Borel off Bird for Rachel in Preakness

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Scav

This could be the single greatest mistake ever made by an owner, running back in 14 days off such a huge effort, even 5 weeks is a bit much. She might romp but this romp might cost her 3-4 starts in the future, unless the plan is no more after her 3 year old year

Ok, so explain to me how horses used to be able to run huge races with only a week or in some cases a few days in between?

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Ok, so explain to me how horses used to be able to run huge races with only a week or in some cases a few days in between?

they still can , but the $ involved in the breedding games discourages this

back then i assume purse $ was more important for some of these owners

there s/b no reason why trainers can't get today's horses to run as much as horses from the past you are right

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by gales0678

they still can , but the $ involved in the breedding games discourages this

back then i assume purse $ was more important for some of these owners

there s/b no reason why trainers can't get today's horses to run as much as horses from the past you are right

The purse money was crap.

It was about sport and good horsemanship...not statistics and money.

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

The purse money was crap.

It was about sport and good horsemanship...not statistics and money.

i was guessing at the purse money , but , today with the breeding business these owners want to get some of these great horses off the track and into the shed as quick as possible to start the cash register going

but it's pure non-sense to think horse of today can't run as many times in a year as horses from the old days

[joeydb]

Originally Posted by gales0678

they still can , but the $ involved in the breedding games discourages this

back then i assume purse $ was more important for some of these owners

there s/b no reason why trainers can't get today's horses to run as much as horses from the past you are right

True, but due to the economic climate, breeding is going to take a hit too. At some point, breeding to get a great 3 year old, which by most accounts is still not a fully developed (or peaked) horse, in order to then retire the three year old and repeat, seems a little ridiculous. If they actually raced longer into the horse's age, not necessarily more frequent, more speed and endurance potential might become evident.

OK, I'm letting my bias creep in as I don't like the early retirement mania in racing these days, but you get the point.