General observation about emerald downs trainers and horses

[bdw0617]

just oberserving, i have nothing to back this up, and it's more of a question.. why do the horses at emerald downs look so much better than the horses everywhere else even though they are slower/not as good stock?

i am looking at a shipper at del mar right now from emerald and the horse could win drassage competition right now, just draw droppingly in picture perfect condition and this is a claiming horse. And it's not just htis horse i play emerald downs a few nights a week, they take very very good care, seemingly of their horses up there.

[louis finochio]

The health & well being of a tb is judged by their coat. When they are dappled out, & their coat has a high shine, they are in top form. Most trainers feed tons of supplements, & this plays a part in their appearance.

TB that are trained on oats hay & water, & have the appearance of above, have super, super health.

[ratherrapid]

Likely explanation is lighter training at Emerald. Lightly trained fatter horses are going to present a better appearance. Horses in hard training both naturally lose some weight including muscle weight, and fairly frequently go off feed. At a track like Emerald--just a guess--they're into running them instead of training them. further guess that their injury rate at Emerald is high.

[DDT]

ratherrapid

Assuming you are correct on both points, would you attribute the high injury rate to light training, racing into shape or both?

DDT

[bdw0617]

again, just a general observation here, but the break down rate doesn't seem any better or worse than anywhere else. I don't profess to be an emerald downs expert but i play it on avg 2 nights a week, 3-4 races give ro take, i have seen a horse or 2 pulled up but never one break down

[Bill from WA]

Hi All

The horses running in the Northwest are trained as hard as anywhere in the country. Perhaps the mild climate and greenery has something to do with it all, but the trainers at Emerald Downs can hold their own anywhere. Howard Belvoir and his son Vann, Tim Mcanna, Frank Lucarelli, Doris Harwood Jim Penney, Larry and Sharon Ross, Mark Glatt, Junior Coffee and Bonny Jenne are just a few that have had success in other venues throughout the country. As far as being less talented, may I remind you of the Eclipse Award winner, Chinook Pass, as well as Saratoga Passage, Margo's Gift, world record holder Sabertooth, Hilco Scamper, Captain Condo, Loto Canada, Table Hands, Indian Weaver, Mustard Plaster and Smokin Mel just to name a few runners hailing from these parts. Dr. Mark Dedomenico's (co-owner of Blind Luck) Pegasus Traing center is a world class facility, and many other first class farms and training centers hold court here. We just happen raise and sustain beautiful horses.

http://www.pegasustrainingcenter.com/

Bill

[bdw0617]

Make no mistake bill i am not saying that WA can't produce a top flight horse. they can and do. But the circuit caters to low class horses. I mean on Saturday a 15k claimer was the premier race of the day. nothing wrong with that but it is what it is.

i remember in 2007 i honestly believe if they had a fast track in the breeders cup smarty deb would have won that race. she could have tackled any 2YO at the time IMHO

[karenkarenn]

BDW-
I was there Friday. I have friend that is training there for 45 a day, and his horses look just as good as the Ca horses.There is no difference.
Remember too, It doesn't get as hot as it does at Del Mar or at least it wasn't. I have seen the horses there because I went to the back stretch and talked to people as to how they liked the place.
The majority of the comments were " it just like any other dirt track in america, sure it has it's problem s but what track doesn't."
I also inquired about the vet bills per month and its smaller than racing in Ca. but that could also mean that they could be charging more at the vets office in Ca. That and alot of the times they are training in the mud. Don't forget that one. Injuries do happen alot in the slop.
Our family also stopped by at Les Bois track to and toured the backside with a trainer too. Its a little different there.
I don't know about good horses coming from there, because there are a few that have come from Wa. this year to say the least. Attaboyroy used to be good. It can happen but alot of times they just don't muster up to scratch with the del mar athletes. Its just playing the lottery or poker- it depends on the hand you are dealt with at the time, not he generality of the horses coming from there.

[zinn21]

Seems to me I read an article in the DRF years ago that stated the soil in Wash raised an outstanding horse. Some felt that was one of the reasons lesser bred Washington horses would come down to Nor Cal at beat up on Ca. horses in similar conditions.

Regarding Washington horses looking so good, I never felt they looked any better than our horses but admit to not paying much attention to that aspect for years.

[ratherrapid]

ratherrapid

Assuming you are correct on both points, would you attribute the high injury rate to light training, racing into shape or both?

DDT

interesting! as a general rule seems to me appropriate training for injury prevention requires some fairly consistent track work between races, including the breeze work. my personal opinion is that trainers that do light track work and just race their horses are playing russian roulette with our stock. many would differ. btw--mine was other than to denigrate competition at emerald. I raced at what many consider midwest scrub tracks. you find tough horses everywhere. Training though, believe Southern CA has best in country. horse people there know unless they work their horses they'll be unable to compete there. much more so than in east coast or midwest.