Lame update

I should have described the difference between “lame” in the horse world and the way we think of it outside the horse world. In daily use, it means a disability. In the horse world, it means a sore foot. Yes, there are differences in severity. Ahvee’s destiny was acutely lame. Nonetheless, it is not career threatening and often resolves in a short time. In fact, we were hoping to run her Sunday at Monmouth, if the Penn National stewards would have permitted it. Since we had to scratch, they demanded a Vet’s note. This means Ahvee’s Destiny cannot run anywhere for 10 days. So, not only is she hurt, she (and we) are being punished because she’s hurt. Makes sense doesn’t it?

Well, it makes sense to them because they need to fill races with entrants. They worry about trainers entering but not intending to race. So, they hope their severe form of recourse discourages trainers from scratching their entries. Just like regulators everywhere use a heavy hand, it is no different in horse racing. Save us from our policemen!

In the end, Ahvee’s Destiny will not race until the Penn National stakes race on July 31. Unfortunately, she will not have the benefit of a prep nor the time she would have been in residence at Penn National acclimating to new surroundings.

Katy’s Office Girl is doing much better after her bout with colic. Thank heaven for that. Hopefully, we’ll get to know her in a few weeks, when we see her daily in Saratoga.

Arielle’s Song will, hopefully, continue her training with another race this Friday at 4:30 at Belmont. Alan Garcia will be aboard (Cornelio Velasquez, who rode her last time, will be aboard her stable mate, Gentle Ride. I guess he wanted a more gentle ride than he got in Arielle Song’s first race!). Garcia should be good for her. He knows how to get a horse moving late in a race.

Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!