Yet another very classy but brittle Unbridled Song injured. What a shame.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... r-fracture
Dunkirk To Undergo Surgery For Condylar Fracture
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Among all the Derby entrants, Dunkirk was among the youngest, was the least raced/experienced in terms of "outs" under the full court pressure of a race and certainly in terms of Graded Stakes outs and everything in his profile would make you worry about a potential fracture: the Unbridled Song sireline with it's propensity to produce stout barreled, long bodied types set on long but somewhat spindley legs with very short cannon bones that IMO are not necessarily 'brittle' but do need time to harden into themselves, not to mention his dominating maiden win and subsequent outs in Florida at very fast times. You take all of that into account and I'm surprised he's held together this far into the Triple Crown. It's a lot to ask of any large, young, immature, speedy and inexperienced 3YO. I would have to say the Unbridled sireline is one of the sources for stamina in TBs today - although the conformation and durability the dam brings to the breeding shed is paramount - and often enough for that more elusive quality termed "heart" - the will to win. Dunkirk put everything he had down on the Belmont surface last Saturday and his placing second takes nothing away from what he accomplished and demonstrated.
His race in the Belmont was the first of his outs to really impress me frankly but it was not because of his stride. In the early going when he was on or near the lead - I thought him to be an awkward sort of runner, very gangly and poorly balanced on his feet, looking like a train wreck waiting to happen to my eye. I questioned whether or not he was struggling with the surface he seemed to be moving so poorly to me - yet he hung in there, continuing to press the leaders/pace. then, in the final turn and stretch drive he found himself and was running very smoothly and easily for a horse that should have been tired. Finally he showed some real heart coming back to pass Mine That Bird after MTB passed him. Frankly that's exactly the quality that brings people to the Unbridled/UBS sireline - that spark of competitiveness at the end of the race: oft termed "heart" or 'grit'. Not all of the Unbridled offspring get it but enough of them are demonstrating it to attract top breeders. At the end of the day you want a horse that wants to win - not just one that's 'built to run' and that's a difficult trait to breed for.
I'm sorry to hear of this set-back but from what I read it's merely that - a set-back for a horse that should be a more mature and ultimately stronger horse when he comes back. I wish him well on the road to recovery and look to see him race in the fall.
His race in the Belmont was the first of his outs to really impress me frankly but it was not because of his stride. In the early going when he was on or near the lead - I thought him to be an awkward sort of runner, very gangly and poorly balanced on his feet, looking like a train wreck waiting to happen to my eye. I questioned whether or not he was struggling with the surface he seemed to be moving so poorly to me - yet he hung in there, continuing to press the leaders/pace. then, in the final turn and stretch drive he found himself and was running very smoothly and easily for a horse that should have been tired. Finally he showed some real heart coming back to pass Mine That Bird after MTB passed him. Frankly that's exactly the quality that brings people to the Unbridled/UBS sireline - that spark of competitiveness at the end of the race: oft termed "heart" or 'grit'. Not all of the Unbridled offspring get it but enough of them are demonstrating it to attract top breeders. At the end of the day you want a horse that wants to win - not just one that's 'built to run' and that's a difficult trait to breed for.
I'm sorry to hear of this set-back but from what I read it's merely that - a set-back for a horse that should be a more mature and ultimately stronger horse when he comes back. I wish him well on the road to recovery and look to see him race in the fall.
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rcloisonne
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jellac wrote:I'm sorry to hear of this set-back but from what I read it's merely that - a set-back for a horse that should be a more mature and ultimately stronger horse when he comes back. I wish him well on the road to recovery and look to see him race in the fall.
How many race horses do you know with pins in their legs that are still running?
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ratherrapid
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FYI - from an article in the Bloodhorse by Sharon Biggs, published in May of 2006 (emphasis is mine) -
There are plenty of TBs that are racing with a pin in their leg for the repair of a simple condylar fracture - as Dunkirk's is described. The one's that involve displacement are a bit trickier as it is very hard to get the two pieces of bone back into their original position so that there is no bit of bone overriding or sticking out on the surface of the bone once it's healed. That bit of bone can become an issue in training because of the irritation/inflamation of the tendon or bone sheathing material that runs over what is normally a smooth surface of bone. There are also plenty of horses who upon returning to training after such an injury/repair are judged to be too valuable for stud duty and perhaps a step slower than before so are sent to stud: Afleet Alex for example and his injury was more involved than Dunkirk's as it's been described.
Here's a news flash - IF horses - including geldings - didn't recover from the repair of such injuries to return to racing on a fairly regular basis there wouldn't be so many clinics/vets trained and knowlegeable in such techniques nor owners willing to shell out the couple of thousands it would take to repair/rehab from a simple condylar fracture such as this. This is not the catastrophic sort of multiple fractures - including an extensive condylar fracture that involved more than one bone and largely displaced bone at that, plus basicly the near complete disintegration of his leg that Barbaro suffered. Yet even in his dire situation his leg was put back together successfully and the bone was was healing quite well enough for the purpose of saving his life and possibally his stud career. Amazingly enough given the severity of his injuries - it was the laminitis that sealed Barbaro's fate - not the fractures, although the long convalesence on only three good legs set him up to develop laminitis for sure. Eight Belles injuries occurred in both her front legs simultaneously the bones were hugely displaced hugely and in displacing did a great deal of damage to the soft tissues/bloodvessels in her legs. There was nothing they could do for her given the total damage done to her leg's architecture and given that both legs were involved. With pain medication you may be able to get a horse to hobble around for a couple of months on three legs but you can't do that when both legs are done in. Dunkirk's injury is to a single bone in his hind leg and is - as described - a rather simple, non-displaced condylar fracture. While nothing is guaranteed when surgically repairing a horse this is not a career ending injury if all goes well. I am hopeful that he makes a full recovery and races again though frankly - as I stated - I find his overall stride mechanics quite rough. I'd worry about that as it only takes one wrong step to end not only a career but a life.
Not all fractures carry a grim prognosis. All are different, and some are more repairable than others. Fractures in the bones of the foot, such as the navicular and coffin bones, are often the easiest to repair and can be managed through rest and corrective shoeing at a minimal cost.
The most common long bone fracture that Nunamaker sees, and the easiest to repair, is the lateral condylar fracture (fracture of the third metacarpal or cannon bone on the distal or lower end). "Although this is commonly seen here at the University of Pennsylvania, fractures in other parts of the country and in other parts of the world are in fact different. It's all based on training, the surfaces animals race and work on, as well as what kind of shoes they wear," says Nunamaker.
The lateral condylar fracture, usually seen in racehorses, runs from the front to the back of the leg and up the lateral side (outside). This can often be repaired well enough so that horses can go back to work just as strong as before the injury.
"This fracture is usually repaired through the use of screw fixation," says Nunamaker. "In other words, we take the piece of bone and press it against the parent bone and stabilize it with screws. If it's displaced, we have to reduce the fracture and apply the fixation."
Reducing a fracture simply means putting it back into its original position, a difficult job in itself. The ends override and the muscles are stronger than the veterinarian. Surgeons have to try to get the ends to meet well enough to place screws and plates. It's very time-consuming and requires advanced techniques.
There are plenty of TBs that are racing with a pin in their leg for the repair of a simple condylar fracture - as Dunkirk's is described. The one's that involve displacement are a bit trickier as it is very hard to get the two pieces of bone back into their original position so that there is no bit of bone overriding or sticking out on the surface of the bone once it's healed. That bit of bone can become an issue in training because of the irritation/inflamation of the tendon or bone sheathing material that runs over what is normally a smooth surface of bone. There are also plenty of horses who upon returning to training after such an injury/repair are judged to be too valuable for stud duty and perhaps a step slower than before so are sent to stud: Afleet Alex for example and his injury was more involved than Dunkirk's as it's been described.
Here's a news flash - IF horses - including geldings - didn't recover from the repair of such injuries to return to racing on a fairly regular basis there wouldn't be so many clinics/vets trained and knowlegeable in such techniques nor owners willing to shell out the couple of thousands it would take to repair/rehab from a simple condylar fracture such as this. This is not the catastrophic sort of multiple fractures - including an extensive condylar fracture that involved more than one bone and largely displaced bone at that, plus basicly the near complete disintegration of his leg that Barbaro suffered. Yet even in his dire situation his leg was put back together successfully and the bone was was healing quite well enough for the purpose of saving his life and possibally his stud career. Amazingly enough given the severity of his injuries - it was the laminitis that sealed Barbaro's fate - not the fractures, although the long convalesence on only three good legs set him up to develop laminitis for sure. Eight Belles injuries occurred in both her front legs simultaneously the bones were hugely displaced hugely and in displacing did a great deal of damage to the soft tissues/bloodvessels in her legs. There was nothing they could do for her given the total damage done to her leg's architecture and given that both legs were involved. With pain medication you may be able to get a horse to hobble around for a couple of months on three legs but you can't do that when both legs are done in. Dunkirk's injury is to a single bone in his hind leg and is - as described - a rather simple, non-displaced condylar fracture. While nothing is guaranteed when surgically repairing a horse this is not a career ending injury if all goes well. I am hopeful that he makes a full recovery and races again though frankly - as I stated - I find his overall stride mechanics quite rough. I'd worry about that as it only takes one wrong step to end not only a career but a life.
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bdw0617
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i'm going to go against the grain here
I think it is purly considental that he happens to be an UBS.
He's trained by Tood P.. who as everyone here knows, I don't think that highly of. His first race was in Feburary, he won, won an allowence in march, ran on a track at gulstream that sidlined the best 3YO in the country indefinatly it was so hard and fast, then ran a clunker in the derby, runs in the 12F, and runs a gutty race on a sealed track.
someone was goin to come up injuried. He might not be the most durable horse on earth, but I do think with better planning, a different route of racing, he'd still be racing.
he cost what.. 3.7 milllion? 3.7 million dollars I'm pretty sure are put together quite well. there isn't enough cute in the world for 3.7 million dollars.
I think the problem with the UBS's... some of it, is not the horse is brittle, is that owners get feverish when they see the talent and do well.. what pletcher did. put the horse in a very uncomfortable position that no horse deserves to be put in.
I'm not against him running in the belmont. i'm against anyone running in the belmont with that little foundation, and espically off the race he ran in the derby.
Look at horses like Thorn Song. he's an UBS. look at political force. he was an UBS. I think Zensational and Affirmatif are two horses that are better guages of what an UBS is capable of. horses with talent but clearly not derby talent, as both clearly don't like to run long on dirt.
I think alot of the breakdowns and unsoundness issues we have, come moreso from horrid decsion making than it does bloodlines.
Roke emailed me back when about 3 4 months ago and told me it was a matter of time before dunkirk broke down. he was dead on the money. it's the equation for diaster. No foundation + Pletcher + coolmore + little bit of talent = 5 races tops.
I think it is purly considental that he happens to be an UBS.
He's trained by Tood P.. who as everyone here knows, I don't think that highly of. His first race was in Feburary, he won, won an allowence in march, ran on a track at gulstream that sidlined the best 3YO in the country indefinatly it was so hard and fast, then ran a clunker in the derby, runs in the 12F, and runs a gutty race on a sealed track.
someone was goin to come up injuried. He might not be the most durable horse on earth, but I do think with better planning, a different route of racing, he'd still be racing.
he cost what.. 3.7 milllion? 3.7 million dollars I'm pretty sure are put together quite well. there isn't enough cute in the world for 3.7 million dollars.
I think the problem with the UBS's... some of it, is not the horse is brittle, is that owners get feverish when they see the talent and do well.. what pletcher did. put the horse in a very uncomfortable position that no horse deserves to be put in.
I'm not against him running in the belmont. i'm against anyone running in the belmont with that little foundation, and espically off the race he ran in the derby.
Look at horses like Thorn Song. he's an UBS. look at political force. he was an UBS. I think Zensational and Affirmatif are two horses that are better guages of what an UBS is capable of. horses with talent but clearly not derby talent, as both clearly don't like to run long on dirt.
I think alot of the breakdowns and unsoundness issues we have, come moreso from horrid decsion making than it does bloodlines.
Roke emailed me back when about 3 4 months ago and told me it was a matter of time before dunkirk broke down. he was dead on the money. it's the equation for diaster. No foundation + Pletcher + coolmore + little bit of talent = 5 races tops.
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ratherrapid
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I thought Dunkirk was managed very well. He was given plenty of time between races. The fact is he and numerous Unbridled Song's cannot handle a lot of racing stress especially at the Graded Stakes level. They break down time and time again.
I've been an Unbridled Song fan since he went to stud. I remember on another board getting into a huge argument that UBS would have an infinitely better stud career than Skip Away. Folks thought I was nuts..
But I cannot minimize the fact that UBS after UBS break down. Thorn Song is the exception not the rule for the UBS line.
Old Fashioned is yet another UBS that broke down this year. They're brilliant but brittle. No doubt IMO.
I've been an Unbridled Song fan since he went to stud. I remember on another board getting into a huge argument that UBS would have an infinitely better stud career than Skip Away. Folks thought I was nuts..
But I cannot minimize the fact that UBS after UBS break down. Thorn Song is the exception not the rule for the UBS line.
Old Fashioned is yet another UBS that broke down this year. They're brilliant but brittle. No doubt IMO.
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wangkw
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Maybe we need a thorough investigation into all these racing accidents...then what should we do if these events happen very frequently with a certain
sire ?
1. Horses of the "defect sire" will be put on medical watch. They will go thro certain treatment/adjustment programs, if necessary, till they are okayed
by vets to begin racing. This assumes they are found with some inherent inappropriateness from their parents (bone, size, weight, physical, style,
health etc).
2. Impose certain restrictions in regards to their racing, such as over the distance, surface, carry weight, or class.
sire ?
1. Horses of the "defect sire" will be put on medical watch. They will go thro certain treatment/adjustment programs, if necessary, till they are okayed
by vets to begin racing. This assumes they are found with some inherent inappropriateness from their parents (bone, size, weight, physical, style,
health etc).
2. Impose certain restrictions in regards to their racing, such as over the distance, surface, carry weight, or class.
Our Greatest Glory Is Not In Never Falling But In Rising Everytime We Fall
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bdw0617
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zinn21 wrote:I thought Dunkirk was managed very well. He was given plenty of time between races. The fact is he and numerous Unbridled Song's cannot handle a lot of racing stress especially at the Graded Stakes level. They break down time and time again.
I've been an Unbridled Song fan since he went to stud. I remember on another board getting into a huge argument that UBS would have an infinitely better stud career than Skip Away. Folks thought I was nuts..
But I cannot minimize the fact that UBS after UBS break down. Thorn Song is the exception not the rule for the UBS line.
Old Fashioned is yet another UBS that broke down this year. They're brilliant but brittle. No doubt IMO.
each horse has to be taken on a case by case basis.
I"m not going to go into details becuase i wuld probably stirr up something... but there are instances in all the cases of UBS breakdowns or retirinings that you can see horrid management decisions that were not in the best interest of horsemanship.
I don't think it was any considence that political force was trained by Jerkins and Thorn Song is trained by Dale Romans, two trainers who are known for doing right by their horses and not falling in line with hype. Dale Romans quickly realized he had a very talanted 3YO colt on thorn song and didn't beat him up trying to make him something he's not
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