Another breakdown at Del Mar

[magic code]

From DRF:

Horse dies from training injuries

Silver State, a 3-year-old maiden who was training for his first start since his debut in June 2006, became the third horse to be euthanized this summer as a result of injuries sustained while training on Del Mar's new Polytrack surface, the track announced.

Silver State suffered a knee injury in a workout on Aug. 6, when he drilled a half-mile in 49 seconds. He subsequently underwent surgery, but suffered complications and was euthanized on Tuesday, according to publicist Dan Smith.

No horses have died as a result of injuries in races this summer on Polytrack. Four horses have been euthanized from injuries on Del Mar's turf course - three in races, one in a workout - bringing to seven the number of horses who have been euthanized this summer, well below the rate of last summer, when 18 were euthanized as a result of injuries suffered during racing or training.

[bdw0617]

damn, at least with the old dirt track they made it to see a damn live race

[Tucumcari]

uhhhh.. there was one vanned off with a seasamoid and euthanized before 6 am today and one more later on of questionable fate. Though when I drove into the barn area at about noon the "wagon" was out and about... sooo two this morning? God bless it.

[Foggytrip]

Ouch, the reality of polytrack

[Tucumcari]

Plus the one that was vanned off in the earlier (I think)part of the card on Thurs or Fri... hooray for safety.

[Foggytrip]

Lets just hope they publish the true number of breakdowns at the end of the meet. I find it very hard to believe they are 10 behind last year

[magic code]

In Del Mar's defense, it's great they've had fewer than last year and they're not on a 2-deaths-per-week average like, oh, say, EMERALD.

[Foggytrip]

When 4 claimers go 108 for 6 you can expect some sore legs

[Rokeby Forever]

That damn Phalaris!

[Tucumcari]

Oh they are way behind last year, on the catastrophic injuries, but they aren't on the "needing a year off" injuries, and when those come back they'll be swimming up hill to get them to a race and they will eventually be right back to the injury re ocurring and another year off or the leg dangling then...
And then there are the mystery lamenesses... my personal favorite. A month later with no diagnosis.... still lame as all get out?
I don't know about midwesttrainer, but Ankles take a beating on Poly. They didn't on cushion. once I got rid (different location) of the ankles in the barn, we are looking to be in fairly good shape.
It is now common thought that we are better off with cushion when we head north. Which is a complete turn around from the initial thought at the onset of this meet. Poly has fallen short as compared to the Cushion. Who knew the VW of the synthetics could show up the Ferrari???!!!

[zinn21]

There will always be breakdowns regardless of the surface but the early statistics show a huge reduction in the number of fatal breakdowns on synthetic surfaces (Turfway Park; Hollywood Park; Del Mar)

I have heard people in the industry complain the synthetic surfaces are slower and certain horses cannot handle it but I have heard no prominant figure in the industry complain that it is not a safer surface for horses..

[diomed]

That damn Phalaris!

[MidwestTrainer]

The huge reduction in injuries will not keep happening. Just as AP has had more breakdowns that in 2005, they will climb again. Look at the Tapeta surface. A horse broke down and was euthanized in the first race at Presque Isle.

Butchers will still kill horses, doesn't matter what you run them on. But this was an easier solution(though very temporary) than to actually punish trainers that butcher horses.

[Tucumcari]

There will always be breakdowns regardless of the surface but the early statistics show a huge reduction in the number of fatal breakdowns on synthetic surfaces (Turfway Park; Hollywood Park; Del Mar)

I have heard people in the industry complain the synthetic surfaces are slower and certain horses cannot handle it but I have heard no prominant figure in the industry complain that it is not a safer surface for horses..

You might have to get up a little earlier to hear the discussions along the rail regarding the surfaces, the horses, etc.

I agree fully that there will always be breakdowns. It's a sad shame.
I could care less about times, as I have stated previously. I am fully in favor of keeping horses and humans safe. There are still the same people having sore horses. Sore horses that they don't back off of, and the end result is the same.

[MidwestTrainer]

Very good article on synthetic surfaces.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbc ... 7709020409