AboutStephanie Frost Expertise Questions about Thoroughbred training, racing and breeding. Rules and regulations regarding Thoroughbred racing. Mainly focused on racing in the USA. I can also answer breeding and bloodstock questions, along with pedigree advice, plus advice about forming a realistic plan for starting into the racing or breeding business. No handicapping questions, please.
Experience I have been a licensed Thoroughbred trainer for 20 years, a thoroughbred farm owner and Thoroughbred breeder. Owner of Alchemy Bloodstock, a full service bloodstock agency, specializing in locating quality racing and breeding stock for clients, and representing clients at various Thoroughbred sales. Alchemy Bloodstock has been instrumental in the purchase and training of several graded stakes horses, as well as many extremely profitable sales horses.
Expert: Stephanie Frost Date: 5/4/2008 Subject: Dirt vs. Turf
Question Statistics may be deceiving, because there are less turf races than dirt races in the United States. Therefore, my question is this: Is the United States the only country that races on dirt? Does Europe or any other part of the world have such catastrophic injuries in thoroughbred racing as I witnessed this weekend at the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs?
Answer Katherine,
Every country that has racing has its share of catastrophic injury. The USA may have a higher rate, but I don't know that there are actually any reliable statistics on breakdowns anywhere except the USA, and those aren't all that reliable, either. Most other countries don't have any agency to track breakdowns.
Some other countries race on dirt on occasion, but mainly on turf, although many country's train on dirt, even when they race on the turf.
What happened to Eight Belles is tragic and heartbreaking, but it was a horrible accident, nothing more sinister. Imagine how many times over the years that you have wrenched your ankle just stepping wrong. Now figure a 1400 lb. horse hitting the ground just a fraction off, on an ankle not much bigger than yours, while traveling at over 35 miles per hour. Unfortunately, it does happen sometimes, and it is the greatest fear of every horseperson that ever sent a horse out to the track, but it does happen sometimes, and it happens in every country that horses race in, not just the USA.
