Racing Bandages....

[Freebird]

We are having a discussion on a FB Group about what a Racing bandage actually is. Not wraps that are used for galloping, etc. but wraps that are used in actual races. Now, we (the TB farm I worked at way back when) always used straight Vetwrap secured with Electrical tape, and a Run Down patch if needed. But now I am being told that this is "never done, and all the trainer’s use either Track bandages similar to Polos, or a shell or cotton underneath. In my experience, anything underneath just caused the wrap to slip during a race, and I never knew a trainer to use a wrap (that could potentially come undone) in a race.

So, any thoughts?? Pictures would be great…

[Laurierace]

Vet wrap and electrical tape. Could put any number of things in it or underneath it including sheet cotton or patches and such. I saw someone once put a piece of steak underneath a bandage to prevent run downs! I myself built an elaborate patch system out of the insoles of my daughter’s Nike’s and sheepskin for a horse that hit itself all over behind. I claimed a horse years ago who had cotton built up under his bandage to look like a bowed tendon. They stuck the horse straight in the saddling stall so I never got a chance to see their fake bow otherwise I might not have dropped the slip. He still holds the track record he set for me at Penn from 1996!

[mht]

Vetrap and electrical tape. A former trainer of mine would even take little pieces of the tape, and make diamond patterns on the finished wrap. Didn’t make them run any faster, but sure looked nice!

[Acertainsmile]

Yep, vetwrap and tape, coordinated to match your silks of course!!!

Once in awhile you will see a horse run in Elastoplast.

[barnchick]

Have heard of horses (standardbreds) racing in Coolcast wraps. Also BBcotton satin sheeting under vet wrap.

[Flypony]

Vet wrap and electrical tape is standard. Recently I came across equisports, like vetwrap only more support and thicker, you have to re roll them before they go on , or they go on to tight.

[Angelico]

Just vet wrap and tape! I use squares of tape instead if patches because, I’m cheap…

[Acertainsmile]

[QUOTE=Angelico;6865042]
Just vet wrap and tape! I use squares of tape instead if patches because, I’m cheap…[/QUOTE]

Duct tape can work unless your horse really runs down bad. We have sheepskin lined leather patches for those that run down or on a really bad track. Patches can go on in layers for added protection too.

[Angelico]

[QUOTE=Acertainsmile;6865191]
Duct tape can work unless your horse really runs down bad. We have sheepskin lined leather patches for those that run down or on a really bad track. Patches can go on in layers for added protection too.[/QUOTE]

I’m not that cheap, I use gorilla tape! Lol!

What I do on one that runs down bad is stick a square of tape on about the second time I make the ‘V’ then after I’ve finished I’ll stick another square on. Seems to work just as well. I’ve never had one run down through all that.

[DeeThbd]

[QUOTE=Laurierace;6864155]
Vet wrap and electrical tape. Could put any number of things in it or underneath it including sheet cotton or patches and such. I saw someone once put a piece of steak underneath a bandage to prevent run downs! I myself built an elaborate patch system out of the insoles of my daughter’s Nike’s and sheepskin for a horse that hit itself all over behind. I claimed a horse years ago who had cotton built up under his bandage to look like a bowed tendon. They stuck the horse straight in the saddling stall so I never got a chance to see their fake bow otherwise I might not have dropped the slip. He still holds the track record he set for me at Penn from 1996![/QUOTE]

Laurie, ws the steak guy’s name Jeff (very curly blond hair) by any chance? If so, my DSO saw him do the same thing! Or possibly there is some overlap between where you raced and where I groomed Dear training friend of mine did the sheepskin, and for the really bad ones, cut out a patch out of an inner tube. Have created the fake ankles or tendons a time or two myself! )
MHT - I wonder if our diamonds are a local thing - I always liked putting them on too!
I also remember old school trainers using Ace bandages pre-Vetrap days…my first trainer had a colour handbook on applying Vetrap when it first came out.
D.

[rustbreeches]

[QUOTE=Acertainsmile;6865191]
Duct tape can work unless your horse really runs down bad. We have sheepskin lined leather patches for those that run down or on a really bad track. Patches can go on in layers for added protection too.[/QUOTE]

I have used the meat method on several horses, and it works really well. The theory behind it is meat won’t rub meat. Just cut patch sized pieces of cheap steak and put directly on the area.

Made a huge mistake one time of using red duct tape for run down patches (I’m way too cheap to buy 3M’s). I always put them on between the layers of vet wrap, and the horse ran through the first couple layers of vet wrap, leaving the red duct tape exposed and on the way back to the barn, every last person informed me my horse ran down really badly!

I never used mud tails, it really isn’t that much work to rinse out a tail and the old timers always sais it affects their balance

[Laurierace]

[QUOTE=DeeThbd;6865576]
Laurie, ws the steak guy’s name Jeff (very curly blond hair) by any chance? If so, my DSO saw him do the same thing! Or possibly there is some overlap between where you raced and where I groomed Dear training friend of mine did the sheepskin, and for the really bad ones, cut out a patch out of an inner tube. Have created the fake ankles or tendons a time or two myself! )
MHT - I wonder if our diamonds are a local thing - I always liked putting them on too!
I also remember old school trainers using Ace bandages pre-Vetrap days…my first trainer had a colour handbook on applying Vetrap when it first came out.
D.[/QUOTE]

It was over 20 years ago so I have no idea what the person looked like. I do admit I came close to trying it before I figured out the insole/sheepskin thing. I had one horse who didn’t run down but he pounded the back of his fetlock when he ran. His bandage would be completely intact after a race but he would be a bloody mess underneath. I guess the insole helped disperse the concussion.

[foundationmare]

Yep to Vetwrap and electrical tape. Have used 3M patches for horses who are at risk of running down badly. Have used duct tape as well in place of 3Ms as well as the sheepskin discs. Have even seen the use of padding under the vetwrap to give the impression of a thick tendon to derail a shopper on the rail.

To the OP, I can’t imagine where the idea that this use of vetwrap and electrical tape simply isn’t done. Although I did once work for a legendary trainer who, in his declining years, decided to send horses over in tracers or Saratogas. No No.
Any slippage is dangerous to horse and jockey, plain and simple. I once watched a horse breezing in the morning approaching the finish line and, from my perch in the clocker stand, saw the bandages unravelling and impeding his travel. Screaming from my elevation to the rider to “pull up, pull up”, and using the exercise rider’s name, the horse went down hard. Fortunately all eventually walked off fine.

[Acertainsmile]

That happened to me at Laurel, 1984 I think. Bandage came unwrapped while breezing, horse went down so hard it knocked us both out. I didnt walk off fine but the horse did. Bandages had pins in them which is not uncommon.

[Laurierace]

S. W. Clarence at Penn broke his shoulder as I watched in horror. A penny’s worth of electrical tape…

[Calamber]

Some trainers do indeed put a very thin layer of cotton underneath the vetwrap for added protection. And of course, a tape which is somewhat like electrical but is not, it is very stretchy, specially made tape for the purpose. There are varying kinds of rundown patches from padded ones to plain plastic discs. Never used meat, have used cut up run down patches, stretchy rubber pads with a flannel like backing. I even patched one mare who would hit herself coming out of the gate, on the inside of her hocks. She won, and won, and won some more after I started doing that and keeping the overweight exercise riders off her back.

[Aspercel]

Husband does vetwrap, electrical tape, and patches if needed.

I’ve never seen anything else on race day, but down here in Louisiana you see some “interesting” (bad) wrap jobs all the time.

[TBHunterJumper]

I’m only a racing fan/TB lover (I recently acquired my 2nd OTTB, much to my delight!) but I’ve always heard/seen vet wrap and electrical tape. My theory (unconfirmed, can someone vouch for this if its correct?) is that god forbid something happen, they go off in the gate, the break down, a shoe grab catches a wrap (on the front or on another horse’s hind/front) if its a polo or track wrap (or like), it can catch, or if it comes loose it won’t rip. Whereas vet wrap will just tear.

[Laurierace]

[QUOTE=TBHunterJumper;6874590]
I’m only a racing fan/TB lover (I recently acquired my 2nd OTTB, much to my delight!) but I’ve always heard/seen vet wrap and electrical tape. My theory (unconfirmed, can someone vouch for this if its correct?) is that god forbid something happen, they go off in the gate, the break down, a shoe grab catches a wrap (on the front or on another horse’s hind/front) if its a polo or track wrap (or like), it can catch, or if it comes loose it won’t rip. Whereas vet wrap will just tear.[/QUOTE]
Vet wrap adheres to itself so it won’t unravel on it’s own under any circumstances. The main reason it is used over other materials is it does not soak up moisture like other bandages can.

[summerhorse]

I wouldn’t even use the polos in working. I remember reading too many stories of them coming undone and the horse coming undone, often the rider too. Imagine stepping on a flopping piece of bandage of one leg with the following leg at good speed. Snap! One lady was paralyzed I believe.

I saw one lady (girl really) jump a whole grand prix with an unraveling polo wrap. It was on ESPN or Outdoor Channel I think (MANY moons ago). Amazingly they made it all the way around but at least he wasn’t traveling at great speed if they hadn’t.