Freda

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?

How do you work out revenue from turnover

I'm surprised they let the 2 year old race continue with that ethos.

Gold star, Walt. Even a choccy fish. Very well put.

I don't have an issue with expecting English to be spoken at work - wherever possible - it can be hard enough to get instructions adequately interpreted without language difficulties confusing things further. But abuse or ridicule, whether racially motivated or not, is never acceptable. Just because staff of yesteryear were, in some cases ,treated like shit, doesn't make it right or acceptable.

Unfortunately only one that got some action. An Indian trackrider here was told to ' xxxxx ya black c##t '. He responded with 'call me a C if you like, not a black C '. Luckily it went no further, this young bloke didn't stand any crap but it shows the quality of personnel.

No, I don't, but there would be info somewhere. Curious would be the one to ask. I do know that the bigger factories have an awful record.

Why would any of us refer to old timers from 40 years ago, or want outdated ideas and techniques? Quality modern farming is science based and innovative. That's very true.

End of an era, certainly. The older we get the more of our peers drop off the perch, all that collective knowledge lost and gone. I used to work for Peter. Condolences to family/ friends.

Well, I'm not a dog racing fan specifically, but an animal lover - sure. I have a couch potato of my own, the veteran of 3 wins in 96 starts, and who has an amazing ability to get inside parcels of anything edible within reach of the long nose. The noble Thoroughbred does it for me, a more courageous, generous and talented athlete would be hard to find..IMO. But thank God for the likes of Yankiwi, who, with his experience in several jurisdictions, can find specific reasons for the attrition rate - and actually gives a sh#t.

The current starter is based in Dunedin. I doubt that he would see the gates from one raceday to the next.

You don't watch Country Calendar?