Barbaro immortal. (Kybluegrass via Creative Commons)
Does American Thoroughbred Horseracing Have a Future?
An Op/Ed By Maribeth Kalinich
As many have Tweeted, posted, blogged and editorialized, American horseracing had a traumatic last weekend.
After an inspiring story about trainer Melanie Giddings her beautiful undefeated filly, about to cross the wire in victory, instead crossed the rainbow bridge.
It was a stunning and sobering moment for anyone watching on television. Much more impactful for those in attendance.
Memories of Ruffian and Barbaro returned and many others. I’ve experienced five of the thirteen Triple Crown winners in my lifetime.
Barbaro in the Preakness will haunt me the rest of my lifetime.
(Note to the naysayers, the Jackson’s tried to save this lovely colt and kept him going as comfortably as possible for nearly a year until he succumbed to laminitis.)
Some are drawn to the “Sport of Kings” later in life for the excitement and gaming, and some are born with a passion for horses and horse racing deep in their heart and soul.
I was the latter. I anxiously sat in front of my television every Saturday afternoon awaiting Jim McKay present the featured race on Wide World of Sports. Being a native Baltimorean, the Preakness Stakes was like our Spring Christmas and Fourth of July rolled into one.
All fond memories I cherish. And then there was Barbaro. And now Maple Leaf Mel. And there will be others.
So, how do we carry on? How do we justify loading the gate again and putting our $2 on our favorite?
Does American Thoroughbred horse racing even have a future precipitating the need to ask those questions?
Maple Leaf Mel’s traumatic life-ending breakdown wasn’t the only death at Saratoga. And mainstream media is already covering it well.
Headlines: Syracuse: 2 horses euthanized over weekend at Saratoga Race Course. Times Union: Saratoga sees 2nd horse death in 2 days. Los Angeles Times: Seventh horse dies at Saratoga Race Course in less than a month.
Yes, seven. One the day after Maple Leaf Mel.
On Sunday, 4-year-old filly Ever Summer sustained a catastrophic injury to her left front leg in the final turn of the turf allowance race. Irad Ortiz Jr. was unseated and later cleared to ride the rest of the card.
According to John Cherwa’s report in The Los Angeles Times, NYRA officials moved the final three turf races on Sunday’s card to the main dirt track after consulting with the jockeys, who expressed concern with the overall condition of the courses following heavy rains last week.
It was too late for Ever Summer who was, as Maple Leaf Mel, euthanized on the track.
For the full mid-July to Labor Day meeting, according to data provided by the New York Gaming Commission and curated by The LA Times, there were eight deaths in 2022, nine in 2021, 10 in 2020 and five in 2019. The Times excludes deaths due to colic, laminitis, neurological or other issues unless directly tied to racing or training.
John Cherwa, who reported the additional fatalities, did state New York is a leader in transparency when it comes to fatalities and injuries. NYRA submits records to the Equine Injury Database. Not all tracks do as Cherwa also noted.
Back to the future of horse racing (I see what I did there!)
Horse racing is facing a watershed moment.
Organizations are still fighting HISA in court as states that comply try to adjust to the new regulations that now supersede their previous state regulations.
If racing can’t agree on how to lead and regulate itself, that doesn’t bode well for growth and prosperity in the sport.
Tracks are closing all over the country.
Arizona is all but shuttered with the sales of both Arizona Downs and Turfway Park, the location of the Grade 2 Jeff Ruby Steaks.
The true irony of Arizona Downs is when it reopened in 2019 under new ownership the facility closed after a few weeks because Monarch, a The Stronach Group (TSG) subsidiary, pulled their simulcast signal.
TSG is purchasing Arizona Downs.
The company, headquartered in Ontario, Canada, just announced the closing at the end of 2023 of Golden Gate Fields.
In Maryland, where they own two facilities, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness Stakes, things are getting complicated.
After lobbying to have a bill passed to allow the owners to enhance both facilities via deed conveyances and bonds, plans are now changing rapidly.
Originally, both Laurel and Pimlico were to be redeveloped. That plan apparent is now defunct.
When the Maryland Horse Racing Authority was created the plan was to make Pimlico the major facility and possibly use Laurel for training.
An announcement to close Pimlico’s popular Off-track Betting facility was rescinded just before an agreement was finalized to close Pimlico’s barns and backstretch and move everyone and everything to Laurel Park.
Consolidation. It’s a dirty word for some in racing. A profitable word for others.
Just last month a wrecking ball took a chunk out of horse racing history as it punched in the face of Arlington Park Race Course’s iconic grandstand. Architectural Digest called Arlington the most beautiful racecourse in the world. No more.
Soon to be a football stadium, the same fate that befell Hollywood Park with its storied history.
So, back to the questions, how can we keep doing this? How can we keep supporting and loving a sport that is just so, well, a word I can’t say here.
For me, it’s in my heart and soul that were flattened on Saturday around 4:28 p.m.
I was lucky enough to become a turf writer. I write for the horses. I write for their team of trainers, assistant trainers, exercise riders, grooms, secretaries, accountants, etc. I write about sad screwed up things like X Y Jets and wonderful stories I trip upon which was Wallenda.
We keep going to honor the horses. It’s the only answer I have in my heart.
