California Vet's List---down 30% in one year

[CA Michael]

http://www.chrb.ca.gov/VETLIST.pdf

Any vet's list represents bad news, but in this case there's also a bright side. One year ago the list was 36 pages; this year "only" 26.

But even a cursory study of this year's list reveals how few of the of serious incidents occurred at Del Mar and Hollywood Park, especially in light of last year's horiffic statistics. (note: Thoroughbred stats begin on page eight).

The far right column lists the track code, e.g. San Mateo County Fair (Bay Meadows), Del Mar Turf Club, etc., where the illness or injury happened. A complete glossary of race track codes appears on the last page.

The next major CA meet, Oak Tree at Santa Anita, begins in about five weeks. It will be interesting to see how much shorter the "vet's list" will become as new cushion track there is utilized.

[Rokeby Forever]

What's amazing is how many horses are notated as "unsound" after running and/or training on the synthetics/Polytrack. When we consider how few horses ran at the end of Hollywood and how the entry numbers are down at Del Mar, the equine crutches business must be booming in California.

[CA Michael]

That is an unfair statement because it is not quantified. Compared to last year's numbers, the number of unsound horses which trained at HP/DMR only is down about 80-85%.

[Rokeby Forever]

Where does that number come from?

It's a fact that entry numbers are down at Del Mar this meet as compared to 2006. Why? When I commented that Hollywood was running short fields, you said that people were waiting for Del Mar. Well...where are they?

[CA Michael]

The people are still around, but their horses died last year at Hollywood, Del Mar, Santa Anita and Bay Meadows. The stats were taken from last year's vet list.

[Rokeby Forever]

But how did this report manage to decrease in page number when it still lists horses from 15 years ago? For example, it reads that USS Chrebecka made the list on 2/26/92, and Victor Avenue made the list on 2/1/97, and there are many, many more examples. Something's not adding up.

[CA Michael]

You're right. I've complained for years about the antiquated names on the list. Most of them were removed one year ago, but apparently there's a rule that the official paperwork (e.g. coggins certs) must be filed before a horse can be taken off the list. Seems as if there should be a statute of limitations since some of the old entries are 10 years or older.

[Rokeby Forever]

OK. At least we're on the same page here.

[zinn21]

The new surfaces are, no doubt, having a positive effect.

[bdw0617]

The new surfaces are, no doubt, having a positive effect.

if you call 2:07 Grade 1 races, turning horses, owners, trainers away, bad horses at the meet, when your grade 1's are basically open allowence races..
oh.. and horses still getting pounded and have to kill themselves to win a race?


if that's positive it's the best thing since the light blub!!!

I don't use past performances when I handicap, so can anyone tell me what SC earned and what Lava Man earned?

I am interested to see the "track adjustments" made by beyeron this one.

in reality... that's what.... 2:07 for a 1 1/4th race is what....low 80's high 70s?

however you can't possibly justify a grade 1 field going that slow so he has to tweak the numbers after the fact

[CA Michael]

bdw, I think you're right.

Let's go back to 6 furlong maiden claiming races being run in 1:08 3/5, $12,500 claimers running miles in 1:34 3/5, and one starter in every 100 starters breaking down. Sounds like a solution to me.

[louis finochio]

the vet's list on breakdowns is lower, but the thoroughbreds that are un- race is becoming greater. I am doing a research project on that and I will post it soon.

[CA Michael]

Louis, please do us all a favor (or at least me); if you're going to do a study, follow acceptable rules of doing so. At the top of the list is remaining objective--if you embark on it with the sole purpose of proving your belief, no doubt you will collect information that does only that. Second, data is often different than opinions. Just because someone says so-and-so doesn't make it a fact, nor does it necessarily represent the majority thinking. Hard numbers, that's what counts.

[Rokeby Forever]

Hard numbers - Del Mar Main Track entries are down this year. Are less horses passing the vet, more horses having aches and pains, or is Global Warming keeping connections from entering races?

[CA Michael]

Louis, I forgot to add that hyperbole, wise cracks and undocumented gossip also don't count.