Breaking Down Data & Drugs....a Holistic View

The recent article in the NY Times was a long overdue wake-up call to ALL thoroughbred horse industry participants. Thank you Joe Drape et al.

Breakdowns, catastrophic, and career ending injuries, have long gone unreported to the general public unless captured on camera during a major broadcast.

Thankfully, the NYSRWB has responded to this new found public awareness by making previously veiled industry reports readily available.

The Equine Breakdown, Death, Injury and Incident Database, and the Racing and Wagering Board Ruling Database are new resources for owners to investigate trainers and make informed decisions. Had this information been available in the past, I for one, would have selected different trainers to handle my beloved horses.

Over the past month, I have interviewed several trainers. I am abhorred by the number of prominent names who openly flaunt the rules by engaging in the debilitating practice of daily training on bronchodilators, pain-killers, muscle relaxers, and steroid-effect like drugs.

Abetted by profiteering veterinarians, trainers erroneously believe these drugs give them an edge. Sadly, day-to-day training on drugs creates a dependence on DRUGS, the ones that are illegal on race-day!

The problem with the use of training on controlled substances is that they mask the very subtle signs, symptoms, and pain that tell the educated eye it’s time for a change. They wreak havoc with horse’s own cellular intelligence which is designed to strengthen itself. Unnoticed, horses’ train onward only to collapse on race-day when their system hasn’t the integrity to withstand the demands of racing clean. While researching within the NYSRWB database I was surprised by the number of cardiovascular collapses reported; the workload on heart and lungs must be enormous on an animal suffering withdrawal on race-day.

Veterinarians addicted to profit, coupled with trainers addicted to finding an edge, are co-creating a generation of drug-riddled addicted animals. I see this first-hand as retired runners come to my farm for re-homing. Often, they go through weeks of withdrawal and depression while enduring the side-effects of long term drug abuse -- in the name of "therapy".

Shockingly, trainers I have spoken with justify the use of illegal-to-race-on-drugs siting, “that is what the other trainers do”. Unfortunately, I too see veterinarians, who are entrusted to ethically prescribe, instead simply filling orders for trainers. To which I ask, what authority licenses trainers to diagnose and prescribe controlled substances? And yet, the veterinarians who supposedly control the controlled substances, by supposedly writing prescriptions and determining dosages are held to the same malpractice laws as human doctors.

Furthermore, the misuse of drugs like Clenbuterol, is on the rise. Traditionally, a medication prescribed to clear up an inflammatory irritation, it is now being administered en masse for its anabolic steroid like effect. A finding noted and acted upon in California at Los Alamitos.

As trainers and veterinarians fill horses with a continual stream of inappropriately classified “therapeutic” drugs such as clenbuterol, bute, banamine, magnesium sulfate, and naquasone...to name a few, they are setting up horses, and jockeys, for disaster.

It is my belief, that the excessive amounts of controlled substances in use on a daily basis are causal to the rise in breakdowns -- this was alluded to in Dr. Susan Stover’s in-depth report to Congress in 2008.

On race-day, most entrants are given lasix, a diuretic that further insults the equine athlete through dehydration. Now, with comprised bodies suffering drug withdrawal the horse is asked to deliver its biggest most strenuous effort. It is my fear for the safety of all involved, that unless measures are taken to eradicate drugs all together, the lack of them on race-day will lead to even more casualties.

If a horse is not allowed to race on certain substances, why then are they allowed to train on the same? This methodology implodes; each horse an innocent victim.

The problem with racing is not race-day medications, the surface, or the purse...it is rather the willingness of certain people to exploit horses at any price.

I have spent nearly everyday of my life in the company of thoroughbreds. I see no harm in racing strong, sound, healthy horses -- there is however, something seriously inhumane about drugging animals to “run through pain” as one trainer put it, and, “because they need to race” as a one veterinarian noted.

It is my hope that NYSRWB will see fit to place a ban on all drugs, all the time, and regularly conduct drug testing on the backstretch in between races. Between now and then, perhaps the Board will revisit the 2009 plan to disclose drug records, a truly effective way to regain the public’s trust. A proposal criticized only by veterinarians, none of which seem to have any difficulty with the same record-keeping when it comes to billing unsuspecting owners.

By Susan Kayne. Horse Lover, Animal Activist, Racehorse Owner.

Related Links:

Drugs banned by NYSRWB, see 4043.2 Restricted use of drugs, medication and other substances.

The Chemical Horse: Drugs in Racing

WinStar Lasix Study

Business of Racing on Lasix

Kentucky Derby Vet Records

Hong Kong & Horse Care

What do you think is an ethical and morally responsible behavior as the use of drugs to train racehorses?

Morning Gallops

Despite wicked high winds this AM the Girls and Clint
put in a solid few miles around the training oval on the farm.
I am pleased with each horse's progress...Susan.

The Girls & Clint Galloping This AM

1st set: Speedy (Baal Perazim) & Clint galloping together this AM in the Husdon Valley...you can see the differences in their way of going...Speedy a sprinting rocket, and Clint a sojourner over the grass....

2nd set: Brownie & Wild Siren, both elegant movers and very easy to ride at any distance, on any surface.

All are NY-Breds, foaled, raised, and trained with love. Each now getting ready to ship to Saratoga when it opens April 15th. Watch for UR Stable in the winner's circle....see them all as babies below!

Wild Siren at 5-months with her mother Appro.



Clint Eastwood Getting Some Tail at 3-weeks.

Brownie with all 4 feet off the ground at just 4-weeks!

Speedy at 5 months on the day she arrived at UR Stable.

Now they are ready to send off to college!



NY-Breds: Now More Than Ever

If you have ever dreamed of owning a racehorse there is truly no better time.

Join UR Stable and Unbridle your racing dreams...just look at our gorgeous girls and Clint Eastwood.
The Team is getting ready for summer at Saratoga....own a NY racehorse today 1.877.WINS.BIG

UR TEAM 2012

Hey Friends... It has been a while, here's why...I have been super busy developing our last crop of big, bold, beautiful NY-Breds. This glorious NY winter has allowed us to gallop outdoors nearly every day. The window of opportunity to race for the richest purses in the history of NY Racing --- with the least competition is NOW!

Have a look at UR Racing Team, Three 2YOs, and Three 3YOs,...we have just a few partnership interests available and you can enjoy responsibly racing with our Team.....

 2009 Hook And Ladder Filly

 2010 Aragorn (IRE) Filly

 2010 Wild Desert Filly

 2010 Big Brown Filly

 Baal Perazim 2009

Clint Eastwood 2009

Interested? I invite you to give us a call at 1.877.WINS.BIG and check out our website UnbridledRacing.com, our partnerships are straightforward -- no management or administrative fees, no mark-ups, no take-outs.





Buy for the next 5 days, get 100% Depreciation, Race for the Richest purses in the country with hardly any competition...in a New York minute....

In New York $39,000,000 is up for grabs:

•  600-plus restricted New York-bred races with $35-plus million in NY-Bred purses
• Over 40 stakes races with total purses exceeding $4 million scheduled annually

According to the Jockey Club, ONLY 4,287 foals were born and registered in NY over the past 3 years:

• 2008: 1,741 Registered (4YOs of 2012, 5YOs 2013, 6YOs 2014, and so on)

• 2009: 1,638 Registered (3YOs of 2012, 4YOs 2013, 5YOs 2014, 6YOs 2015, and so on)

• 2010:   908 LF Report (2YOs of 2012, 3YOs 2013, 4YOs 2014, 5YOs 2015, 6YOs 2016, and so on)

 

ONLY these horses are eligible to race in company restricted exclusively for NY-Breds.

 

According to Jockey Club statistics only about 2/3rd of live foals reported actually start in a race.  So, about 3,000 thoroughbreds will be competing annually for $39,000,000 in purses designated for NY-Breds.

 

Translated: THE SMALLEST CROPS IN THE HISTORY OF NEW YORK BREEDING WILL RACE FOR THE RICHEST PURSES IN THE HISTORY OF NEW YORK RACING.

 

THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN IS NOW. All the buzz and reality of increased purses already has resulted in horses shipping into NY from all over the country. I do not believe that we will ever again see such small crops in New York as 2008-2011.

 

Why New York-Breds Now?

 

VLTs at Aqueduct generate a $40-million increase in prize money distributed at Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga.  Here is an example of the effect of VLTs on NY-purse money:

 

New York-bred races:

 Maiden Special Weight - $55,000 for routes, $50,000 for sprints, up from $39,000 and $38,000

 Allowance N1X - $57,000 for routes, $52,000 for sprints, up from $41,000 and $40,000

 Allowance N2X - $59,000 for routes, $54,000 for sprints, up from $43,000 and $42,000

 

Open Company races: NY-Breds earn an 20% extra prize bonus winning in open company!

 Maiden Special Weight - $65,000 for routes, $60,000 for sprints, up from $43,000 and $42,000

 Allowance N1X - $67,000 for routes, $62,000 for sprints, up from $45,000 and $44,000

 Allowance N2X - $69,000 for routes, $64,000 for sprints, up from $47,000 and $46,000

 Overnight Stakes - $80,000 for routes, $75,000 for sprints, up from $60,000

 Claiming $10k - $31,000 for routes, $30,000 for sprints, up from $21,000 and $20,000

NY-BRED RESTRICTED RACES: In NY there are 600-plus restricted New York-bred races with $35-plus million in NY-Bred purses. Unlike "open company" races which allow horses from anywhere in the world to compete for the purse, "restricted races", like their very name, are restricted to a specific group of uniquely qualified horses -- and the level and number os competitors is substantially smaller. This is the real NY-Bred advantage, more money, less competition -- and that's before we even get to stakes races and open company bonuses!

Another plus for NY-Breds is that all restricted wins, including those in NY-Bred races, DO NOT count against open company Allowance conditions. This means a NY-Bred can win the NY-Bred Maiden Special Weight, the NY-Bred N1X, and the NY-Bred N2X and then still be eligible for the open company N1X, etc. Non-NY-Breds do not have this loophole and must move into the open company N1X immediately after its maiden win. A NY-Bred that has the ability to get through the NY-Bred N2X should have earned in excess of $100,000 BEFORE running in open company N1X. This is a WIN-WIN-WIN when it comes to racing NY-Breds in New York.

 

NY-Bred Stakes Races: NYRA and Finger Lakes (4 tracks throughout the State) present 40 stakes race with total purses exceeding $4 million. Races are offered for different age groups, on dirt and turf, from 6 furlongs to a mile and an eighth.

 

Every October, the New York Thoroughbred Breeders and Belmont Park conduct New York Showcase Day -- a card of stakes races exclusively for registered NY-Breds designed to showcase NY’s best state-bred runners. In 2011, over $900,000 was paid out in seven races for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds and up run from 6 furlongs to 1 1/8 mile on both dirt and turf. It culminates with the $200,000 Empire Classic for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 mile. Read about in Forbes!

 

Sales Prices for NY-Breds up, up, and away...

OBS August – All horses +15% - New York-breds +40%

Keeneland September - All horses +18% - New York-breds +3%

Fasig-Tipton Eastern Fall - All horses +16% - New York-breds +37%

Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall - All horses +76% - New York-breds +62%

You don't have to be a math whiz to see the awesome opportunity NY-Breds born in 2009, 2010, and 2011 have to win the most money of any NY-Breds past.

 

Investors who have substantial income that they want to shelter, and who want to invest in the horse business with the intention of making a profit can take 100% depreciation if the buy their horses in the next 5 days ...read more (Equine Law Journal).

 

 

Unbridled Racing is pleased to offer a NY RACING TEAM of 15 sound, solid thoroughbreds for outright sale as a business opportunity:

• 7 yearlings (2010)
• 4 Two-year-olds (2009)
• 1 Three-year-old (2008)
• 1 Four-year-old (2007) 2x winner.
• 2 Stakes-producing mares.

 

 

All are proven race families, stakes pedigrees, sired by top stallions including BIG BROWN, all will pass vet inspection.

 

Ready to live your dream and dominate the Sport of Kings? Email and get a NY-Bred today!

 

Two Wins and a Photo Shoot for Say Sandy Baby

Our girl Sandy gave us two thrilling wins at Finger Lakes this Fall with Jeremiah Flores in the irons and Jim Wright overseeing her training...

Maiden win Sept. 29, 2011 Race 3

Click here to Watch Replay on FL website

just Select Date and Race in replay box

Gate-to-Wire Win Nov. 7, 2011 Race 2

Click here to Watch Replay on FL Website

just Select Date and Race in replay module

And then she posed for a photo shoot home on the farm....

Photo by Dion Ogust

In the Almanac Dec. 8, 2011

Click here to read article in the Almanac

Say Sandy Baby as a yearling at Unbridled Stable.

To learn more about NY-Bred Racing Partnerships

visit www.UnbridledRacing.com