Now that BULLDOG HANOVER has crossed what was a decade ago, considered the ultimate line in the sand by running the mile in 1:45.8, what can we expect next.
Gallopers have been bred for over 700 years. Originally they raced over distances of up to 4 miles and often several heats in the afternoon. The crazy quest for speed, speed and more speed has reduced the staying capacity of the average thoroughbred to something well less than a mile, and at many country tracks, the "King" and "Queen" of racing animals now frequentlly compete at 800 metres. How the mighty have fallen.
It seems feasible that, since the American Standardbred, the breed which currently comprises at least 98% of our racing stock in Australasia, descends from Messenger, an English thoroughbred stallion imported to the USA in the late 1770s to improve ,due to his unusual speed at the trot, not only the galloping pool,but to produce faster road horses. Some 240 years later, the road horses have become the pacers and trotters of today.
The following insightful article is taken from Harnesslink and is the work of John Berry. There is much food for thought in this --Is it time to take our foot off the throttle, and go looking for strength again. The current circumstances of Harness Racing in Australia appear to indicate that we are experiencing similar ills to those of the U S of A. WE MUST NOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN!!
Veteran Hall of Fame driver and trainer Wally Hennessey has seen this trend already developing over the past few years.
“First of all,” Hennessey remarked, “there is little rating that goes on today.
“When I first started in the Maritimes—and it’s still true today—there are no infield timers and we all really needed to learn to develop a stopwatch in our heads.
“Today, if you’re lucky, you get a breather for a few seconds—maybe a 16th of a mile.
“It’s go-go-go-go-go all the way. I remember I got called in for trying to rate my horse and going a slow second quarter. I told the judge that ‘maybe the first quarter was too fast!’
“When I get a call to catch-drive, I consider myself working for the trainer, owner, caretaker and bettor and my aim is to try and win or, at least, be on the board.
“Us veterans have had to really adjust and adapt to the new ways on the track with the tracks the way they are, the bikes and all the new equipment that can benefit a horse’s quickness.”
But that is taking a toll on the horse population staying on the racetrack.
“Just look at the entry box at some of the tracks these days. We’re down to three days a week at some venues—so it’s even tougher to make a living no matter whether you are a driver, trainer or owner,” Hennessey continued.
“Some say ‘speed kills,’he said, “and, let me tell you, a bettor or owner seeing his ‘4’ or ‘6’ claimer get to the half in :54 knows they are not going to make a dime this race…but the bills continue!”
There’s no such thing as a :32 second breather anymore and, to tell you the truth, while everyone is enthralled with speed, the question that looms is whether it is in the best interests of the sport.
Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s, if a two year-old went an ultra-fast quarter en route to even a 2:05 mile, it was questionable whether that kind of mile would “cork” them, leaving them empty for continued improvement.
Harness horse publications would feature a 2:10 two year-old list and a 2:05 three year-old list.
Today, it takes a performance some 75 lengths faster or more to be in the elite group.
With the speed today and a shortage of horses in the entry boxes, a worrisome trend is developing that the speed may take its toll on the horse population—either by injury or by prevention of injury with stallions and mares entering a new phase in their respective careers.
And what about the owners who get frustrated with a horse that can race in 1:48 and come home without a check!
With “4” claimers going faster than Bret Hanover ever paced, it’s only a matter of time when the racing population shrinks by the numbers and the number of aged horses will be significantly lower with fewer and fewer horses even six and up helping fill programs.
True that, as racetracks close, they have to go somewhere but, at some point, an owner is going to say that this is a losing battle with inflation—sawdust piles costing $1,500 to $1,800 with feed, showing and vet care getting more expensive with stagnant purses
Speed might be great for the elite, but, for the entire sport and its many participants, not so sure.
Only time will tell…
by John Berry, for Harnesslink
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