Hothouse Horses

William Nack, in my opinion one of the greatest racing writers of all time, has a fabulous post on ESPN.com about the role of pedigree in Eight Belle's demise. He interviews Ellen Parker, a thoroughbred breeding consultant and analyst in Kentucky who has been arguing against unsound bloodlines for years. Apparently, Parker always felt that Eight Belles' pedigree carried with it a high chance for disaster.

In fact, according to Nack, Parker feels that this combination of dangerous crosses in bloodlines "contributed to the racetrack breakdowns and deaths of such prominent horses as Ruffian, Go For Wand, of George Washington and Pine Island, and even of Barbaro." Fascinating stuff which only confirms the industry's current predilection to breed for speed rather than soundness. Of course, the proliferation of drugs, to mask unsoundness, has also contributed to weaker genes being passed on and on.

But what Nack points out, and what I find especially intriguing, is that it is not only nature but nurture (in the form of training practices) that has contributed to weakening the breed. He quotes John Nerud, the trainer of the late, great Dr. Fager, who retired sound. "These horses all retired sound because we raised 'em out in the open," said Nerud. "We did not hothouse 'em or prep 'em for sales. It makes quite a difference when your foal or yearling can run in a pasture. The pounding of those legs strengthens them when they are young and you'll grow a better bone on a horse."

I have to believe the same principle applies to horses in training, the majority of which are never turned out. Even Ruffian lived her life in a stall and was only hand grazed for fear of injury. Contrast that to the practice of Michael Matz, who in defiance of current practices, actually turned Barbaro out at Fair Hill between the Derby and the Preakness. Albeit, it was first to a small fenced in paddock, but then he grazed, off lead, in a fenced in pasture. "We're trying to keep him a happy horse," Matz said. Indeed as Barbaro let out a loud whinny and galloped around the paddock in what certainly looked like glee, it seemed as if he had made a wise decision.

In retrospect, I am sure Matz second-guessed his decision, but I have to believe that he was right. Most of the thoroughbreds who race today, Big Brown included, never get to be horses because they are worth too much money. The irony is that a stall-bound horse can injure himself almost as easily as one who is turned out in a paddock. In fact, a horse can injure himself walking out of the sales ring and never race a day in his life.

Investors will tell you that these horses are simply worth too much money to take a chance. But we all know what hothouse tomatoes taste like--nothing.