Thoroughbred Injuries Continue Despite Studies
Synthetic Surfaces and Fractures – Thin Legs and Breakdowns
Aug 4, 2009
Easily among the top five of the worst Thoroughbred accidents in history is the horrendous head-on collision that occurred at rain-soaked Prescott Downs in Arizona (as taped and re-run in July, 2009 on Time Warner Cable Television's Animal Planet -- Channel 52). Pacific Wind went down in the slippery slime of surface mud, spun around like a top, but regained his feet uninjured.
Blinded by mud and propelled by instinct, Pacific Wind proceeded in his racing task around the track. He was riderless, however, and streaking in the wrong direction, heading straight at the oncoming field.
One of Worst Thoroughbred Accidents
Pacific Wind killed himself and Lil Kick Start when the two collided head on head, creating a clap-of-thunder-like crash. Female rider Stacey Burton, guiding Lil Kick Start, flew head first from her mount and was paralyzed. Burton had interrupted her teaching career to pursue her dream of being a jockey.
Jockey Steve Gomez, who narrowly steered his own mount from harm's way as the collision became imminent, testified post-race that he thought the event should not have been run in the unfavorable weather conditions.
Wynn Dot Comma Gave Prado 5,000 Before Missing Step
Edgar Prado snagged career win number 5,000 aboard Wynn Dot Comma in the 2004 Swale Stakes. Wynn Dot Comma surprised the Triple Crown nominated Eurosilver and 2003 Breeders' Cup Juvenile placer Chapel Royal in his sixth career win from eight starts. Weeks later, Wynn Dot Comma simply missed a step in a routine workout, breaking bones and giving up his life.
Thoroughbred Injuries Everyday Occurrence
What Thoroughbred follower can forget the plights of Ruffian, Barbaro, and Eight Belles? Those, of course, are some of the high profile deaths of the Thoroughbred racing industry. Many others, like Pacific Wind, and Lil Kick Start, sustain life and death injury in everyday racing circumstances at secondary tracks, in much less heralded races; many succumb, as did Wynn Dot Comma, in normal, daily works.
Colic and Laminitis
Champions Lawyer Ron and Anabaa are two of the latest victims to fall to the complications of colic, another major cause of Thoroughbred death. Laminitis ended a young Secretariat's life and remains as the "equine cancer" even as research spurted to new heights following the death of Barbaro in 2007.
Rachel Won't Run at Santa Anita BC
Rachel Alexandra, 2009 unbeaten Preakness-winning filly, will not run in this year's Breeders' Cup races (November 6 and 7) because they are scheduled for Santa Anita's synthetic surface, called Pro-Ride. Owner Jess Jackson said, "I have a very strong dislike for plastic surfaces...dirt horses...struggle over it" (The Blood-Horse, July 4, 2009, page 2361; "Jackson: No Synthetic for 'Rachel' ").
Jackson tried to withhold his defending Horse of the Year Curlin from the 2008 BC races which were also held at Santa Anita, but finally gave in to his take risks nature because fans wanted to see Curlin duke it out with Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champion Big Brown. Due to BB's acute quarter grab injury, the match up didn't occur, and Curlin finished well beaten as he wrestled unsuccessfully with the snythetic surface, just as Jackson had feared.
Tin Cup Chalice and Indyanne Euthanized
Undefeated through his Big Apple Triple, Tin Cup Chalice (Crusader's Sword--Twice Forbidden, by Spectacular Bid) was put down April 17, along with Zany (War Chant--Don't Be Silly, by Lord At War) after the two four-year-olds suffered significant injuries in an accidental training collision.
On January 13, Indyanne, a four-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie, was euthanized when it was determined her recovery from a snapped sesamoid was not possible. She fractured her left front ankle December 27, 2008 in the La Brea Stakes while leading the race.
Racing Thoroughbreds suffered countless injuries this season: Kentucky Derby hopefuls Old Fashioned, I Want Revenge, Win Willy, The Pamplemousse, Quality Road, as well as post-Derby participants Friesan Fire and Dunkirk, all suffered track injuries, or fractures. Terrain was destroyed after fracturing sesamoid and condylar bones in the Iowa Derby. Born to Be was euthanized after crashing down upon jockey Rene Douglas in the Arlington Matron Handicap. Douglas continues to fight for his recovery from paralysis.
Thoroughbred Fractures and Heartaches
Fractures sustained while racing cause tremendous damage to Thoroughbreds and untold heartaches to their devoted owners. Is this destruction pre-traceable and preventable? Veterinarian Dr. Wayne McIlwraith of Colorado State University suggests that it is via his blood biomarkers research. He claims microdamage that precedes catastrophic injury can be detected and arrested.
Studies begun in 2007 continue on the effect of synthetic surfaces in Thoroughbred injury.
There are calls for lowering the numbers of seasonal foals, since so few ever see racing fame, and for better and safer racing conditions; there are cries for protecting the unwanted Thoroughbreds who didn't become racing machines, or stud prospects.
In the meantime, while man lumbers along, Thoroughbreds continue to race for their lives.
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