The Canadian Sportsman
In Quotes
Back To In Quotes
Why are horses faster today? Is it genetics? Equipment? Drivers? Racing surfaces? Big tracks? Northwood Bloodstock’s Bob Boni believes the removal of the hub rail is the biggest single factor.
“I disagree with others as far as the breed people says is so much faster. I think we have more horses that can go faster. I think they come to themselves quicker. They’re gaited quicker. You don’t have to spend a lot of time getting them gaited. The breed is purer in that respect. As far as out and out speed is concerned, as long as I’ve been doing this, you’ve seen horses that can pace quarters in 26 seconds...
“I’ll look at certain horses. Like a horse like Tune Town. Tune Town is a Big Towner out of a Colt Fortysix mare. He paced in :49. He was one of the last crops of Big Towner. Big Towner didn’t all of a sudden figure out how to sire a :49 horse and Tune Town wasn’t out of a new bloodline on the mare side. Had he been in Big Towner’s first crop, we’d have built a statue for the horse. So, I don’t want to attribute the breed improving so dramatically to him getting better. I think there are numbers of horses. I think the style of racing has changed dramatically. I think we have, by far, the most talented group of drivers we’ve ever had... They get horses to go faster. It’s as simple as that. Horses live longer for them. The style of racing has changed dramatically. All of the equipment, no question, has changed.
“But, one of the single biggest factors is there’s no hub rail. I remind people, if they want to see the difference look at a Meadowlands replay from the mid-‘80s or so, whenever there was a hub rail and you will be astounded how far off the rail horses are going into the first turn. You watch them leave the gate and you can almost put a horse up between them. Now, they are right on the pylons. What’s the worst thing that happens? You hit a pylon.”
Comments (0)
Print
Add Your Comment
Blog Archives
