Freda

You can learn from the past, Chief.

Much more interesting

Think he did too. By Waikiki Star.

Sounds idyllic

No, that was Robert Thomas, from Bermuda

Ivan Thomas

He lived just up the road. Kept a horse at mine only a couple of years ago.

He may have done. Yes, there was something ticking over in the back of my mind!

All well and fine. But why are these issues only identified after the fact, never before? Does someone have to be seriously hurt or worse before the systems are actually fit for purpose?

No, I can't remember any trained there but I do recall, way back, that the odd one or two would front up for a gallop, probably a farm-trained model.

I'm not sure about Motukarara either. Harness still race there, although I don’t know how often now. Akaroa trots, I'm pretty sure still have a day. At one stage I heard that the committee were struggling to attract new and younger members, so were not in a position to fight for the gallops to continue. Rangiora is still a viable and important training venue, and had run trials successfully - and profitably - for years.

When Riccarton was reconstructed, back in 1998, we used both mentioned above until things were ready. Very pleasant it was, too.

Er...plenty of grass tracks ...? Ashburton which got hammered in the spring and Timaru, although a good surface, a fair way and cost to get there. Don't think there'd be too many keen. Shows the wisdom of getting rid of Motukarara and Rangiora, both 20-30 minutes away.

Interesting topic on its own, bandaging. Many American horses - incl the greats - work and race in bandages, run-down bandages specifically to protect the horse's bumpers from the abrasive dirt. Freda White used to cringe at the sight of poorly applied bandages, look at that, she'd say, break the effing horse down putting the things on like that. And that was when we used crepe bandages, sewn on raceday. Not Vetrap. A lot now couldn't put one on if it wasn't self-adhesive. And, of course, Vetrap doesn't have any stretch either. I'm sure Curious and S.A will have heard the term ' bandage bow' and no doubt seen plenty as well. Can be as damaging as a work-induced tendon rupture. Should never happen.

It might be a lot of things. But you are not 'training the horse to manage pain'. You are trying to manage/reduce it on their behalf.

Lasix - for bleeders - is widely used in the states, legally. That is supposed to be performance enhancing. Not bute although reduction of pain would certainly help performance - until the creature broke.

Ffs, you talk some shit sometimes. Humans can make their own informed decisions. Animals - those under our direct control - can't. Pain is an indication that there is something wrong and that the affected part should be rested. Drug away the pain response and catastrophic injuries can and do happen.

Probably because they hurt....

Oi. Not all trainers.

Bute goes out to 14 days for cumulative administration, meloxicam 4.2. My thoughts are, that if you need such medication to race, you shouldn't be doing it. Different if for pain relief while recovering.

Isn't Meloxicam the go-to now?

I don't. But a high class horse in a top stable generally gets the best of diagnostic analysis available. So I am surprised that the rotation wasn't picked up. Perhaps it was and the bute was an attempt to prolong the inevitable - retirement. A pity either way.

If I remember rightly, Prowess had her debut this season delayed by a foot issue, reported as an 'abscess' or deep-seated bruise. Which is why she lined up fresh on an unsuitable soft track. Went very creditably all the same. So the foot pain was not new, and I am surprised that a stable of such repute hadn't x-rayed this quality mare at the first sign of soreness, just for peace of mind, if nothing else. Pedal bone rotation is not uncommon in racehorses, with the high-powered diets they have, concussion from some track surfaces, along with prolonged periods of standing while travelling.

??? So why were they using it then?