New York Thunder

[1hooper]

After winning his first two races last year as a 2-year-old, first on a synthetic surface and then on turf, New York Thunder had a slow start to his 3-year-old season. He spent two weeks in the spring on the Kentucky vet’s list described as “lame,” according to vet records, making him ineligible to compete. Horses are put on the vet’s list when they are deemed unsound by regulatory veterinarians or have undergone certain procedures that require extra time or scrutiny.

He returned to racing on April 30 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, easily winning a stakes race on a synthetic surface.

In June, Delgado entered New York Thunder in the Woody Stephens Stakes on the undercard of the Belmont Stakes. But the horse was scratched by state veterinarians the morning of the race because he was injured, according to the vet records. No other information was given in the records.

On July 14, New York Thunder went on the vet’s list again for two weeks after he was given a joint injection, the records say. The injection was allowed under rules set by the national horse racing authority, which was created by Congress 2020 to oversee the sport. It is common for trainers to inject horses with steroids to battle inflammation and reduce pain.

On July 28, the colt came off the vet’s list and won the Amsterdam Stakes on dirt in Saratoga by an eye-catching seven and a half lengths.

Racing a horse two weeks after it has received an injection is allowable under the rules but controversial in the sport. Before the national racing authority took over antidoping and medication control on May 22, California had a rule that prohibited steroid fetlock injections within 30 days of a race.

Before the rule went into effect, the state had 83 catastrophic fetlock failures in 20 months. Afterward, it had 24 in the next 19 months.

www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/sports/horse-racing/horse-racing-deaths-reforms.html?unlocked_article_code=er-eSDFrZhNi5sPEaKj1KDUgtuBonxsOCk4MRT0O_Rvb9YGLG77pGyDHw1k88RbdrAtkMIUdIKXZHLqcjbMJJA2mWZr0Q3uje8H403KPPAzZgA2kJvJmUPAFEIfpEK0nrcaWzMAeWuta0PRKApYEE9HlAYBJsVZNA3AQVGOHkfmuq_5IA_ldbEgE_s0ZrscHBKjmZK9eZxHU3B5x9kxgas98vjYX08IByY1IBiFrhFYMBhO_eLCkkkyGGi80eE_BISSj2n_Ta5uSYFS3uTFu-L_uIEegcaoDs6HWtotg5CJhREr52XRLme3aJCJgmUfew-Ob-unnE9daKV_09rwQ7B4oZ7XytI6ASEfuxZ1yyqwD&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

[cherokeescot]

This trainer also has a bit of history with break downs. Focus will now switch away from track conditions back to medications !

[spiderjohn]

The surface was a factor, though the main issue is unsound horses racing with less medications as in the past. The hot claiming game with quick turnarounds doesn’t help.

In all fairness to Saratoga, the weather was the main culprit. NYRA’s waffling back and forth was more a problem for handicappers. No horses were forced to start.

jmo

[quickcall]

If all the horses were fit and sound that are entered in a race, would the surface be an issue?

If the horse isn't fit and sound, why do we enter them in a race?

If we want to fix a problem, then fix the problem, period.

Of course there are many factors to contribute to a horse breaking down, however, I have to believe that it must start with a fit and sound horse.

If we focus on the track conditions as the culprit, we are deflecting. But isn't that what we do, focus on the symptom of the problem and not the problem itself?

If it isn't all about what's best for the horse...

I refer to the rule, not the exception.

[mysaladdays]

"..the records say..."

Unfortunately, bettors/fans don't have access to any records; they are watching and/or wagering on animals for whom they have little information other than *trainer-speak* and race / workout stats. 

We see horses placed on the vet's list and we sit, scraching our heads, as we have no idea why they are on there, as we see this before the KY Derby, etc.  

Of couse we must start with horses who are fit and sound, as Quickcall mentions.  We assume that these athletes ARE fit and sound.

(And after-the-fact, are always suprised and horrified that we didn't know they weren't fit.  And then, we have the aftermath, where some people will beat up on Joe Drape or whatever journalist asks the hard questions, finds answers, and call them PETA types and animal rights activists, or horse racing's enemy, as I've seen done before)

Again, it's all about TRANSPARENCY, and putting the horse first, which continues to be U.S. Racing's #1 problem.