2017 Triple Crown

[findeight]

@ravenclaw

On a muddy track, do the horses have studs or caulks or anything extra on their shoes to give them better traction?

Not to the extent they used to use " turn downs", kind of a high heeled shoe, one piece, they poke holes in downed jockeys and turn kicks into much worse injuries and fell into disfavor . Sure they use something, not sure what these days. That track is not particularly slick IIRC, trends to be deep if anything. Didn’t look like anybody bad trouble holding it or slipping around.

I don’t know that they " set TS up for failure"…not unless they had an inkiling he’d react like that. He’s not the only colt to back off from the wall of noise from 150k fans right in front of them, many much closer then at any other track. CD is pretty tight compared to more spacious European tracks and many in the States. The Belmont has caused some to lead reluctantly and underperform too, they put the gate right smack in front of the grandstand.

While it would not be my choice, horses have shipped short into major wins and this one was an experienced, international shipper in an operation experienced in International shipping.

[danceronice]

I don’t think you can blame the short shipping time. Previous UAE Derby winners have been shipped over with loads of time and flopped. It’s not like giving the overseas horses weeks has done any good before. I am willing to bet he slipped, scared himself, and decided to have a horse moment.

[Sunflower]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/221489/classic-empire-gunnevera-confirmed-for-preakness
It sounds like Classic Empire had a really rough go of it in the Derby-- came away with an eye injury although that sounds like it is improving. He is a tough horse, and it will be interesting to see what he delivers from here on. The Derby sounds like a bumper car event at its start. Too many horses in the field?

[findeight]

No more horses in the field then most other years. Used to be more before they started limiting it based earnings or points. The colt either deal with it or not. It is part of the challenge of being successful in the Derby.

[Where_sMyWhite]

Always Dreaming on his way to Pimlico.

Thunder Snow is returning to England. Sounds like he’s okay and just had a ‘horse moment’ (danceronice, loved that description ).

[charismaryllis]

heard a blip on the news that AD has settled in to pimlico, seems bright eyed and bushy tailed.

[Laurierace]

Royal Mo was just vanned off at Pimlico while wearing an air cast. Awaiting word as to how severe the injury is but imagine it is safe to say he is out.

[Where_sMyWhite]

Nothing on Bloodhorse yet.

Were you there? If so, how did Always Dreaming look?

[Laurierace]

Friends who saw it said he wasn’t bearing any weight. He was put in an air cast and was able to hop onto the ambulance and was taken back to the stakes barn for evaluation.

[Laurierace]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/221571/royal-mo-pulled-up-in-preakness-workout?utm_source=NewsAlert&utm_medium=email

[Sparrowette]

(duplicate)
Anyway - there is a FB post that says patch will not be in the Preakness.

[vineyridge]

Blood Horse story says “inside right front sesamoid break”.

Another In Excess line horse breaks.

[Texarkana]

@vineyridge

Another In Excess line horse breaks.

:rolleyes:

Clearly one ancestor in his third generation was the cause.

I apologize for the rudeness, but people consider you an authority on bloodlines. Yet comments like these instill serious misconceptions.

[danceronice]

@Where'sMyWhite

Always Dreaming on his way to Pimlico.

Thunder Snow is returning to England. Sounds like he’s okay and just had a ‘horse moment’ (danceronice, loved that description ).

Haven’t we ALL had horses who’ve had those moments? Usually at the least ideal time?

And I really wish I didn’t know EXACTLY how Royal Mo’s connections feel. It’s heartbreaking any time, but right before a major race is an extra gut punch. Thank God for riders who feel the injury and pull up. I hope he’s okay and his recovery (and I assume retirement) goes smoothly.

[Glimmerglass]

Sorry that it is a career ending injury (per Gary Stevens, who was up) for Royal Mo. However appears that it could’ve been worse and he will be “ok”. Per the Daily Racing Form:

Stevens was working Royal Mo five furlongs in company when the incident happened near the quarter pole.

“Luckily I had a stranglehold on him. He was just rattling off 12s. He was going to go in a minute,” Stevens said. "I was thinking about how much I was going to let him gallop out. And then I heard a loud pop. I was hoping he had just overreached, but that wasn’t it.

http://live.drf.com/nuggets/36676

[Where_sMyWhite]

danceronice, yes on the horse moments and yes also kudos to the jocks and exercise riders who respond so quickly to get these horse pulled up. From Gary’s description, if he hadn’t gotten Royal Mo pulled up and foot up, the injury might have gone more badly than it did. I would venture Royal Mo isn’t out of the woods but at least he made it to New Bolton for further evaluation and care.

[Palm_Beach]

@charismaryllis

Has he always run widdershins? Is this his first time racing to the left?

Widdershins? I had to google it!!!

It’s doubtful the mud caused the spook, and Thunder Snow’s not saying’. They race to the left at Meydan on the dirt. In England they frequently train on all weather gallops.

[Where_sMyWhite]

@Palm Beach

Widdershins? I had to google it!!!

It’s doubtful the mud caused the spook, and Thunder Snow’s not saying’. They race to the left at Meydan on the dirt. In England they frequently train on all weather gallops.

Are the all weather gallops grass or dirt. All the photos I’ve seen of them (never having seen them in person) they look like grass.

My first thought when Thunder Snow started bucking was that he didn’t like the slop in his face or on his belly. Too bad he can’t tell us what he was actually thinking

[Palm_Beach]

The all weathers are some kind of dirt/sand/something composite that can handle lots of rain. There are grass gallops, but you really have to micromanage turf or it gets chewed up and in bad shape, so use is usually restricted.

[vineyridge]

@Texarkana

:rolleyes:

Clearly one ancestor in his third generation was the cause.

I apologize for the rudeness, but people consider you an authority on bloodlines. Yet comments like these instill serious misconceptions.

We could move it one generation closer with Indian Charlie who broke himself and sired horses who broke. Or maybe, given both Nyquist and Royal Mo, one more generation up front to Uncle Mo.

Whether you are willing to give it credence, the In Excess line is just as notorious for unsoundness as Unbridled Song. Every foal may not inherit the weakness, but some very obviously do, and in a higher percentage that foals from other lines.