This is highly unlikely for a few reasons. One is that horses are based in many places not just at the track they are running at so you would need an army of vets to cover them all. Secondly, a vet that has experience with a horse is much more likely to be able to diagnose issues or potential issues than a vet who is seeing a horse for the first time. Third and most importantly is that most state vets are either inexperienced or simply not very good. There is a reason that they are working long hours and being subjected to a ton of grief for about 20% of what top private practice racetrack vets make.

Frankel may scratch alot but he is a tremendous horseman who treats his horses with a great deal of care. I am not defending his insanity regarding the weights which he seems to take personally but he is not the kind of guy that would run a horse who wasn't at his best, unlike a lot of other high profile trainers out there. You can feel pretty good about betting on his horses when he actually runs them because you know they are well meant and most likely 100%.

Best post of the thread. :)

Do I get a prize?

:p

I'll bake you cookies and bring coffee when I come to visit Sumwon at Saratoga...any preferance?

Weight hardly makes a difference in racing. While it's next to impossible to quantify an exact formula, it's estimated 5 pounds = 1 length.

No question about it, he's an all time great and I've loved several of his horses, which makes the scratch thing even more maddening. Nobody would care if he was scratching out with 15-1 shots but when he's 3-1, 6/5, 4-1 on the morning line with his last three it's like what are you waiting for? A walkover??

What is the current time a horse has to be in the barn by on raceday?

The level-of-pay issue is one that would sorely need to be addressed with my hypothetical state vet idea, of course. And I agree that you can diagnose better with a horse you know (even a neophyte like me can see issues in mine/Swap's), so why not have each horse assigned to a specific vet until they change location?

I don't think anyone is questioning Frankel's abilities as a trainer. The problem I have with him is when he enters a horse other trainers who fear his horse will not bother and the entries will usually result in a short field. Then the guy takes his toys and goes home when he doesn't get the weight he thinks he deserves.

It's similar to the Chicago Bulls if Michael Jordan was forced to wear a fanny pack with 3 pebbles in it and he decided that he wasn't going to play tonight. It's just ridiculous and petty bullsheist and it's another in a long list of reasons why the sport is suffering.

Frankel needs to stop being a little bitch.

But on the other side we have others hopelessly overmatching their horses and or squeezing them dry by entering them too much and breaking them down...nobody is truly perfect.

does he get a prize?

:rolleyes:

Well the image of you in a checkered apron and cooking mitt with Pillow eagerly waiting at the dinning room table for his cookies was... :p

Any kind will be great!

I'm still getting the cookies though!

Usually they have to be at the track by 10am or so. But you cant ship a horse if it is legitimately sick or lame.

Your idea sounds like socialized healthcare for horses.

Frankel's Finest White Chocolate Chip

tell that to Bobby.

second that

No kidding.
Getting assigned top weight USED to be an honor, not a reason to scratch.

LOL, maybe the idea would work in Canada? :D