoroughbreds throughout the Southwest.
During his summers off from junior and senior high school, Todd worked as a groom for his father at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, LA and at Ak-sar-Ben Racetrack in Omaha, NE.
Between his junior and senior years in high school, Todd went to Southern California, where he worked as a hot walker for Henry Moreno at Hollywood Park and Del Mar.
Graduated from high school in San Antonio, TX in 1985.
Todd began college at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program in Tucson, AZ in the fall of 1985.
Between his sophomore and junior years in college, Todd worked as a groom for D. Wayne Lukas at Arlington Park in Chicago, IL.
Todd spent the following summer with another Hall of Fame trainer, Charlie Whittingham, working as a groom at Hollywood Park.
Graduated from college with a Bachelor of Animal Science in May, 1989.
Todd traveled to New York to begin working for D. Wayne Lukas as a foreman immediately upon graduating from college.
In 1991, Todd was promoted to assistant trainer for D. Wayne Lukas, splitting his time between New York and Florida.
Todd was Lukas' East Coast assistant until the end of 1995, in which time he was instrumental in the development of such horses as Thunder Gulch, Harlan, Serena's Song, A Wild Ride and Flanders.
Todd took out his trainer's license in December of 1995 and saddled his first winner, Majestic Number, in February of 1996."
I googled Todd Pletcher and I remember when he talked about it to the press.

[da hossman]

Hi Karen - I did not know Pletcher had walked hots for Whittingham, was aware of the rest of his history. My point was that none of the racetrack trainers do the initial gate training of any of the horses in their care, and that no one uses "devices" as suggested by Going4stamina.

The one exception to the initial gate training practice that I know of may be Bruce Headley, who starts his horses himself in his own backyard round pen.

By the way, I hear that QR is doing well with Bob Duncan.

[karenkarenn]

Well the devices is true at least for here in my parts and its a bull ring. Its sad to watch them. Poor horses
And My trainer did the gate training for our filly at GGF. He did it well. She must have gone to the gate atleast four times and broke four times.
Karen

[da hossman]

Sorry to hear "devices" still in play - not good, not smart, not helpful except in dash racing.

Sounds like you have a decent trainer - I'll bet your filly stood in the gates many, many times before she ever broke from it. I know a number of folks who stand or walk their 2 yo's through the gate daily during their intial training.

Has she run yet? How did she do?