Beyond the Track. Anna Morgan Ford
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as grooms, jockeys, owners, and trainers make last minute preparations—all within reach of the spectators (A–C). Once the jockeys are up, the field walks by the grandstand on the way to the starting gate (D). The most intense and congested moment of the race is when the bell sounds and the horses take off (E).
If you have ever seen a race in person, or even on television, you have witnessed the incredible amount of activity a Thoroughbred is exposed to before, during, and after a race. About 30 minutes before a race, handlers, followed by the grooms and owners, lead the horses to the paddock. The paddock tends to be a grassy space with a circular path around the perimeter, usually enclosed by a short fence or hedge. Here the horses are saddled, walked, and mounted by their jockey. Although only trainers, owners, and those with special permission are allowed in the paddock prior to a race, it is typically crowded with people and often chaotic. Large numbers of spectators surround the area, and people hang over the fence trying to get a look at the horses before they place their bets.
Most paddocks have open-faced “saddling stalls” where the horses are tacked-up after they are paraded around the perimeter and the trainer gives the go-ahead. It is common to see horses appear anxious and buck or dance around as their girths are tightened. The trainers then do a last-minute check of the horse’s condition and equipment themselves.
Once saddled, the horses are again paraded around the paddock in their race order until they meet up with their jockey, who is helped to mount. The field is then escorted to the track by a “lead horse.” When they reach the track, the ground handlers release their charges to handlers on horseback—and then follows the familiar scene of the field parading in front of the grandstand.
Some horses jog toward the starting area, while others do a slow gallop and then a quick warm-up. As post time—when all race entries are due at the starting post—draws near, all the horses are called to their gate, where ground handlers are on hand to assist the jockeys. As soon as the last horse is securely loaded, the bell rings, and they’re off!
Right out of the gate there is a lot of action and commotion as jockeys fight for a good position closest to the rail. Most of the horses will be part of a tight pack, with all but those in front getting dirt or mud thrown in their faces. Through it all, jockeys are talking or yelling, whips are swinging, and the crowd is screaming at the finish line.
Depending on the length of the race, most will be over in about two minutes (one of the amazing aspects of the sport is how much time and training goes into preparing for such a brief exercise in power). While the first horse over the finish line (barring disqualification or a challenge) is ridden directly to the Winner’s Circle, the rest of the field heads to an exit gate where their grooms and trainers meet them. There, the jockeys hop off and the horses are quickly stripped of their saddles, and then sponged or hosed down before they are walked back to the barn. At the barn they are fully untacked and thoroughly bathed, then walked until cool.
Once the final order of the field is declared official, the first- and second-place horses have their blood and urine tested for illegal drugs, and random horses are also tested.
Before being fed and put away for the night, horses that raced are examined and their legs are wrapped to keep any inflammation at bay. With a thick layer of bedding and plenty of hay, they are then left alone to recover.
Researching the Horse’s History
When you first find an OTTB that you feel could be right for you, it is unlikely that you will know very much about his past. Nevertheless, with a little research, you may be able to get some valuable background information on his previous experiences.
Equibase (www.equibase.com) is one of the most helpful places to get information on Thoroughbred racehorses. This website can search any Thoroughbred that is registered with The Jockey Club and can provide a variety of information, such as the horse’s race record, sale information, and pedigree. All you need is the horse’s registered name. Note: You cannot look up a Thoroughbred by his tattoo number, which is tattooed under his upper lip, on Equibase.
Thoroughbred foals born in 2017 and after must be microchipped, and the microchip must be recorded with The Jockey Club. The microchip is placed in the nuchal ligament on the left side of the horse’s neck and contains a set of numbers specific only to that horse. If you only have access to the horse’s tattoo or microchip, you can go to www.registry.jockeyclub.com (which requires you log in), enter the chip or tattoo number, and there find the horse’s registered name. You can then go to Equibase to look up the horse’s information.
At this time you cannot do a “reverse lookup” with tattoos or microchips, meaning you cannot type in the horse’s name and find his tattoo or chip number.
▶ Pedigree and Stud Fee
As with any breed, examining a Thoroughbred’s pedigree can tell you a lot about the horse’s potential character and athleticism. You may be able to find additional information about his dam and sire, as well as their other offspring, that can help you determine a horse’s trainability, competitiveness, and physical longevity.
Are Racehorses Abused at the Track?
People often ask me whether racehorses are mistreated. It is a subject that I’ve had many years to ponder—my father is a fifth-generation Standardbred trainer, and I grew up watching him work with his horses. He always handled them with respect, and though he wasn’t overly sentimental in his dealings with them, he did everything within his means to keep his string happy and in good health. I believe that he is an example of the norm, rather than an exception.
During my tenure at New Vocations, I have worked with and met many different racehorse trainers from all over the country. As can be found in any division of the horse world, there are those with the animal’s interests at heart and those with more questionable ethical standards. I can honestly say that I have encountered more trainers who truly care about the well-being of their racehorses than those who do not.
However, there is a dichotomy in care and/or management within the racing industry, and this is most easily noted when you compare one track to another. At the larger, more prominent tracks, purses are much bigger and the competition greater, which in turn draws owners and trainers who have more money to work with. At this type of track, a “daily training fee” (which the trainer charges the owner and includes feed, board, grooming, and training, but neither veterinary nor farrier care) ranges from $75 to $125 a day. More money allows the barns to be better staffed, with more grooms and riders, higher quality feed and hay, and the very best in vet and farrier care.
At smaller tracks, purses aren’t worth as much, which attracts owners with fewer resources and less valuable horses. Here, the daily training fee can range from $25 to $50, which means many stables are understaffed and overworked. Exercise riders may groom, too. Trainers may have to clean stalls. Horses are more likely to be exercised on a mechanical hotwalker because there is less time (and fewer bodies) for hand-walking.
The difference here can become problematic for the horses; for example, in the case of minor injury. When there is money available, there is no hesitation to x-ray or examine further the location of any unusual swelling or heat. At a smaller track, limited funds often mean such problems are never diagnosed properly—until it is too late and the horse breaks down.
That said, even at the lowest of lower-tier tracks, I have met trainers who would rather go hungry than let their horses miss a meal. At the end of the day, a racehorse is still an investment, and owners and trainers will generally do whatever they can to protect a horse’s health during his racing career.
In addition, take the time to look up the sire’s stud fees for an idea of how much was initially invested in the horse (check www.bloodhorse.com/stallion-register). If a large stud fee was paid—say, $10,000 or more—it is more