A ? About Running A Horse On A Short Break

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by ELA

I disagree. Some horses take to it, others don't. It's not common and sometimes people try it out of desperation or false signs that it will work. It seems to work sometimes for Rick Dutrow. I've got a horse now that I sent to a new trainer. He had chronic thumps and various electrolyte, weight, etc. issues. The new trainer got him going in the right direction, dealt with those issues/problems and he raced 3 times in one month. Second by a nose in his first start, win by about 10 in his second, and win by about 12 in his third.

Is this the norm? Of course not. JMVHO, there are no rules so to speak, but I think the norm can be subject to individual cases and interpretation. I wouldn't blindly bet against though, however, I would only be betting on those where the trainer has success, he/she is a high % trainer, and the horse might take to it where it makes sense and it could work. I think there's a lot that goes on in and around this type of discussion.

Eric

ELA,
Well said. Ain't no rules.
H Allen Jerkens does this often, also puts some wind sprints into his (short) about four days out. So does son, Jimmy.
Putting a horse back in sooner than some would has been successful for both of these guys. If the horse is fit, tuned, and ready...RUN 'EM!

[packerbacker7964]

Yeah to me what's the big differance between having a blow-out work 3-7 days before a real race or the real race itself? Very little I think.

Sometimes they strike while the iron is hot. I think Ainsley covered this well in 101. It's fairly common, I've seen it a lot...I personally haven't had tons of success using that angle but that's probably more a function of the amount I play than it is the angle itself.

[golfer]

This is definitely a "sheets" rule of thumb... according to Thoro and Ragozin, 4 to 6 weeks is optimum rest from an "effort" (how to define an effort, another question)... This is not to say horses don't win on short rest, it's just not the best amount of time for recovery. Older/cheaper horses may only have so many good races in them, that might be why they are wheeled back quickly. Of course this rule was made before the "Super" trainers came into prominence.

[sumitas]

It seems like if the horse is in good form this is a way to get another check. But after that it seems like the horse is spent for quite a long time. I don't really care for the quick turn around insofar as handling a horse but it is a way to pick up another check quickly.