Intense Holiday

[Cree]

Worked this morning, afterwards pulled up and walked on to the horse ambulance. Hoping he is alright, he's a nice colt.
Is he the one that had a hard time switching leads in some of his races?

David Grening @DRFGrening
Intense Holiday was walked off the track and walked onto the equine ambulance which picked him up at the gap.

[TJ]

Worked this morning, afterwards pulled up and walked on to the horse ambulance. Hoping he is alright, he's a nice colt.
Is he the one that had a hard time switching leads in some of his races?

David Grening @DRFGrening
Intense Holiday was walked off the track and walked onto the equine ambulance which picked him up at the gap.

Hi Cree,
Yes, he was the one. It happened n the Louisiana Derby when he ran 2nd....dropped in despite left handed whipping and almost went into the rail. Comment actually said "came very close to the rail while crossfiring". He's suffered a Condylar Fracture and is out of the Belmont Stakes. TJ

[Cree]

They'll put in a screw, and possibly he'll come back from this?

[Cree]

Horse has been retired:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... se-holiday

9 starts only. Geez.

[Mahubah]

With the troubles this horse has had with cross-firing and refusing to change leads, makes me wonder how long he was adversely affected by some other physical issue before the major breakdown. In horses as in humans, it's often an undetected and unaddressed small problem that leads to a big one.

[Cree]

I wonder the same thing Mahubah. He sure didn't last long.

[TJ]

No doubt Intense Holiday was signaling them, but no one was listening. It had to be there since he crossfired nearly bouncing off the rail in the Louisiana Derby. Horses won't do that unless they fell something brewing. TJ

[BenB]

Probably, something in the back ar the neck that was bothering him for an long time. I tend to think that he could not change leads, that,s something different than refusing to change leads.

And Iam supposing that ailment was giving him a lot of pain, at least discomfort.

[TJ]

Probably, something in the back ar the neck that was bothering him for an long time. I tend to think that he could not change leads, that,s something different than refusing to change leads.

And Iam supposing that ailment was giving him a lot of pain, at least discomfort.

Hi B,
He was able to change leads, he chose not to change leads because that would mean he had to put his full weight on his right fore (the one where the fracture occurred) and which is the lead he is supposed to be on in the stretch. This avoidance through hesitation to switch to his correct lead, creates the diagonal crossfiring. Crossfiring is only seen in unsound TB's. Watch his workout below and you will note reluctance and an uneven gait very near the end of the work. This was because Intense Holiday (who is on the inside with Commissioner on the outside) was trying to get off his right lead obviously to protect himself....he could feel the pain. Watch closely from about 1:48 point of the video and you will see it clearly. TJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TQ_HuCDiEo

[BenB]

In the last part he seems to be off. Crossfiring is always an bad sign. No doubt about that. Thanks for the video.

[TJ]

In the last part he seems to be off. Crossfiring is always an bad sign. No doubt about that. Thanks for the video.

Hi Ben,
You're welcome, glad you saw it...sometimes I see things:>) Though this was pretty visible, as it was when he ducked in toward the rail in the Louisiana Derby....he was totally out of sync. I find it strange that an outfit like this, pretty much ignored what Intense Holiday was telling them. If we could see it, why didn't they stop on him instead of going forward to the Belmont Stakes? Are these guys that crazed with making these races, that they would risk injury to such a nice horse. Here's the replay of his 2nd place finish in the Louisiana Derby, take note Commanding Curve ran 3rd in that race. Intense Holiday is number 1 breaking from the rail in the blue and gold silks, white bridle with a dropped noseband. Also note his action at about 1:27 (steadied slightly but his action was thrown way off when Smith reached up for him) and then his action at about 1:50 when ducking in under a left handed whip, while cross-firing. After observing these two incidents in a single race, that would have been enough to give him a couple months off in my book....whether they knew for sure what was bugging him or not. TJ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kJKvNWhopI

[BenB]

He went sharp to the rail (left), unless the the use lefthanded from the whip. I think the ailment has been bothering very much longer and the medication rules in Louisiana are one of the easiest in the USA only florida does have lesser rules.

I does not really surprises me that this happend and it could have been far worse.

[Cree]

Not to throw him under a bus, but Pletcher sure has had some "big" names break down this year, all in the morning.

Intense Holiday and Constitution (who may come back?).
And he just had a fatal breakdown with Kingston Jamaica.
Early in the year he had the nice fillies Onlyforyou and Lucky For You both fatally break down.

What is going on?

[BenB]

TJ, do you know bdw how they constructed the Belmont Track. It seems to me that it is lying upon an concrete base or something.

[TJ]

TJ, do you know bdw how they constructed the Belmont Track. It seems to me that it is lying upon an concrete base or something.

Hi Ben,
It was rich farm land that was converted to sprawling horse estates for the rich and famous. The Westchester Racing Association (who was in power then) purchased these properties in 1903 and built the original Belmont Park. Re-constructed to it's present day, in the mid to late 60's over the same fertile base. It isn't lying on a cement slab....that would surely cause a record number of breakdowns. There are cement foundations outside supporting the track as it is elevated above the grandstand "apron" where patrons assemble to view the races. They nick named Belmont Park's 1 1/2 mile oval, Big Sandy....it's top layer is 4 1/4-4 3/4's of sandy loam material, a layer of sand for drainage and a natural soil base. The track is one of the safest in America in recent years (2013 fatality rate from 7,210 starters, 5 fatalities and 0.69%...well under the national average per 1000 starters). It has a stellar drainage system and that may be of importance, as rain is expected to be heavy at times leading up to the Belmont Stakes this week? TJ