Cold/Wind KO's Aqueduct again Wednesday

[Pants II]

I feel bad for David Jacobson. Where else is he gonna get free money today?

[herkhorse]

scuttled again today

[geeker2]

Jan. 9, 2015



STATEMENT FROM NYTHA PRESIDENT RICK VIOLETTE JR. ON THE INCREASE OF EQUINE FATALITIES AT AQUEDUCT RACETRACK:

“The horsemen are obviously deeply concerned about the significant increase in equine fatalities at Aqueduct this winter. Tomorrow morning, a group of trainers, including myself and NYTHA Board members Linda Rice and Rick Schosberg, will meet with a NYRA management team including Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza, Vice President of Facilities and Racing Surfaces Glen Kozak and Chief Examing Veterinarian Dr. Anthony Verderosa. There may not be one right answer, but we will use every avenue possible and examine every angle to address this situation. Everything will be on the table, from finding an independent track surface expert to come in and examine the inner track to a thorough reexamination of every procedure and protocol in place before a horse leaves the starting gate.”

[ScottJ]

Originally Posted by geeker2

Jan. 9, 2015
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STATEMENT FROM NYTHA PRESIDENT RICK VIOLETTE JR. ON THE INCREASE OF EQUINE FATALITIES AT AQUEDUCT RACETRACK:

“The horsemen are obviously deeply concerned about the significant increase in equine fatalities at Aqueduct this winter. Tomorrow morning, a group of trainers, including myself and NYTHA Board members Linda Rice and Rick Schosberg, will meet with a NYRA management team including Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza, Vice President of Facilities and Racing Surfaces Glen Kozak and Chief Examing Veterinarian Dr. Anthony Verderosa. There may not be one right answer, but we will use every avenue possible and examine every angle to address this situation. Everything will be on the table, from finding an independent track surface expert to come in and examine the inner track to a thorough reexamination of every procedure and protocol in place before a horse leaves the starting gate.”

The NYRA should discontinue racing between the first weekend of December and the first weekend of April. Return the racing calendar to years back when the circuit consisted of eight months of racing.

This would :

[1] eliminate the Aqueduct Inner Track debate all together,
[2] eliminate the need for lower level horses racing on the circuit leading to the higher breakdown rates,
[3] increase the horse population available to second tier circuits, and
[4] allow NYRA to save money from what has largely been quoted as a money losing part of the season.

It becomes increasingly tiresome reading that the horsemen believe that the problem is always in the surface. While it is positive that all parties are talking (which could be viewed as the end-goal of the entire meeting), re-evaluating the need for winter racing should be the first order of business.