Page 17 - Speedhorse April 2019

AQHA RACING UPDATE
different that maybe should not be caught up in this agenda.
To briefly revisit the issue of the break- downs: Yes, how we manage horses through soundness issues does have a medication com- ponent, which needs to have strict guidelines and accountability. The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium and the Association of Racing Commissioners International work tirelessly in these areas with people who are specialized in the field, and AQHA is very involved in working with these organizations to improve their Quarter Horse rules.
Several of the racetrack’s breakdowns were during morning works. How would a ban on race-day medications help them? As a horse- man, my eyes turn toward the racing surface and the impact of the weather. I’ll share a little of my personal experience:
In 2001, when I took the reins of VanBebber Racing Stable, I knew that my late husband was a stickler for training.
He would allow for horses to gallop at our training center, even when the track was wet from recent rains. Allowing such a practice can cause the base – the hard bottom that
is under the cushion, or soft sandy surface that a horse gallops on – to be compromised. Think of that compromise like a pothole. If you train on a wet surface, you have a greater chance of creating “potholes” underneath, and when a horse gallops over such a spot
– well, one wrong step can be detrimental
to his well-being. As soon as my success afforded me the financial ability, I renovated my training track and created a new base
so that I could be assured that my horses were training on the best surface possible. Although my training track was small, and this dates back nearly 20 years ago, I spent in excess of $25,000 on that project.
With my reference in mind, can you imagine how tough it has been to manage Santa Anita? Thoroughbreds gallop almost every day. Even with the 11 inches of rain the track received, I bet they were still mak- ing plenty of left-hand turns galloping over the track. Track guru Dennis Moore is the industry’s best at maintaining a track’s integ- rity, but he was no longer working at Santa Anita when these events began unfolding.
I suspect that track ownership realized his value, because the owner group did eventu- ally call him back in as a consultant. But by then, the crisis had reached its peak and the damage was already done.
So, enough said. I am saddened for Santa Anita, the horses that have lost their lives and the horsemen who are dealing with such catastrophic events. My only hope for them is that they get the problems resolved and can move forward offering a safe environment for horses and riders.
In the meantime, let’s recognize last week’s press release for what it is: A concentrated
AQHA Executive Vice President Craig Huffhines & AQHA President Dr. Jim Heird
exercise in deflecting a media crisis by promot- ing a political agenda. AQHA stands strong in its resolve to oppose that agenda, and protect the American Quarter Horse.
Regarding AQHA’s stand on Lasix,
the Association is joined by the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Agency, American Association of Equine Practitioners, North American Association of Racetrack Veterinarians, and Jockey’s Guild. Pretty good company to be in. I welcome you to stay alert and join us whenever we need your support to lobby against the latest Horseracing Integrity Act introduced by United States Reps. Paul Tonko and Andy Barr on March 14, 2019.”
AQHA Racing Committee
SPEEDHORSE, April 2019 15