Breeders Cup 2008 AD

[Seabiscuit]

Santa Anita will decide very soon what track surface they use for the 2008 Breeders Cup meeting

Hopefully they go with the synthetic style track and not go back to the dirt for the squibs

Heatseeker won the Californian Stks well on the weekend and will be a leading contender for the Breeders Cup Classic if it is run on synthetic as the speedy squibs will struggle to run it out

[bezza]

Who cares..... American horse racing is a joke.

Its like a running race with Ben Johnson V Linford Christie V Marion Jones V Flo Jo...


Regulators and racing authorities are making headway in their efforts to curb the seemingly insatiable appetite for drugs, but when Big Brown and his rivals compete in the Belmont Stakes this weekend, racing will still be in the middle of its steroid era.


Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown and at least one of his Belmont Stakes challengers will compete on anabolic steroids, as will, no doubt, dozens of other horses racing at Belmont Park.

Steroids are legal in 28 of the 38 states where racing is held, including the three states holding Triple Crown races, and their use is prevalent.

Before banning the drugs in Pennsylvania, officials tested 998 horses and found 61.7 per cent were positive for steroids and 17.3 per cent had been treated with two steroids or more.

That does not make racing any different from many sports, where the biggest, strongest, most focused athletes are the ones who most often succeed and earn the most money.

"They're performance enhancing," said trainer Graham Motion, who said his Belmont starter Icabad Crane was not given steroids. "Isn't that why all the athletes use it? What do they do? They build up a horse's muscle tissue and make the animal stronger. To me that's performance enhancing. It amazes me that we're still even discussing it. They should have been banned a long time ago."

Among the nine trainers who are planning on running horses in the Belmont, only Rick Dutrow, the trainer of Big Brown, and Barclay Tagg, who trains Tale of Ekati, said their horses would race on steroids.

Dallas Stewart, the trainer of Macho Again, said he had yet to decide whether his horse would receive them.

Trainers Todd Pletcher and Nick Zito would not comment on their usage of steroids.

Steroids have been part of horse racing long before they became part of the sports world's lexicon.

Hall of Fame trainer Elliott Burch, who began his career in 1955, said he first remembered hearing of their use with thoroughbreds in the mid-60s.

Among other benefits, trainers found steroids provided a boost for horses who were not eating well or were listless.

"Steroids do have some benefits," said Gregory Bennett, the veterinarian who treats Big Brown. "We're always under pressure to keep these horses going and to try to make races." Bennett said it was ability, not steroids, like Winstrol, that had put Big Brown on the verge of becoming only the 12th horse to sweep the Triple Crown. "This horse is a standout," he said. "He already has an innate ability, and the Winstrol does not alter his performance or anything like that."

[Seabiscuit]

You obviously care enough Bezza to cut and paste some tasty morsels about Big Brown and his drugs

Bezza will be setting his alarm clock to get up and watch the Belmont you can be sure of that

[imaufo]

Im tipping that just about every Aussie racehorse gets a jab of steroids when they head off to the paddock. Ive seen it done plenty of times. Of course they cant race with steroids in their systems here, but they still get a dose every now and again.

[bezza]

We do have out of competition testing here in Australia as well which has become a lot more prevelent over the last few years. I couldnt disagree that horses sent for spells possibly do 'get a jab' as you say, but that is not the same as horses racing and competing on it, building up a facade of greatness and dilluting the breeed.

Big Brown looks like an outstanding horse(on dirt) undoubtedly, but like all American horses he will never achieve any sort of greatness in the eyes of true horse racing people until he takes on all comers. And that means competing on grass against International opposition, something American horses NEVER do. Save yourself the time, dont mention The Dubai World Cup because it is a race on dirt 'put on' for the benefit of the yanks.

Big Brown I note raced on Turf at his first start. Well lets see him set for a UK program next year(Prince of Wales/Irish Champion etc), or possibly even for the Arc later in the year. It wont happen of course because like all American sport, the 'insular' mentality exists(World Series-only for USA teams???), and his worth will have been proven in American eyes by then after he trounces another field of walkers in The Belmont and collects the Triple Crown.