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7 horses have died since the 27th April at the track including 2 at last nights Derby meeting.
This years Cheltenham & Aintree festivals had a combined 4 deaths, 7 on a flat track is shocking.
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/05/06/sport/horse-deaths-kentucky-derby-spt/index.html
The trend whereby the US tracks began changing from proper Dirt to the safer Tapeta, reversed back when they cottoned on that Tapeta did not bring out the optimum in the traditionally US bred dirt horses,thus would be risking making their own lines defunct against those progressed in Europe. The cost of course is increased fatalaties but nearly all of the big breeding conglomerates supported the reverse back to the traditional Dirt,so this fatality rate is likely to continue – in fact I believe the stats show that the fatality rate in US dirt racing is consistently higher than in UK & Irish National Hunt racing,so this was no blip in the comparisons you highlight.
A no doubt unintentioned consequence of installing Pro Ride resulted in European horses being less diadvantaged than on dirt and being much more competitive and winning (Ravens Pass & Henrythenavigator finishing 1st and 2nd in the BC Classic in 2008) rather than being out with the washing on the dirt. I believe it was Santa Anita that claimed drainage issues with the surface was the reason for changing back to dirt
The dirt can be artificially prepared to be very fast from harrowing and reducing the depth of the surface making it much firmer with less cushioning and thus more punishing on the horses legs – they also train on the courses as well as race on it…….hence the need for drugs which can mask small issues until sadly they become a bigger issues with regular fatalities happening.
Can’t be a coincidence that they have more of them on dirt surfaces and yet still will not act in the best interests of their product (i.e. the horses) by either switching to an artificial surface or make the existing dirt courses as safe as possible by making them deeper with more cushioning ….sadly they seem more about running fast times than horse welfare.
“sadly they seem more about running fast times than horse welfare.”
If they won’t do anything about the constant mass shootings throughout the country, then any hope that they would make effective changes for equine welfare seem very remote.
I know it’s a generalization, but they seem devoid of moral responsibility.
The synthetic v dirt matter is covered in fair detail in the William Jones book ‘ The Black Horse Is Dying’, the follow up to his first book ‘The Black Horse Inside Coolmore’ which was removed from the shelves following court action / though it can be purchased direct from the author’s home address.
I was a little disappointed with the first book but ‘The Black Horse is Dying’ is an interesting read though a cross referenced index in the back would have been helpful.
Santa Anita, Del Mar and Keeneland all significantly improved the welfare aspect by switching to synthetic surfaces with the fatality rate reduced by up to 6x(Keeneland), but returned to traditional dirt with grim consequences after pressure from the most influential owner/breeders and trainers, due to the pure bred dirt horses losing their home surface advantage. Many behind the decision were members of the Breeders Cup Directors Board, which included representatives from Coolmore and Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley.
I don’t seem to recall these developments being discussed in depth by racing the press over here – though I bet the late Paul Haigh would have tucked into the subject with relish if he was still here.
I am not sure if it is an issue with the track, or an issue about the thoroughbred getting weaker, or just awful bad luck.
No matter what, it does not look good for the sport and is further ammunition for racing’s opponents
Does anyone know what’s in a “dirt” surface?
Is it pure top soil, in the same way you get bags at the garden centre? Or is there a proportion of sand?
Admittedly written 12 years ago now, but apparently then: “The main track at Churchill Downs, which hosts a record eighth Breeders’ Cup Nov. 4-5, is different from any dirt surface in the nation. Most tracks are comprised of limestone with dirt on top. The Louisville venue has no such base while the track is mixed with a deep layer of soil, clay and organic materials several feet underneath.”
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Tapeta is a Thoroughbred Racing and Training surface comprised of a carefully selected mixture of the finest silica sand, wax and fibres that have been extensively researched and simulate the root structure of turf. Tapeta has been tried and tested in all climates at Training and Racetracks around the world.
What happened to “pro-ride”?
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