Why don't horses race more often?

[ilzho]

Dose racing take so much out of a horse that they have to race only once a month or every few months? I realize injuries can sideline a horse for a very long time and entry fees can be expensive, but if a horse is on a roll in the winnings, why is it only once a month that they race?

Thanks,
David

[Augenj]

If you read this article to the end, you might get a better understanding of "why".

http://www.horsefund.org/horse-racin...tion-part1.php

[ilzho]

Thanks for the article. Very eye opening.
Why can't we race horses without the use of drugs?
I digress.....

[Robert Goren]

If you look back at the history of the lengthening of the time between races, you find it correlates with the increasing use of Lasix fairly closely. Pre Lasix, run of the mill horses races every week to ten days with a month or 6 weeks off after 5 or 6 races. Then they often took the winter or summer off depending on where they were based. It was not unusual for a horse to race 20-25 times a year until they reach the age of 6 or 7.
The purses were so small that they could not afford to have a horse waiting a month to race. They had to roll the dice more often than they do today. Some people claim that breeding has something to do with it as well. Certainly, there is no shortage of injured race horses that rushed off to the breeding shed. The breeding industry has changed during my lifetime. Back in the 1960s, there were plenty of horses being breed to be cheap claimers. I don't see that today. It seems like most horses today are being bred to win the BC sprint, not to be a sound 20k claimer. Some people claim that breeding for speed has led to some brittleness to creep into the breed.

[ilzho]

It's interesting that you say that.

I believe the smaller tracks are cannibalizing themselves and within the next 10-20 years you will see numerous tracks closing.
To me, it's sad, as I love this sport.

[minethatbird08]

Originally Posted by ilzho

Thanks for the article. Very eye opening.
Why can't we race horses without the use of drugs?
I digress.....

They don't allow lasix/Salix/furosemide in other countries, just North America. However, I don't think they run more frequently over seas than they do here. I think there are other factors for the reduced frequency of starts. Having said that I am all for getting rid of lasix and being more in line with international racing standards in regard to drug use.

[ilzho]

I agree.

[MJC922]

Unfortunately nobody in the medication debate cares what horseplayers want. Voting with your money is the only option, put them on a diet. If we're waiting for a mass exodus of trainers to sign on to the Water Hay and Oats Alliance, we're going to be waiting forever for that. IMO funnel your money into other ventures until there's enough track closures that they finally get the message. It would be nice to see even a cheaper track go with a no medication policy of any kind within 72 hours or something. This would give horseplayers a nice option to vote with their dollars. When the handle doubles or triples it will hopefully speak for itself.

[burnsy]

I'm not a doctor or a scientist but part of it could be the drugs and breeding. Augenj posted that article dealing with Salix and while reading it you can click on another called "Breeding for Trouble".

Being a social scientist my observations lead me to believe that while the entire society is bigger and stronger now due to medical care and diet, that extra size and strength makes people (and horses) go to higher limits that cause them to breakdown. The other factor is the way we all live now, including the horses. We should realize that in the last 100 years or so we have become like the "Jetsons". No one worries where their next meal will come from, how to heat their home or transportation.....they worry about the next edition of Madden NFL or whatever movie is coming out. Everyone is softer, even the horses, look how they get to live. If my grandfather was still around he would be laughing at the baseball players. During his time a guy would start at pitcher and play somewhere else the next day. The entire society lives the good life, we are bigger and stronger but break easier. Living harder makes one harder to break. Living the way we do now leads to more "safety precautions" due to "evolution" of the mind and body. It starts with humans and works all the way down to our pets and livestock. We got it easy but we are not as tough. Even if the drugs and breeding are part of it, there's no turning back now, society will continue to advance and part of that is the precautions we take. Nothing has to bend like it used to (man nor beast), so it breaks easier, which means more down time.

[forced89]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

If you look back at the history of the lengthening of the time between races, you find it correlates with the increasing use of Lasix fairly closely. Pre Lasix, run of the mill horses races every week to ten days with a month or 6 weeks off after 5 or 6 races. Then they often took the winter or summer off depending on where they were based. It was not unusual for a horse to race 20-25 times a year until they reach the age of 6 or 7.

I raced in the 60s and agree with this 100%. I remember a horse I owned that ran every Saturday for 5 or 6 straight weeks. I think he ran 1,2,3 every time. We could only run on Lasix if horse actually bled in front of the State Vet in a race or workout.

[Robert Goren]

Originally Posted by MJC922

Unfortunately nobody in the medication debate cares what horseplayers want. Voting with your money is the only option, put them on a diet. If we're waiting for a mass exodus of trainers to sign on to the Water Hay and Oats Alliance, we're going to be waiting forever for that. IMO funnel your money into other ventures until there's enough track closures that they finally get the message. It would be nice to see even a cheaper track go with a no medication policy of any kind within 72 hours or something. This would give horseplayers a nice option to vote with their dollars. When the handle doubles or triples it will hopefully speak for itself.

Bettors are voting with their feet so much so, that the sport has had to go getting money from slots in order to survive in many places. The powers that be in the sport would rather go that route than get rid of the drugs, both legal and illegal, in the sport.

[ilzho]

Didn't mean to open up a pandora's box.

[ronsmac]

Originally Posted by ilzho

Dose racing take so much out of a horse that they have to race only once a month or every few months? I realize injuries can sideline a horse for a very long time and entry fees can be expensive, but if a horse is on a roll in the winnings, why is it only once a month that they race?

Thanks,
David

I find it strange that at Oaklawn horses manage to run 5 or 6 times in less than 3 months year after year. You even see an occasional horse than runs 7 times during the meet. I guess these miracle horses stay healthy enough to get that alternative gaming money.

[lamboguy]

outside of the medication, the main reason why horses don't run more often is that some of them don't perform that well without rest.

some horses need to be trained hard to run well in a race. if a horse has a race in less than 17 days you really have no idea what to do with the horse to have him ready to run. a good trainer wants quality starts not volume

when training baby's, the horse needs a real solid bottom on him before you can ask him to show some speed. if you don't have the bottom on him the horse can come up with sore shins or other injuries.

what this all comes down to is that trainer's have to know their horses.

[Robert Goren]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

outside of the medication, the main reason why horses don't run more often is that some of them don't perform that well without rest.

some horses need to be trained hard to run well in a race. if a horse has a race in less than 17 days you really have no idea what to do with the horse to have him ready to run. a good trainer wants quality starts not volume

when training baby's, the horse needs a real solid bottom on him before you can ask him to show some speed. if you don't have the bottom on him the horse can come up with sore shins or other injuries.

what this all comes down to is that trainer's have to know their horses.

So the trainers in the 1960s did not know their horses when they ran them 3 or 4 times a month. I saw horses run 3 times in 4 days at the end of a season and win all 3 races. I ain't buying the theory that most horses need 3 weeks between races to perform well. That is unless they are on some drug has increased the recovery time.