That was an old joke I used to have about a former place of employment where no matter how valid and urgent the concern was, the answer was always “we don’t see any reason for concern, everything is fine and we don’t intend to make any changes.”
The Bloodhorse Now article New York Horseman Critical of Racing Surface reminded me of that attitude.
[quote]
Trainer Richard Violette, president of NYTHA, addressed a small group of horsemen after training hours at Saratoga. Also in attendance were NYRA president and chief executive officer Charles Hayward, and racing secretary P.J. Campo.
Violette said there has been dissatisfaction among horsemen concerning the job being done by track superintendent John Passero, who has held the position since December 2004. The situation came to a head during the Saratoga meet after numerous complaints by horsemen that the main track, in particular, has been sealed on too many occasions when it wasn’t necessary.
“There are a lot of people who are not happy with the track,” Violette said. “It’s not just here, but at Belmont and Aqueduct. We need to make the track safer. We can’t be treated like children that will go away, and I say this not about Charlie (Hayward) and P.J. (Campo), but frankly, there is a big, big resentment toward John Passero.
“We are not happy with the track being sealed when there isn’t rain in the forecast east of the Mississippi.”
The weather has been generally ideal during the meet, with very little rain.
Violette said the constant and unnecessary sealing of the track, combined with not enough preparation before training hours to get the surface back to normal, have resulted in numerous injuries to horses during the meet.
[end quote]
A sealed track is a fast track, as in lots of records broken this summer… but also lots of foot bruising, soreness and worse.
[quote]
“Horses are running way too fast; we’ve got track records being broken,” Bush said. “The track is hard because there isn’t enough preparation after repetitive sealing. Horses are suffering from more foot issues—shedding frogs and bruises—and it is because they are being concussed. After all, the message on John Passero’s cell phone is, ‘John Fast Track Passero.’”
[end quote]
And what was “Fast Track’s” response to all of this you ask?
{quote]
Passero, when contacted by The Blood-Horse after the horsemen’s meeting, said he knew nothing about the complaints until after the meeting when he was told by Hayward. Passero said the tracks are in perfect condition, and he doesn’t intend to make any changes.
“I was a bit surprised by all this,” Passero said. “I don’t know what is driving this train. If horses are having problems, it’s not because of the track. I will stand by the tracks. The NYRA tracks speak for themselves.
[end quote]
Meanwhile I noticed that Chatain is out with a foot bruise he received while training for the Forego.
Dr. Anthony Verderosa, NYRA’s chief examining veterinarian, was quoted in the article that at one horse had to be euthanized resulting from an injury sustained while racing at Saratoga this meet but declined to comment on how many horses had to be vanned off. Poor guy has to toe the party line, gotta be hard for him to deal directly with the aftermath of the his management’s obsession with a fast track at all costs.
