Regardless of surface distinctions, a good read

[mysaladdays]

I am not able to pinpoint any ONE problem at any track, as I believe it is always a combination of factors.

I also do not have expertise in 1) equine medication surveillance testing, 2) track maintenance/materials science, or 3) veterinarian diagnostics to make such calls, so I don't do that.    

Being a realist, I also do not have an expectation of ZERO fatalities or injuries.   

I do however, believe that it's often a number of things, not any one thing, and that we should strive to improve U.S. Racing in whatever manner or practices that is w/in our means to do, and that may yield success.  And, we should keep trying.     

On that note, thought this was a worthy read.  Many things written here are from 2022, but still hold true today, but are all worthy of taking a closer look at:

sidgustafson.blogspot.com/2022/11/breeders-cup-keeneland-2022-failing.html

[mysaladdays]

Also wanted to add: I don't think any nation, being as diverse as they are, can lock-stock-barrel "adopt" any other racing model in totality.  But we can certainly copy, eclectically, some admirable and workable pieces of wisdom.

Lets take for instance, a model I admire Hong Kong Racing, and which many people often bring up in these conversations.

However, Hong Kong racing is an entirely different breed of racing than anywhere else in the world.  And we could not have that model in entirety.  While their centralization, regulation and governance is well known worldwide, they don't have 20 or 50 different race tracks, all with different levels of bureacracy.  They have 2 tracks (I believe).  Everything is governed under one supreme institution,  and that is the HK Jockey Club.

Their access to information, however,  both veterinary and trackwork,  is there for all to see, just with the click on a menu, and you know if a horse has changed hands, retired, etc.  Those are some "pieces" that I think can be copied and used anywhere.  In the age of computers, there is no reason not to have great databases.*** 

But other differences are not achievable here, nor most places even in Europe. They only have 2 racecourses. It's also very difficult to become a racehorse owner there, because there is no breeding industry, unlike Europe, U.S. Australia, etc.  Ownership is thru a complex series of balloting, nomination, voting. So you're looking at about a little over 300 "permits" granted each year, many of them going to same people. It's more about pride / distinction.

Also, not having a breeding industry, a lot of HK racing is conducted with geldings. They have a lot less "stallion-making" going on there.

People "go" to the tracks, because the tracks are well located, in a small nation, and therefore, a whole lot more accessible.  People GO to the track there.   As a matter of fact, when there's only 20,000 in attendance you know that a major weather even if happening that makes only the uber-hearty able to attend.   That is considered a "bad attendance day".  

while it's a model I greatly admire, I really see little way that US, most Euro, or Australian racing able to copy more than just a few 'good practices' they use there. Our models are far, far too different.   But I totally support adopting the parts that are *do-able*.   Transparency is certainly one of those things. 


***P.S.  . as for databases, NYState has a good one, that keeps track of fatalities, And I totally admire their efforts to do this at all.   

but, they don't do it w/horses' names.  That,  for instance, adds an extra layer of homework for some of us to do, and really could be more useful. 

IN this way, to me, one might say that Obscurity isn't an oversight......its actually a feature for US racing and even the record-keeping.    I just feel we can do better?  

[1hooper]

Great read on the link.
So much to learn from Hong Kong and Japan. When we had a barn at Fair Hill everyone was turned out in a circular sand pen each day. They loved to roll around. Same in South Africa. Trainer Snaith would take all his horses to the beach once a week and walk them in knee deep salt water. Sold a Captain Al yearling in SAF for $266,000 to Hong Kong about 5 years ago, good old days.
I believe our track environment is contributing to bleeding. Allergens, dust and bedding cause airway and lung problems from studies I've read. Trainers here loathe to change. Add in poor warm ups pre race with a pony and we could get rid of much of the bleeding.
Hope Salad has sparked some folks to weigh in.