Bends at Aqueduct

[Ernie Dahlman]

Originally Posted by DSB

The definition of "mud caulks" has changed over the years.

.

Unfortunately, many trainers today consider their horses expendable and have no hesitation to gain an advantage at any cost.

Hence, the ban.

Some of the horses and their trainers who used caulks are: Mack Miller, Sea Hero, Allan Jerkins, Sky Beauty (every race), Kiaran McLaughlin, Invasor (every USA race), Bobby Frankel, Ghostzapper and Empire Maker, Barkley Tagg, Funny Cide, Woody Stephens, Danzig Connection to name a few. It is outrageous to say these trainers thought these horses were "expendable".

[nijinski]

Originally Posted by Ernie Dahlman

Pletcher used caulks on many of his stake horses, you are correct on Asmussen. They both use bends on almost all their horses, although they each won a race at Aqueduct yesterday with plain shod horses (Mordi's Miracle and Cluster of Stars). I'm just posting about NYRA tracks. In my opinion NYRA should announce all shoe changes before the start of the day, just as they announce all other changes. They confuse most bettors by announcing "shoe changes" when in fact most horses are wearing the same shoes as they wore in their previous race. For the record, Cluster of Stars was announced as wearing bends but I was told she wasn't.

The listings as you say can confuse bettors but I think it's information they want . If the bettor is serious and proactive enough , they might dig deep for
clues .
Drosselmeyer is an interesting one , Mott mentioned the horse trained well with the Bar Shoe . He kept the bar on for the BC Classic . I know a few people
at the simulcasrt who wouldn't even look at the him with that listed .
But why not , Mott has tremendous class and the best of farriers and the workout data was out there .You have to dig in and sometimes the clues are there . Unfortunately not always so for the daily card .

[DSB]

Originally Posted by Ernie Dahlman

Some of the horses and their trainers who used caulks are: Mack Miller, Sea Hero, Allan Jerkins, Sky Beauty (every race), Kiaran McLaughlin, Invasor (every USA race), Bobby Frankel, Ghostzapper and Empire Maker, Barkley Tagg, Funny Cide, Woody Stephens, Danzig Connection to name a few. It is outrageous to say these trainers thought these horses were "expendable".

Can you tell me which kind of "caulks" you're talking about? And can you tell me if they used them exclusively on off tracks or not?

The use of mud caulks (jar caulks) were banned for a reason.

If I'm wrong (as well as most vets and blacksmiths) about it causing breakdowns and unsoundness when abused, then tell me what the reason was.

[Stillriledup]

Bill Mott had a 3-5 shot who was listed as wearing bends today but i dont remember too many Mott horses with Bends, could this have been a mistake?

[Ernie Dahlman]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Bill Mott had a 3-5 shot who was listed as wearing bends today but i dont remember too many Mott horses with Bends, could this have been a mistake?

Mott has been using bends more often on the inner track this year with good resuts (Pinball). He did have them on Bellamy Storm.

[nijinski]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Bill Mott had a 3-5 shot who was listed as wearing bends today but i dont remember too many Mott horses with Bends, could this have been a mistake?

Mott has voiced his opinion re: any kind of traction shoes effecting forelegs and praised the ban , never mentioned not using them behind .

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by Ernie Dahlman

Mott has been using bends more often on the inner track this year with good resuts (Pinball). He did have them on Bellamy Storm.

Thanks.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by nijinski

Mott has voiced his opinion re: any kind of traction shoes effecting forelegs and praised the ban , never mentioned not using them behind .

So when Bends are listed on the NYRA scroll, they mean bends on all 4 feet? Or is it just bends behind?

[nijinski]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

So when Bends are listed on the NYRA scroll, they mean bends on all 4 feet? Or is it just bends behind?

behind

[Ernie Dahlman]

[QUOTE=DSB]Can you tell me which kind of "caulks" you're talking about? And can you tell me if they used them exclusively on off tracks or not?

The use of mud caulks (jar caulks) were banned for a reason.

If I'm wrong (as well as most vets and blacksmiths) about it causing breakdowns and unsoundness when abused, then tell me what the reason was.[/QUOTE)

Using shoes that improve traction actually results in fewer breakdowns. My records showed this before the ban and anyone who thinks that racing has been made safer by banning traction shoes (mudcaulks) has not been paying attention.

[MightBeSosa]

Too bad the racing form doesn't publish the data. If memory serves, I think the Racing Times might have included mud caulks in the pp's.

[DSB]

[QUOTE=Ernie Dahlman]

Originally Posted by DSB

The use of mud caulks (jar caulks) were banned for a reason.

If I'm wrong (as well as most vets and blacksmiths) about it causing breakdowns and unsoundness when abused, then tell me what the reason was.[/QUOTE)

Using shoes that improve traction actually results in fewer breakdowns. My records showed this before the ban and anyone who thinks that racing has been made safer by banning traction shoes (mudcaulks) has not been paying attention.

Obviously you know a lot more about this than I do.

So, tell us all what the reason for banning them was.

[aaron]

In my opinion,the reason mud caulks may have been banned has something to do with certain trainers who were very successful when using caulks. I've never kept records on this,but I believe certain trainers win % were affected by this change. The only official comment,I seem to remember is a statement that caulks can cause injuries to the horses. Somehow if a study was done,it seems to me there have been far more breakdowns since the ban,than before the ban.I don't believe an real answer was ever given on the ban. Other racing venues still use caulks and I haven't read anything negative about their use.I never heard any vets comment on the ban,but in racing vets are the hidden element,that we never seem to hear from.

[offtrack]

From the Jockey Club homepage:

New York Racing Association News Release, August 14, 2008

NYRA to Limit Height of Toe Grabs on Front Horseshoes at Start of Aqueduct Fall Meeting, October 29

Following the recommendation of the Thoroughbred Safety Committee of The Jockey Club, toe grabs with a height greater than two millimeters (.07874 inches) on front horseshoes will be banned from all horses racing at Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park, and Aqueduct Racetrack. The limitation takes effect on October 29 with the opening of the Aqueduct Fall Meeting, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced today.

The committee announced its recommendation to ban all toe grabs other than two-millimeter wear plates on June 17.

Earlier this month, the American Graded Stakes Committee, administered by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, announced that graded stakes run at racetracks which have not implemented the Jockey Club limitations on toe-grab horseshoes would lose their graded status on January 1, 2009 (or the date of the track’s first graded stakes).

Both organizations cited research noting a greater risk of catastrophic injury to horses wearing front toe grabs than horses wearing shoes without toe grabs. The NYRA ruling also eliminates bends, jar caulks, stickers, or any other traction device on front hooves.

[Ernie Dahlman]

[QUOTE=DSB]

Originally Posted by Ernie Dahlman

Obviously you know a lot more about this than I do.

So, tell us all what the reason for banning them was.

The real reason was that the Jockey Club members were tired of losing stake races to horses wearing traction devices while their trainers refused to use them. If MsGaughy used traction devices they would still be allowed.