Osiris Way

[Posts: 461Joined: 30 Oct 2011, 10:43Location: North Yorkshire]

Reportedly collapsed after the finish line in 2.20 at Brighton today. Brighton racecourse cannot confirm, but FB carries report and says confirmed by Racing Post website. RIP Lad

[Posts: 1762Joined: 19 May 2011, 07:41Location: paris, france]

rip...

[Posts: 67Joined: 22 Nov 2010, 19:10]

Good night old boy .. you won't be forgotten.

[Posts: 1030Joined: 24 Apr 2011, 00:59]

Never known so many sad losses on the flat like this reetlass.
RIP Brave soldier

[Posts: 451Joined: 11 Feb 2008, 09:51Location: N E Hants]

Never known so many sad losses on the flat like this reetlass.
RIP Brave soldier

I agree Tryptich. Sadly we have to expect it over jumps, but this is getting out of order on the flat, and also on flat ground between jumps in NH, very often with horses which were never bred to jump but not always.

I really do think that the constant re-crossing of the same bloodlines over 200+ years is finally catching up and producing weaknesses.

[Posts: 1030Joined: 24 Apr 2011, 00:59]

@nighthorse..That's a good point and sadly you could be right.

I've never felt so uneasy watching flat races recently, I think trainers have to be ultra vigilant with their runners. I wonder, does the racecourse vet actually stand in the paddock and check the horses out as they parade, to a trained eye perhaps hidden injuries could be spotted before the horse runs and it's too late.

Anything to help stop or lessen the awful toll of much loved horses lately.

[Posts: 461Joined: 30 Oct 2011, 10:43Location: North Yorkshire]

I spoke to the veterinary section of the BHA recently, as I thought the problem of all these leg breaks was due to a lack of bone in modern thoroughbred breeding. I asked if they had a research or monitoring programme for that sort of thing, and their response was that they didn't as they didn't really think it was their problem.

[Posts: 1030Joined: 24 Apr 2011, 00:59]

That's a dreadful response reetlass, I can't believe they have virtually turned a blind eye to this problem.

In a perfect world, it would be nice to see a screening programme in place for all 2 year olds before they take their first steps onto a racecourse, followed up by regular checks throughout their first year if they run more than 6 times. At 3 years old again screening before the beginning of the season to see if any damage has been sustained in training and again at 4 years of age.

How many more horses have to die unnecessarily before the BHA sit up and take notice, this does not do the sport any favours and owners would surely want their horses' well being to be foremost.

There must be nothing worse than losing a beloved horse on the racetrack or at home on the gallops or out in the field.

I found this part of an article about training Lippizaners before they attempt the 'airs above the ground' jump usually not until they are 7 to 8 years of age.

This may go a little way to explain why the BHA Veterinary section does not wish to carry out research on the bones of racehorses, mainly because some trainers may be breaking the rules by over training their charges and causing unnecessary stress on their young legs with grave consequences for the horse.

An early and easy start, when done properly, will help the horse further in developing and adjusting his body (bones, muscles and tendons), while he is still growing, for the work that he is intended to perform in the future. For example, if someone says: “I will wait until his knees close before I start his training”, he most likely does not know what he is talking about. We can start to train a horse before his knees are closed, but what we should not do, is to stress him to the point that he will injure them. On the average a racing horse should spend at least 6 months in training (by that time his knees will be closed), before we start to increase the speed from a working gallop, and at least 10 months before he runs his first race. This is of course ignored in the racing industry; hence the horses break down, not because of early training, but because of the incompetence of trainers that do not give enough time for the individual horses to develop physically and adjust for carrying weight at high speeds.

[Posts: 461Joined: 30 Oct 2011, 10:43Location: North Yorkshire]

That's very interesting, Triptych. According to the report, there should be no horses racing before 3 years old. Can't see that happening, can you?
I will inquire what the TBA are doing, if anything, in the way of monitoring.

[Posts: 1030Joined: 24 Apr 2011, 00:59]

Well done reetlass, keep us informed.
I don't think any true horse racing fan would object to our Classics being run for horses aged 4yo but then for the flat horses that's when their career usually ends. It could also be a great help for the juvenile hurdlers who begin their careers at an early age,especially those who have crossed over from flat racing.

[Posts: 451Joined: 11 Feb 2008, 09:51Location: N E Hants]

That's very interesting, Triptych. According to the report, there should be no horses racing before 3 years old. Can't see that happening, can you?

In the normal horsey world nobody would dream of putting a rider up on a horse less than 3 years old, and even then would not think of galloping it about.

Yet some of these babies are not even 2 y-o when they start to break and train them for the following summer. It just cannot be good for their bones.

[Posts: 461Joined: 30 Oct 2011, 10:43Location: North Yorkshire]

Well done reetlass, keep us informed.

Up to today I still hadn't had a response from the TBA. I phoned them and spoke to Carrie Cherry, who was very helpful. She understood what I was saying and did tell me that, although they don't do any 'research' themselves, they do co-fund research into all aspects of horse fatalities, and this would include our suspected 'lack of bone'. The research is done by the HBLB (Levy Board) and she asked me to contact Stephanie McIntosh. I will try to phone her this afternoon, and if I can't speak to her I'll send an email.

Keep you posted.

Jo

[Posts: 461Joined: 30 Oct 2011, 10:43Location: North Yorkshire]

I managed to speak to Stephanie McIntosh this morning and she was more than helpful.
There is an ongoing research programme into fractures and the causes, including breeding patterns and the like, but there is no specific research as such covering lack of bone. This topic does come into their research however, but not under it's own heading.
Speaking to her, it does seem to be a long-going programme with funding from other sources. I asked if their findings/reports were available on line, and to date they are not but they are working on a system that should make their reports available on line at the end of the year.
I will keep looking at their website (hblb.org.uk) to see what happens. Sorry I've no more news at the mo.

While I was on the BHA website I did see a section headed welfare and fatalities, or something similar to that. It does seem that they do some research/enquiring into some race fatalities, but it seems to be more on the lines of multiple fatalities in a single race and I thought it was more from the point of view of looking to see if there was a problem at the racecourse involved. Have a look and see what you think.
Jo