Four days, four breakdowns on Pro-Ride

Synthetic tracks were billed as a significant improvement over dirt in terms of wear and tear on horses, so anytime there is a rash of breakdowns on one of the new artificial surfaces, it raises questions.

Such is the case at Santa Anita, where four days into the winter meeting, four horses have broken down on the new Pro-Ride surface during races.

I spoke with the horses' connections to get their views on the surface and find out what happened. This post is a bit long, but I thought their comments were interesting and I didn’t want any of it taken out of context.

Nascar Johnny, two-year-old gelding, El Corredor—Dark Champagne, by Hooched (Race 1, 12-26-08)

Trainer Caesar Dominguez said Nascar Johnny suffered a stress fracture to the cannon bone in his right foreleg. He will undergo surgery to insert screws and is expected to survive.

“I wish we knew what did happen. It’s horse racing. Anything can happen. Why does a football player get a groin or a knee injury? It’s no different than a racehorse. They’re very fragile.”

When I asked Dominguez what he thought of the Pro-Ride surface, he said he has “always been a dirt man.”

“We’re in an experiment here, and I wish we would have waited longer before we put all the tracks on synthetic, but we’ve got it and now we have no choice but to deal with it.”

Warren’s Kenzo, two-year-old colt, by Kris Kross—Shanes Queen, by Shanekite (Race 1, 12-26-08)

Trainer Jorge Gutierrez said Warren’s Kenzo suffered a broken sesamoid and had to be euthanized. Gutierrez said he did not blame the Pro-Ride surface.

“My vet told me he had some gashes on his legs from clipping heels. He probably took a bad step after that, so this accident could have happened on any surface,” Gutierrez said. “I had injuries when Santa Anita was a dirt track, and I’m having injuries with the new track.

“Some horses get a hold of the Pro-Ride and like it, others can’t get a hold of it and they have a lot of problems.”

Indyanne, three-year-old filly, by Indian Charlie—Merchant, by Silver Ghost (Race 8, 12-27-08)

Indyanne suffered a fracture sesamoid in her left front leg while dueling with champion Indian Blessing in the stretch of the La Brea Stakes (G1). Owner John G. Sikura, who privately purchased the multiple graded stakes winner just a few weeks before, is hopeful she will have a successful broodmare career.

Sikura said he felt the worst for trainer Greg Gilchrist, who selected Indyanne at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Calder sale of selected two-year-olds in training. Gilchrist previously trained 2005 champion sprinter Lost in the Fog, whose life and career was cut short by cancer.

“Greg is a great horseman. He had Lost in the Fog before this. When you handpick Grade 1 horses and do it all yourself, with a small stable, you don’t get many chances. He’s a standup guy and really cares about his horses.”

Jockey Russell Baze said Indyanne took a bad step at the same time he asked her to respond to Indian Blessing’s challenge.

“She had a great champion in Indian Blessing breathing down her neck and she hurt herself when she was asked to run,” Sikura said.

“I think often times people make mistakes when they make uninformed comments about racetracks. I think the people who make a living riding and training horse are the ones who are most informed to tell us how horses are reacting to a track.

"I’ve always been put off by this assertion that if you put a synthetic tack in it will be so much better than dirt in terms of safety. It doesn’t matter what surface, we have to do everything we can to provide safety for horses and riders and the integrity of the sport.

"In the end there’s going to be injuries. It’s a part of the game. We all have to be responsible to train and run sound horses. And not try to run one more start through this problem or another.

"I’m not dismissing Pro-Ride, but we have to be careful when we make endorsements or criticisms before we have statistically significant numbers. I’ve had horses at Woodbine (Polytrack) all year and they’ve had a variety of injuries I never even knew existed. There’s a certain type of shoulder soreness now that the vets call a Polytrack injury.”


Flashing Forward, four-year-old filly, by Outflanker—Flashy Bold Lady, Bold n’ Flashy (Race 7, 12-29-08)

Trainer Gary Sherlock said Flashing Forward shattered her knee and had to be euthanized.

“That filly was sound, and she was in front when she went down. I don’t want to say anything bad about any one track in particular, but I like dirt better. I think they’re trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s not Santa Anita’s fault. I’m not blaming the track. I don’t think Pro-Ride is any worse than any other track. But I think they’re going down the wrong path.

"I’m sure there’s a place for the synthetic tracks, probably in a real bad weather area where it could help them race, but in my opinion that’s the only place for them. I don’t see any benefit to them at all. The injuries on the synthetics are real. And I understand stuff happens. It happens on dirt, but it’s still happening on the synthetic, maybe even at a higher rate.

"I know the motivation is for the betterment of the horse. (Santa Anita President Ron Charles) beat me back to the barn afterward with his concern. But I think they threw the baby out with the bath water.”