Sweating or Not

Giving you both flavors of video. The smaller one might be better on slower connections.





Update from Alex:
Review of anhydrosis here. I found it interesting how it seems that an environment that is too unrelentingly hot and humid could shut down a horse's ability to sweat and that a little break from the heat could restore it. Maybe we just need a big fan or swamp cooler for Stack's stall...

Wednesday at the Farm. No OBS, but Video Goodness!

We saddled up spitfire and he was very high headed, we put side bungee reins on him and had him stand in the stall where he fought the bungees but then figured if he dropped his head he was comfortable.

Tiny tune Lilly has been off and sound...working through shins...we galloped her today...let's see how she is tomorrow...TSFay bright. Stack is also on the machine. He is more sedate and isn't sweating as much as I think he should. He might go into non sweating ...a problem here in Fl. Maybe a good reason to go to Ohio later this month...

Miami Fireworks and T.S. Faye's Raceday

After settling the horses in at the track, it was time to have a little fun . It was July 4th and Miami was at our feet. We went out to the beach and joined the thousands that came out to watch the fireworks.
I have the philosophy that we have to have a good time while on the way on training the horses as who knows how well they will do... And a good meal and fine times with friends may be the highlight of the trip....the horse...we can only hope he does well!

The fireworks began.

In the morning I sent the two horses to the gates... It was great timing and they broke from the gates together. They went 4 furlongs in 52 ... Not very fast but I will compare it to others on the same morning. This just reinforces the fact that they need to work over the track to be fit enough to run. Stack finished out stronger than Phontiff...and he is fitter...he did the five furlongs in 1:06
We'll see how the shins are tomorrow.




After we worked the horses and bathed TS Fay we went to breakfast on the water. How refreshing it is to see beautiful Miami.

TS Fay going to paddock for her first race (Race 2 at Calder on July 5th)

Beautiful paddock area!

The filly was very workmanlike.









Jockeys up!

Post Parade.











On to the track!

TS Fay broke well and was competitive for about four furlongs . She then faded to second to last.
She cooled out well and should be ready to improve in a week or ten days. I see no way other than through races to improve her. Practise on any other track won't do and shipping in to breeze with a five hour trip is out of the question. So the way to go is racing one and bringing others down at the same time. I will keep you informed as to next trip!

At Calder

We got to Miami safely and without incident. The horses loaded at 5 AM quietly and traveled wonderfully.

The receiving barn was ready for us and I turned in the paper work with no problems. The tatoo man was there at 10:30 and both Fay and Phontiff were done in no time.

This is in front of the barn-it is really nice to be able to sit and picnic while waiting for a race.

Here is the spit box at Calder. I hope my horse ends up there!

This is the lane on the way to the race track. We'll be heAding that way tomorrow. In the AM we will work two horses and see how they handle the heavy surface....that will help me decide if running down here is feasible.
Until tomorrow, have a great 4th- I am heading for the beach!

Great Blog Find

Polo over at the forum points us to Colin's Ghost, a great blog about Thoroughbred racing history. Adding it to the links here so you can easily check for new posts.

Busy Weekend

A busy day . Friday morning I found out that I could bring 2 other horses to work Sunday morning at Calder race course. I have one horse in on Sunday. I need to get as much as possible done with such a long trip.
Had to line up tatoo man for first time starter. Hope that will be done on Sat. Had to line up two riders to show up Sun morn...at the same time. Horses can only be on track until 8:30.
Had to get permission for extra stalls.
Then I had to load horses and haul them to the Vets to get a 72 hour health certificate. Logistically this is tough ... Hauling in the heat... A day before a four hour trip to track... You know how hot it is here !
Then had to pack trailer for horses for two days.
Now I remember why I go to east in the summer... Oh well ..let's see how it goes in Miami.
We'll leave around five AM to avoid the heat.
Happy fourth!

OBS Wednesday

Back to Ocala to breeze. We are waiting for riders...

Waiting to break. We need gate card for Phontiffs wind. T S Faye is going in gates to get blinker approved as is Stack

Ready set -Phontiff is bay on outside T S Faye is in middle and Stack on inside.

And they are off! T S Faye breaks the best with Phontiff right by her and an instant behind Stack is on his way.
By breaking with blinkers I have the option to use them or not later on and do not have to worry about getting another card with blinkers okayed.

Charlie Camac (retired steward and starter from Calder) writes the
Gate cards-all three are okayed for blinkers!

Back to the barn-TS Faye worked four furlongs in fifty...an improvement from last week when she worked in 51 and change. We are looking to run her 4 and half furlongs if we can get in.

Stack worked 4 in 51 and galloped out strongest of all.

Phontiff worked four in 50 and change-my big question will be how are his shins-that is a pretty good improvement for him. I know OBS is a fast track so these times are not spectactular but each horse has personally improved. That is what we are looking for.

We hose agressivelly to cool them down. It was hot and humid and part of their panting is from the heat. The constant hosing brings down body temp faster.

We get as wet as they do!

When TS Faye was cool we then had her shod. Up to this point we have not put shoes on. That's Fl for you- soft and kind surface! She will have a few days to get used to them!