| OPINION |
Bill Heller
Eclipse Sportswire
#S O U ND B I T ES number of starts per year has been in free-fall since the mid1970s, falling from 10.2 in 1975 to 6.2 in 2017 according to the Jockey Club. So for this #soundbites column, we ask trainers: Are horses today less sound,
# Jerry Hollendorfer
It’s hard to consider without thinking of the number of racing dates now. Back in the day, there wasn’t that much pressure on horses. That would be the first thing to take into account. There are more race dates now. We race 365 days a year. They used to have less, so there wasn’t as much stress to race them. The scrutiny of trainers is no different than in any sport. Trainers aren’t criticized in the press as much as baseball players are perhaps.
and if so, has it affected your training in any way?
# Todd Pletcher
I think to me a lot of it has to do with trainer management and owner management. One thing over the years trainers have learned is that when you give your horse more time off, they seem to do better. If you’re running at stakes ability level, you can manage them that way. You might compare it to analytics in baseball, trying to figure out what’s best. Injuries are part of our business and of all sports—something you need to know. Part of it is in the commercial breeding aspect. Breeders can’t afford horses to be horses. They are more protective...the way parents treat their kids.
BACK IN THE DAY, THERE WASN’T THAT MUCH PRESSURE ON HORSES JERRY HOLLENDORFER
#Jonathan Sheppard I think Thoroughbreds are fragile animals. There’s always been a higher percentage of injuries than we want. I don’t think it’s any different. Some trainers changed their perception that maybe they’re not as sound. Most of my horses are home-bred, so I’ve been involved with them since they were broken as yearlings. Whether or not that makes a difference, I don’t know. A lot of the training I do is on my farm. On my farm, every horse is turned out every day before they’re ridden. Horses are more relaxed if they’ve been turned out. It gives them more time out of the stall. I don’t think most people have that luxury afforded them because they’re training at the track.
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TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 51
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Thoroughbreds’ average