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(Peter Brette on Barbaro May 2006)
The first test material was referred to as "Michael's mistake." Undaunted, those corrections finally lead to Michael's miracle. The Magic Carpet ride of Tapeta Track was assessed by noted MIT Professor, Dr. George D. Pratt who reported, "horses working on the Tapeta surface experience one-half the impact as compared to those running on a conventional surface." And, "it's like running on a living room carpet."
In her maiden test run at Fair Hill Training Center, here is what one Fan of Barbaro Emily said after Alex Brown of Tim Woolley Racing encouraged feedback: " ...today I rode the same 4-year-old and a nice allowance winner also same age...She was very on the muscle (means she goes fast regardless of what the rider wants). She also improved on the Tapeta. But today's surface felt more open than yesterday. Today, the 'bounce' was more obvious, where yesterday, the bounce was a bit harder to feel ontop of the horse. But the horses clearly felt the change both days as they all looked pretty happy to be out there.
We were told the track will need 3 or so weeks for the wax to cure and blend with the oxygen in the air...the difference will be noticeable once the wax cures because it will allow the fibers to spread out more and the consistency will change."
Dickinson was there for the first test gallop run to observe and get all trainers' and riders' feedback on Tapeta's performance and feel. Since he was looking for quotes to be added to his upcoming magazine ads here's Emily's brief quotes:
Dickinson: 'So Emily, how does it feel?'
Emily: 'Well (pause with smile). It felt like what I imagine it would feel like to gallop on the Stay Puff Marshmellow man as he was laying down.'
Dickinson: 'The what?'
They both laughed...and that's all she knows about Tapeta's feel so far.
Apparently, though Tapeta's use extends far beyond thoroughbred racing. It seems to have a wide and varied equestrian clientele base skyrocketing its success rate for not just horse racetracks but also indoor/outdoor arenas, equestrian sports jumping events, hotwalker, and other limitless uses.
Oddly, the safety material was not intended originally for Standardbred drivers, but Champion trainer Jimmy Takter proved otherwise with his test drive run. He proved that Tapeta could indeed take Standardbred racing to a new level of track safety.
Jimmy Takter challenges Tapeta Track surface 2006"First unveiled in 1998, the surface drew immediate acclaim when Tapeta™-trained Cetewayo won the Grade-1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga, and Da Hoss won the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs," according to Michael Dickinson.
And, the impact of saving Da Hoss is incredible since Dickinson was told originally by two veterinarians that Da Hoss would never race again after serious injury. Two years later proved everybody wrong and Da Hoss won, beating the odds just like Barbaro beats his odds every single day. Both Michael Dickinson and Michael Matz share a trainer's miracle.
Probably the biggest advantage we will see with the Tapeta Track is less horse injuries of severe nature. Their forelegs will have far less impact caused by the dirt surface and hopefully, we will see them run more often with better stability and fewer falls. The other greatest benefits is much lower track maitenance with greater drainage and total elimination of muddy track "wipeout." This year 2007 should be a much more exciting, safer and enjoyable year to watch horses race, compete, and train thinking positive horse health and safety issues first -- the Barbaro's way.
And what is Barbaro's most favorite quote on Michael?
"The man should move to Alaska because he could win the Iditarod with a team of Chihuahuas - Paul Randall, Maryland Jockey Club.
To learn more about Tapeta Track be sure to visit Michael Dickinson's website which also includes a special extra subwebsite. Coming up is Bloodhorse's TALKIN'HORSE Live Discussion Excerpt, condensed "Campbell's soup"version edited by CLNS for Barbaro.
Renown horse trainer (born Yorkshire, England), Michael Dickinson, is best known for his "unorthodox" methods that border either on sheer madness or genius. One simply cannot argue with his successful career as steeplechase rider and premier trainer. He attributes his mentoring to Ballydoyle master Vincent O'Brien.
This same success has transported itself to his gorgeous 200 acre Tapeta Farm in Maryland where his vision became reality for Tapeta Footings Inc., both which host the most innovative, equine operations for the U.S.A. He trains the seemingly untrainable and has a winning percentage double that of the average win rate for active trainers -- now at over 40 stakes wins. He is best known for "his famous Da Hoss" winning the 1996 and 1998 Breeders' Cup Mile after a two year layoff due to the horse's severe injuries which upon assessing, top veterinarians believed he could never race again. Dickinson put Da Hoss through incredible conditioning and healing lengths to prove them wrong. Genius or madness, which are you?
QUESTIONS for Michael:
What are your expectations for 2007 on the racehorse side of things?
(Newark, CA)
Dickinson: We have a reduced number of horses we are training to about 15 in 2007. Look Out Lori, won first by 9 lengths, and Easy Bella, an unraced Red Ransom filly.
My wife wanted me to retire from training and to help her with Tapeta Footings business, which is doing extremely well and is very busy. However, I am first and foremost a horse lover, and there is no way I could survive without some horses in my life.
What do you consider to be your supreme achievement, was it at Cheltenham, or the Breeder's Cup successes of Da Hoss, or was it something else because there are so many? (York, England)
Dickinson: The achievement of which I am most proud is Da Hoss's second Breeders' Cup win. Da Hoss had some fairl severy physical infirmities; one very well-known vet thought he should be retired and another very well-known vet said he won't make an allowance race, let alone the Breeders' Cup, and there was a lot of evidence to suggest that they were right. And with the help of Joan, Miguel, and Jon-Boy, they got that horse 100% fixed and produced him sound at Churchill. What's more, we were all very confident he would win.
I wasn't nervous before the race because I felt they had done a really good job. I spoke to Johnny at 10 o'clock in the morning in the jock's room and told him in no uncertain terms he was going to have a winner in the afternoon. I left the jock's room with tears in my eyes. That was a tremendous job satisfaction.
I am priviledged to help care for Da Hoss at the Kentucky Horse Park and would like to know what you saw in him that made you enter him into the 1998 Breeders' Cup after the long layoff? I adore that horse...thank you for your faith in him! (Lexington, Kentucky)
Dickinson: Two reasons: one is we had the best horse, and two, he was fit and sound. When I visited Da Hoss at the Horse Park in September, it was so gratifying to see. He was so well-looked after and he's certainly very happy. Every time we visit him, it is just a matter of who is going to cry first -- Joan, Jon-boy, Miguel, or myself -- because this horse meant so much to all of us.
My teenage daughter wants to pursue a career in training Thoroughbreds. It's obviously a difficult business. Do you have any advice as to how she can apprentice? (Westchester, PA)
Dickinson: I would definitely advise against her training horses. It's seven days a week, morning until night, 52 weeks a year. My wife and I have missed an awful of life and we haven't had a holiday together since 1988 because one of us always has to stay at home to mind the shop.
It is not a thing I would recommend; it's a tough game. I would not trade that day at Churchill Downs for anything, but we have sacrificed a lot. The first question is whether she is willing to do all that and whether her husband is willing to do all that.
One of the reasons I recommend against it is that we really can't pay our help enough. I would love to pay grooms and riders more money, but that is not economically feasible, given the state of the industry. My grooms are really, really, hardworkers and great people. They would do anything for me and I feel guilty, and I pay as much as anybody's grooms in America, but they deserve more.
I believe you were one of the first trainers to install a synthetic track at your training center. With the influx of the different types of synthetic surfaces we now see, do you foresee problems with certain trainers not running their horses at certain tracks because of the difference? For instance, Kentucky has Polytrack at Turfway and Keeneland, but Churchill does not. I think this could be a problem down the road. (Barboursville, WV)
Dickinson: The writer is correct in that I was the first to use synthetic track in March 1998, and I was perhaps ahead of my time when the racing press dubbed me as the "mad genius." At the time, the didn't know which I was -- mad or genius. They still don't know which I am. It was with some debate whether America was ready for this. I do not believe there will be many trainers boycotting the synthetic surface track. In fact, the opposite is already happening. The trainers are voting their feet and gravitating to the safer surfaces. I believe the the owners also want their horses to run over the safest track. Even if the purse is fractionally higher on the dirt track, the owner would still have a sound horse at the end of the day.
I believe that the tracks which install a good synthetic surface will have a lot of runners and those that stay with the old dirt surface will lose horses. The owner wants his horses back. If he gets beat, it is not the end of the world; but if his horse is lame, it is not a good result and many owners leave the industry because of injuries.
When you lay up a horse after a long racing season, do you keep him on any type of conditioning maintenance program or just let him relax? Also, how long would it take for a horse to lose his race condition (ie. a week)? (Deering, NH)
Dickinson: The worst thing in the world for a racehorse is for him to do absolutely nothing. Any athlete should maintain light health exercise.
One of my favorite lay-up remedies is to take the horses out in a large field, 30 or so acres, with some friends so they can run around, play, but maintain fitness, muscle tone, and good health. Speed training in a horse will be lost in a few days; however, long, slow distance work is like money in the bank, and the horse will retain the benefit for several months.
Other than synthetic tracks, what other changes would you recommend to make horse racing safer? (Las Vegas, NV)
I would like to see the starting gate replaced by the Standardbreds type moving truck. The starting gate can be scary for a horse and rider and we've all witnessed some horrific scenes when the horse is upside down. Even if the horse is standing correctly, there is always a risk for even further injury when he pushes off with so much power from a standing start. It is dangerous to stifles and the injuries are not uncommon due to force needed in a starting gate.
The drawback to this plan would be the loss of jobs for the gate crew who along with the farriers are the unsung heroes of racing. The gate crews are brave, skillful, and compassionate -- and I would hate to see any of them without a well-paid job. Two is to abolish anabolic steroids and three is the change in the whip rules.
Given your steeplechasing background, I am sure you can appreciate soundness in racehorses more than most people in racing today. Therefore, what do you have to say about the current obsession with speed at the cost of soundness? How do you think this can be rectified? (Tiruppur, India)
Dickinson: I could write an extremely long book to answer this. However, it is not always fair to blame speed because there are plenty of unsound nine furlong horses. What we all want is a really good horse, the horse that is going to beat everyone else and some of those come attached to warning label of "delicate."
Can you explain in depth what all you allow one of your trainees to eat? I heard something about egg and organic grass. Does this help a horse? (Glenwood AZ)
Dickinson: We feed the best Canadian oats, timothy hay, and alfalfa from Washington state. We dedicate 12 acres of grass around the barn for turnout paddocks and hand-grazing of the horses.
Typically, a horse in training will graze 30 minutes in morning and 30 minutes in afternoon. It is not so much the grass needs to be organic, but grass grown with too many chemicals tends to be covered in invisible mold which can be dentrimental to the horses. In addition, we feed a lot of the horses a lot of apples and carrots.
I have seen some very well-bred horses and some not very well-bred horses do well for you. Do you put much of an emphasis on the horse's pedigree or do you look at other factors such as conformation and size? (East St. Louis, IL)
Dickinson: A chain is as strong as its weakest link, and it is so competitive to win good races. We really try to have good conformation and good pedigree.
You would have to say conformation is more important than pedigree, but it is very difficult to win a good grace unless you have a bit of pedigree somewhere.
Does working uphill actually benefit a horse more than working on the normal track? (Lexington, KY)
Dickinson: Very definitely yes.
I've always admired your unique way of training Thoroughbred race horses. I like your style. Reference to the Turf to Dirt phenomenon, why does the form of some horses improve from a series of grass outings to a switch to the main track -- especially for a first time race? Is it all to do with footing, or could it also be something that just makes the horse more interested?
Dickinson: There are some statistics that show the turf to dirt angle hs been successful. I believe it has to do with soundness. Most horses will come out of a turf race sound. It's probably the stifles that are the single biggest reason. Many believe the dirt damages the stifle ligaments, and the turf strengthens the stifle ligaments.
From a trainer's perspective, what is the number one physical characteristic you look for in a young horse and why? (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Dickinson: Speed. They need to be well-muscled to have power. Nobody can with a slow horse.
Can you comment on the racing ability of Soto? I love him as a stallion prospect, but it would be interesting to hear your view on his racing ability and class, thanks. (Merrick, NY)
Dickinson: Soto was one of the best horses I ever trained. He had the speed to win at six furlongs in 1:08 and broke the track record at nine furlongs in beating Dynever. I had so much confidence in Soto I actually purchased 10% of the horse, and I too believe he will make a terrific stud.
In 1983, the year you trained the first five home in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, did you think there was much of a possibility of that happening? Of the five, did you think Bregawn had the best chance? (Bowmanville, Ontario)
Dickinson: There were two other very good horses in the 1983 Gold Cup of which I was very afraid. I knew we had some horses with good chances, but I was scared to death somebody else would win the race and we would be second, third, or fourth. I did not think Bregawn was our best chance.
Seeing as you have spent several years training on your synthetic surface; in your opinion, what bloodlines/body type/running style can we expect to see succeed the races run on synthetic surfaces? (Centerville, SD)
Dickinson: Since we bought the farm, we have had eight grade I winners on dirt and turf. All our good horses have handles the Tapeta surface; the only horses who failed to handle the Tapeta surfaces were of no account.
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After finalizing a series of reviews on this, Mike C's furnished three parts of the call is ready to enjoy for the Christmas Holidays...he shares this with you all for the love of Barbaro. Special thanks to Mike C, Happy Holidays!!!
All Three Parts of The Call by Mike C.
(December 18, 2006 --- Merry Christmas Folks)
(Part 1): HERE IS TOM DURKIN CALLING BARBARO'S MOST IMPORTANT RACE-------? "And the last to load is BARBARO!..KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER!..UNDEFEATED, A WINNER ON GRASS, SLOP AND FAST TRACKS..MR. BARBARO MAY JUST HAVE A DATE IN SARATOGA AT THE HALL IN HIS FUTURE??? And they're off, And BARBARO stumbles BADLY out of the gate, Edgar Prado was lucky to stay aboard, he did a great job there, but BARBARO will have a hard time getting back into this race! So as they head into the clubhouse turn BARBARO seems OK and settling back into stride! Then as they head into the turn something again is wrong with BARBARO? HE BOLTS..HE'S SPOOKED?" Durkin then says, "WOW, what's with BARBARO today, he's bolted on the turn, that's 2 very costly, tragic happenings to BARBARO in this race, looks like BARBARO'S done today?.. BUT, BARBARO, being a TRUE CHAMPION once again gathers himself up and carries himself along the turn, but all looks HOPELESS as he's 25 lengths out of it, it looks very bad today."
So Durkin contuinues to call the race as the field heads into the backstretch. Then suddenly something catches Durkin's eye's..IT'S BARBARO? HERE'S BARBARO ONCE AGAIN?!!!!?? "Ladies and Gentlemen, your not going to BELIEVE this but here comes BARBARO-----AGAIN!!!!!!!?. HE'S NOT DONE, HE'S PICKING UP HORSES AT THE BACK OF THE PACK AND REALLY FLYING!!!! If anyone can overcome these odds it's BARBARO!, Durkin says, "And the way he's moving HE JUST MAY DO IT? !!!!!!!"
(PART 2): Durkin continues, "After the bizarre events which took place early, the likes of which this racecaller has never seen anyone recover from, BARBARO is actually going to be a presence in this race," exclaimed Durkin as the horses continued up the back stretch. "BARBARO has not only caught up to the field but passed a few horses, and now you can see he means business, ears pinned down and nostrils flairing, this ol' boy of Dynaformer actually seems to be upset by these unfair turn of events that took place and is determined to make good! You frontrunners get ready for the onslaught, cause HERE COMES BARBARO!!!!!!"
(PART 3): And the horses thunder down the backstretch, but BARBARO still has lots of work to do. "He's back in the race," says Durkin, "but he's not in his usual up close stalking position after the 2 mishaps that took place." As the leaders begin to hit the far turn Durkin continues to call the position of the horses in the race by using names and colors to describe them in his adjective-littered call. As he gazes thru is binocs and he sees those Blue, Green and White colors of LAEL STABLES, and begins again to talk about the Jackson's tremendous homebred! "And now BARBARO is back," he says, "Here in mid-pack in an unlikely spot in both a bad and a good way, he's usually closer up but with what happened today it's already an amazing comeback!!! Edgar pulls down a pair of goggles as he goes along, and he almost seems to be smiling now..WHY COULD HE BE SMILING???? DID WE NOT SEE THE BEST OF BARBARO ALREADY TODAY?????..Edgar still has a handful of reins, he still seems to have a ton of horse under him," says Durkin, "This could be a comeback of TITANIC proportion. Edgar is smiling like a guy holding 5 Aces, he knows he's sitting on a time bomb waiting to explode, but after all the hardships thrown BARBARO'S way--just how much is left in the tank????? But by the look on Edgar's face and determination in BARBARO'S eyes I'm not willing to bet against the miracle we just might see here today!," exclaims Durkin. The crowds roar heightens with every stride of the horses now. You now also hear cries of "C'MON BARBARO, LETS GO BOY!!!," becoming more evident rising above the thunderous roars of the tens of thousands anticipating the tremendous finish that lies ahead! Durkin then says, "Ladies and Gentleman buckle up cause this is one finish that no one is going to want to miss, it's going to be the kind of finish that makes legends, and here comes that legend maker-----BARRRRRRRRBARO!!."
From Vivian Farrell, President of International Fund For Horses
Write to the President reference Horse Slaughter
December 12th - ongoing
ACTION ALERT!ASK THE PRESIDENT TO BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER
NEW!
Email us your kids' letters as either a Word or Pdf attachment, and we will fax it to the White House for you FREE
Please contact the President and appeal to him to sign an Executive Order banning horse slaughter and export for slaughter.Impress upon him in polite terms how important this is to you, and that it would be the best Christmas present he could possibly give to our nation's horses and the people who love and respect them.We have prepared a template with contact information for you to use as a guideline for sending your letter by mail, fax or email.
Click here to access printer friendly version. If you prefer, you can also telephone.Please make this a family event. Sit down with the kids and write or send an email. Or rally your friends around you to help out.It is important to demonstrate that this issue is still center stage in the minds of the American public, and that although we are extremely disappointed in Congress's failure to act, we are continuing with our movement to ban horse slaughter in this country.Thank you!
Updated December 17, 2006
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