Saturday, May 17, 2008

Racing dreams of Big Brown win

BALTIMORE — A clean, safe race is what the horse racing industry wants from the 133rd running of the Preakness Stakes today at Pimlico Race Course.

A clean, safe race won by Big Brown is what the industry dreams of: a compelling horse poised to become the first winner of the Triple Crown in three decades — and provide welcome distraction from stories about dying thoroughbreds, drug testing and controversies about track surfaces.

"I would hope it would do a lot for the game," said Rick Dutrow Jr., trainer of the Kentucky Derby winner and heavy Preakness favorite. "There have been a lot of horses that got close to it. I hope he wins the Triple Crown and it does help the game. Any little bit can help, and we seem to be needing help in different areas."

It was two years ago that Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro fractured his right hind leg on the front stretch of the Preakness. Barbaro endured a very public and trying rehabilitation — he underwent a half-dozen surgeries and at times seemed on his way to recovery — but finally was euthanized eight months after his injury at Pimlico.

It was two weeks ago that star filly Eight Belles finished second in the Derby, then fractured both front ankles just after the race. Eight Belles was euthanized on the track.

Given those high-profile breakdowns on the track, today's Preakness means a very anxious 115 seconds — the approximate time it takes the horses to run the 1 3/16-mile race — for those involved in the sport.

Another such incident would provide further ammunition for organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — the group is expected to protest today — to call for the sport to be shut down.

"The issue with Eight Belles is going to come up over and over this week," said Nick Zito, the trainer of Stevil. "You know just as well as I do it's more than the tracks."

Five major tracks in North America have switched to synthetic surfaces thought to be safer for horses than dirt, and the New York Racing Association announced last week it would explore spending $50 million to convert tracks at Belmont, Saratoga and Aqueduct to synthetic surfaces.

There also is the issue of steroids. The substances are legal in racing — veterinarians say steroids help injured horses recover. However, some say the drugs are used to improve the horses' performance and put the animals' safety at risk.

Critics also say that owners push trainers to race their horses too early, as 2-year-olds, in an effort to increase the colts' breeding value — again at the peril of the horses.

In the wake of the death of Eight Belles, racing has continued in front of the grandstands. Behind the scenes, steps are being taken to address safety.

A seven-person panel formed last week by the Jockey Club to investigate those issues on Wednesday conducted its first conference call and intends to make an initial set of recommendations on Aug. 18 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

"We have to do a better job and we want to do a better job," said Stuart Janney, the committee chairman and an owner and breeder. "That's where the committee's mind is at the moment. It doesn't mean that every criticism leveled at the horse business will be found valid."

The Thoroughbred Safety Committee, formed as a result of the death of Eight Belles, talked for two hours and has meetings scheduled for May 27 in Lexington, Ky., and June 4 in New York.

The sport is unified in wanting to improve, but actually taking action is more difficult. Each state has its own set of rules — a drug given to a horse may be legal in Kentucky but illegal in Florida. Major tracks in California switch to synthetic surfaces. Meanwhile, the tracks that host the Triple Crown races — Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont Park — retain natural dirt surfaces.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has no power over practices. Rick Porter, Eight Belles' owner, has called for the creation of a commissioner to oversee the sport.

The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, which promotes the health and safety issues of horses, earlier this year presented eight detailed recommendations, ranging from track safety and catastrophic injuries to drug testing and genetic diversity. But they're only recommendations.

"There are probably some things that are enforceable through the Jockey Club, but they are relatively few," Mr. Janney said. "But we're not going to limit the scope of what we're looking at and have opinions on. ... Where we would like the industry to make progress is on implementation of key things."

For now, a safe race, a victory by Big Brown and a shot at horse racing history would bring some welcome relief.