Nana Beach breakdown - 12-29-12 - Race 4 Santa Anita

Deltalady01 · Postby **Deltalady01** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:45 pm

Would appreciate some perspective on this issue. Am I being naive, and is this just the way it is in the lower-level racing world?

Nana Beach, 5yo f, has started 40 times and has never, ever won a single race. About 6 seconds, 10 thirds, under $100K, lifetime. Has started 11 times 2012, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, $31K earnings. She fell in the 4th at Santa Anita and was euthanized.

I have a problem with continuing to race a horse that never won a race in 40 tries. Comes under the heading of the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. What kind of trainer/owner does that? Stupidity comes to mind. She sometimes raced 3 and 4x in a month, medications include b-bute and of course lasix. Physically a horse cannot recover from these medications in a week. If they are giving her bute, she has had issues.

I'm sorry, this just seems outside the bounds of what is prudent. Also sprinting requires a horse to break out of the gate going hell bent for leather...always exerting at top level from the get-go. According to the write-up in the race chart, the inquiry result was she broke down on her own.....it wasn't caused by anything. Something seems very wrong with this picture. It is no wonder the sport is having trouble attracting any new fans, and young fans would be horrified at this. The race that she broke down in she had not raced for about 2 months, which many breakdowns happen after a layoff like this. Medications included b-bute. So, she was still having issues after being off for 2 months.

The race originally was scheduled for on the turf, on the downhill course, and it was moved to dirt. Why not withdraw her and run her in conditions she's used to? These are questions I have....I am having trouble understanding how this makes sense. You all obviously know a lot more about these things than I do, but, if I'm having a problem with this, then I guarantee you so would most of the rest of the animal-loving public.

Thanks for any input on this issue.

Fireslam · Postby **Fireslam** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:03 pm

Are you kidding me?? Lower level racing world? Im not even sure how to reply to this. She ran 40 times, I think it pretty obvious she was sound. She was hitting the board in Maiden Special company. At Santa Anita. Im not sure how that rates as lower level racing. She had earnings per start of over $2200. She was often very competitive. She was earning her way. She was bred, owned, and trained by the same person for all 40 starts. Im sure they were devastated by that accident.

There is so much wrong and ignorant with your post that I can't even begin to dissect it.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 4:16 pm

Delta, the horse's connections are pretty prominent in California racing. Barry Abrams is a trainer who is considered fairly aggressive. Madeline Auerbach co owns leading Ca. stallion, Unusual Heat along with Abrams and others.

The horse was somewhat competitive with earning in excess of 100k. With training expense in SoCal averaging 50k a year the horse was just about breaking even for connections, probably cost the owners 140k in training expense going back to 2010. I agree it is highly unusual for a horse with 40 starts and 0 wins to be running at any level. Most likely they were encouraged by some of her placings and just went on with her. There was a slight break in racing going into her 12/29 start.

Joltman · Postby **Joltman** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 4:43 pm

There is something to say for your post DeltaL. In contrast, the HRTV guys noted today that two horses at SA in a 2yo maiden claimer were dropped in after only 1 start at MSW. Running a horse over its head is asking for trouble. I don't know why they didn't just try an easier spot and maybe get a win. She may have been a hard trier who just tried to hard. Esp tuff on sprinters go as hard and fast as possible, making it easier to make the fatal 'bad step'.

A quick look at her grand dam, Insight to Hope, points to a heck of a lot of inbreeding. If I count correctly. 5 x6 x6 x 5 x6 to Miss Dolphin.

jm

Sysonby · Postby **Sysonby** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:34 pm

If you can take it, watch the race. It looked to me that one horse lost her footing and her rider (but did not go down and was not euthanized) and Nana Beach collided with her, going down and landing awkwardly.

I don't think she took the proverbial bad step.

valjoe · Postby **valjoe** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 7:46 pm

Sysonby you need to watch the race again, it's so clear that Nana Beach broke down and the other filly collided with her and lost the rider but did not break down