[Blistering Winds]

Ever wonder why Thoroughbred racing times never change? Here are a few reasons that were given by my profs and from some grad students who worked at training facilities...

1. Genetics....there aren't too many more combonations you can make in the TB industry....

2. Training... did you know, most horses in training only run a mile and a quarter during training? They NEVER run more than that, yet the trainers expect them to do their absolute best at the mile and a half and 2 mile during the derby. One thing I learned during our Exercise Physiology portion was if you want them to run a certain distance, RUN them that distance. They get better over time. Same in humans. Go run a mile. Run it every other day. Soon, you run it easier and faster than you did in the beginning. Trainers in the racing industry are so set in tradition, we have to wait for a freak of nature to come around and blow everyone's socks off instead of actually BETTERING the industry and changing a few things.

I hope I have the money to buy a good race horse in the future. Cause I'll train him to run it! Blow everyone off the tracks by actual TRAINING, not just based on Genetics....

Anyways, had to tell someone that....Hubby could care less... woot!

[Rocket is Magical]

Makes sense. I didn't know they did that in training. I just assumed that they would train for longer. At the least, the length of most of the races! And if they don't want to train them harder than that because they are worried about injuring them cause they are so young, then they should wait till they are older. I have nothing against horse racing, except that they put these young horses through so much stress that a lot of their racing careers are cut short do to injury. They are racing 2 year olds. Horses don't stop growing until they are 4, and some finish filling out at 5! They are just too worried about spending money to keep these horses any longer than they have to, in case they aren't any good.
Sorry to keep going on, I just don't think it's a good idea to run babies.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

i heard horses dont stop growing until they are 6. but it depends on the breed. like warmbloods dont stop growing until about 7 years of age. but TB racing is like asking a 6yo kid to run a 26 mile marathon! they cant do and they get hurt in the process. but before any TB racer lovers attack me, if the horse likes to run, let it run. but not at the age of 2! cuz along the way their backs and legs r going to have problems. i heard a rhumor saying that TB racing was going to start racing horses at 4 instead of 2. did anyone else hear this??

running_ Tiny running_

[Rocket is Magical]

I haven't heard that rumor yet. 4 isn't the best, but it's better than 2. Maybe there will actually be more race horses who can have different careers after racing, instead of most of them being pasture ornaments only, or light riding due to leg injuries.

[Blistering Winds]

I am an avid watcher of races, and I do agree with ya'll that they should hold off till 3 or 4 at least...there are a FEW owners that do,,,..VERY few...

But yeah...they don't run them the full distance that they will be asked to run in the derby and , if i remember right, Preakness....which is the 2 mile one...or was it the derby...keep forgeting.

But if they were TRAINED to run those distances, they wouldn't get hurt as bad....most horses who get hurt OUT of the pack, give 110% and usually running the longer distances than what their training was for. The trainers are asking for it. Just like asking one of us who can run a block to run a mile...if we give it our all, we will tear down before the mile. THe younger horses will tear down faster, but will happen in the older horses too if they aren't trained for it.

[Blistering Winds]

Hey, I also learned this during the semester..

Did you know..... A quarter horse can hold his breath the entire race? Many of them never take a breath from the time the gates open till after they finish and are cooling down.

Since the quarter mile is all Anaerobic exercise, the oxygen isn't needed so the body doesn't breath and concentrates on running. Some do, but many don't.

I thought that was very interesting. My horse will breath going into a barrel, but not in-between, and especially not on the stretch...

[Lou3]

well - there is a school of thought developing that flat racing horses at 2 yrs old actually HELPS musculoskeletal development. Its a theory being researched at several leading vet schools worldwide - with some suprising results. It seems all our previous worries about racing 2yr olds could have been a bit - well - misplaced. Flat racing seems to be coming out in the good books so far. Jumping however remains a problem for stress fractures and is still actively discouraged. Research is ongoing.
Lou

[Blistering Winds]

Lou...I think I heard about that...just didn't want to say anything cause I can't remember where I saw it..

[Lou3]

i heard about it because a few of my friends are students at glasgow vet school. One of their lecturers is involved in the research.
Lou

[Blistering Winds]

I think I heard it in one of my lectures during Exercise Physiology...

I've never seen too much wrong with flat-work. I know that during early training, they are breezed mostly...then run like once-twice a week. Usually starts in January, Right as they turn 2...then they are worked until race day.