Belmont question

[ellebeaux]

So I don’t know a thing about Thoroughbred racing but I do know the Belmont is a mile and a half.

Do the trainers have the horses practice that distance at full speed ahead of time or will this be the first time the horses run that distance?

I just wonder about muscle physiology and if you rate a horse then ask them to move ahead of time like CC in the Preakness, if the horse would have enough energy left to take on several challengers like CC did in the Preakness.

Or is that the whole point of this contest?!

[msrobin]

That is a great question. I would be interested to know how today’s trainers tackle this race as well.

[CrowneDragon]

@ellebeaux;7582370

Do the trainers have the horses practice that distance at full speed ahead of time or will this be the first time the horses run that distance?

No, it would be unnecessary wear-and-tear. The horses don’t need “practice” per se, just fitness management in the least physically stressful way possible, especially with the short turnaround time between the Triple Crown races. Most horses (nicer horses, anyway) generally run once a month. The Belmont will be Chrome’s 3rd race in 5 weeks. It’s a lot, especially when the horses have to move between tracks, too.

[Laurierace]

They will probably lengthen their gallops some, but no, they will not work them a mile and a half. CC is one of the fittest horses I have ever seen in my life, he looked like he could have gone around a dozen times and not taken a deep breath.

[CVPeg]

It’s often feared they may ask too soon at Belmont. It has one heckuva stretch, and jockeys not familiar with it have sometimes asked too soon simply because they thought the finish was nearer.

And no, they wouldn’t work them that distance ahead of time.

Think the biggest issue would be all the emotional pressure. Hopefully Victor Espinoza will maintain his cool. That would more likely cause some error in judgment. But they look like a pair to beat right now.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Last week, in this thread, Gumtree posted Assault’s work schedule and race record during his Triple Crown in 1946.

Three days before he ran in the Belmont he galloped 1-1/2miles in 2:32, which is almost as fast as the time in won the Belmont in three days later… 2:30.8.

You will never see someone do that nowadays, that would be considered insane.

CC will probably get some 1.5 to 2 mile gallops, but at no where near racing pace.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

@CVPeg;7582926

It’s often feared they may ask too soon at Belmont. It has one heckuva stretch, and jockeys not familiar with it have sometimes asked too soon simply because they thought the finish was nearer.

Victor E doesn’t have a very inspiring record at Belmont either, he’s like 2/67 or something. Hope he moves his tack there early and tries to get as many rides over the track as possible before the Belmont.

[vineyridge]

Racing has changed so much in the US. The Jockey Club Gold Cup at 2 miles was one of the premier races of the season after the Triple Crown races. It was reduced to 1 1/2 miles in 1976 or so. Top horses would race at distances from 1 to 2 miles and win at all of them, and a huge number of them became our great sires. Now the Belmont is the only race over 1 1/4 that any of them will ever see, so trainers have probably forgotten how to train for distance.

[CVPeg]

[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;7583088]
Victor E doesn’t have a very inspiring record at Belmont either, he’s like 2/67 or something. Hope he moves his tack there early and tries to get as many rides over the track as possible before the Belmont.[/QUOTE]

Agree, and when asked if he was moving early to get some rides, he said maybe for a day or two. I winced.

Maybe it’s the brother thing, and he feels they have to stay together, but would rather not for the week…? Am so sad that his brother is hurt, but several times he rode my horse - whose home was at Belmont - and had a poor record on him. Hopefully Victor will be able to stay with the horse’s connections, and seek others’ advice, and get some mounts for some route races!

[ellebeaux]

Thanks all, that’s very interesting. I just know when I run for a while and then try to speed up. there’s often nothing left. And to have to do it over and over again, ha!

Of course, I am the antithesis of elite athlete.

I do agree that CC does not seemed bothered by these races at all. He’s a neat horse. I wonder how their training regimen is different than others.

[2tempe]

[QUOTE=vineyridge;7583103]
Racing has changed so much in the US. The Jockey Club Gold Cup at 2 miles was one of the premier races of the season after the Triple Crown races. It was reduced to 1 1/2 miles in 1976 or so. Top horses would race at distances from 1 to 2 miles and win at all of them, and a huge number of them became our great sires. Now the Belmont is the only race over 1 1/4 that any of them will ever see, so trainers have probably forgotten how to train for distance.[/QUOTE]

Viney - Except for Art Sheman. He was around back in those days, and as someone else mentioned, has taken a different path with the colt - ie his 10 career races to date. Here’s hoping!

[snaffle1987]

My biggest concern for CC is the jock asks him to move too early.

[Huntertwo]

[QUOTE=ellebeaux;7582370]
So I don’t know a thing about Thoroughbred racing but I do know the Belmont is a mile and a half.

Do the trainers have the horses practice that distance at full speed ahead of time or will this be the first time the horses run that distance?

I just wonder about muscle physiology and if you rate a horse then ask them to move ahead of time like CC in the Preakness, if the horse would have enough energy left to take on several challengers like CC did in the Preakness.

Or is that the whole point of this contest?![/QUOTE]

I don’t know a lot about what goes into training and thought the same type of question.

Watched many Belmont’s and the Commentators always say “So and So” has never run a mile and a half. Again, don’t know a lot about training for Racing, but why don’t they Breeze them, or hand Gallop a mile and a half, just for conditioning purposes?

There are many “Fit” Human athletes… Could they all run a 20 mile Marathon? Probably not.

[furlong47]

Human athletes don’t tend to practice at their full distance, either. I run shorter races, 5-10K, but I know lots of people who run marathons and a few who run ultras (50+ miles). They never run that distance except in a race. Long workouts may be 50-75% of that. Like racehorses, they also train differently on different days (long, slow workouts vs shorter, more intense ones, building fitness vs tapering before a race, etc.)

[RainyDayRide]

Nice to see that Espinoza will be back east for CC’s workout on 5/31…

YPRESS, Calif. – Jockey Victor Espinoza is not letting California Chrome far from his sight in the buildup to a potential sweep of the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes on June 7. Espinoza is scheduled to travel from California to New York to work the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner at Belmont Park on May 31, trainer Art Sherman said Wednesday. The May 31 workout is the only scheduled workout for California Chrome between the Preakness Stakes last Saturday and the Belmont.

“He doesn’t want anyone else on the horse,” Sherman said of Espinoza at this barn at Los Alamitos. Espinoza has been the regular race rider, and frequent workout rider, for California Chrome since December. During that time, California Chrome is unbeaten in six starts, all stakes.

Sherman said California Chrome will have a two-mile daily gallop as the Belmont Stakes nears. “It gives him a work back there,” Sherman said. “That’s all he needs. I will get the two miles into him every day. That will get him ready. I feel good about Victor coming out. We’ll be in good shape.”

http://live.drf.com/

[Nikki]

When does Belmont park open on Saturday? I’m going but i want to be there early enough to get a great spot in the grand stand.

[Huntertwo]

[QUOTE=RainyDayRide;7589160]
Nice to see that Espinoza will be back east for CC’s workout on 5/31…

http://live.drf.com/[/QUOTE]

Sherman said California Chrome will have a two-mile daily gallop as the Belmont Stakes nears. “It gives him a work back there,” Sherman said. “That’s all he needs. I will get the two miles into him every day. That will get him ready. I feel good about Victor coming out. We’ll be in good shape.”

Interesting that he will run C.C. 2 miles every day??? I thought that wasn’t normally done to prepare for a mile and a 1/2 ? Now I’m really confused…

[Drvmb1ggl3]

[QUOTE=Huntertwo;7590001]
Sherman said California Chrome will have a two-mile daily gallop as the Belmont Stakes nears. “It gives him a work back there,” Sherman said. “That’s all he needs. I will get the two miles into him every day. That will get him ready. I feel good about Victor coming out. We’ll be in good shape.”

Interesting that he will run C.C. 2 miles every day??? I thought that wasn’t normally done to prepare for a mile and a 1/2 ? Now I’m really confused…[/QUOTE]

Gallop /= work

[WhiteCamry]

[QUOTE=vineyridge;7583103]
Racing has changed so much in the US. The Jockey Club Gold Cup at 2 miles was one of the premier races of the season after the Triple Crown races. It was reduced to 1 1/2 miles in 1976 or so. Top horses would race at distances from 1 to 2 miles and win at all of them, and a huge number of them became our great sires. Now the Belmont is the only race over 1 1/4 that any of them will ever see, so trainers have probably forgotten how to train for distance.[/QUOTE]

There’s the Brooklyn Handicap, for 4 & ups, also run 12f at Belmont.

[WhiteCamry]

For perspective, the Derby Stakes in the U.K. - the “Darby,” as they pronounce it - is a mile and a half. It’s the middle jewel of their Triple Crown, run some about the same week as the Belmont, and some five weeks after the mile-long 2,000 Guineas Stakes (the first jewel.)

Their third Triple Crown race is the St. Leger Stakes, at a mile and 3/4. It’s run in September.