August, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jockey Wilmer Garcia Fractures Two Vertebrae In Prairie Meadows Spill

Jockey Wilmer Garcia fractured his C-4 and C-5 vertebrae in an incident on Sunday at Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Altoona, Iowa, reports the Daily Racing Form. The multiple graded stakes-winning rider will require two surgeries to repair the fractures.

Garcia was injured in Sunday's eighth race, unseated when his mount Sweet Holiness stumbled at the start, bumped another rival and clipped heels. According to the Equibase chart, the horse walked off the track under her own power.

Becky Esch, Garcia's agent, told DRF the rider is expected to make a full recovery, but will miss the remainder of the meet at Prairie Meadows. Garcia has posted 47 winners at the current meet, just one behind leading rider Kylee Jordan in the current standings.

“The surgeon said he's done this plenty of times before – did it for another jockey,” Esch told DRF. “They expect 100 percent recovery, but the recovery is just going to take a while.”

Invincible Spirit Colt Earns TDN Rising Star Tag At Deauville

Fresh from the high of Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) annexing Monday's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville, the in-form team of Al Shaqab Racing, Jean-Claude Rouget and Cristian Demuro was back in the winner's circle once more after the hitherto untried 2-year-old colt Beylerbeyi (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Gherdaiya {GB}, by Shamardal) unleashed a 'TDN Rising Star' performance in Tuesday's Prix de Vernon over 6 1/2 furlongs at the Normandy venue. Bowling along on the front end after a swift getaway, the 9-10 favourite held sway throughout and kept on powerfully under minimal coaxing once shaken up with 350 metres remaining to easily outpoint Piano Man (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) by an impressive 2 1/2 lengths.

“He wasn't easy at the gates beforehand, but was very professional during the race itself,” said winning rider Cristian Demuro. “He has a lovely, huge action and quickens well. He will stay further and there's no doubt in my mind that he can go up in class.”

Beylerbeyi is the third foal and winner out of G3 Prix d'Aumale third Gherdaiya (GB) (Shamardal), herself a full-sister to G3 Prix des Chenes, G3 Diomed S. and G3 Earl of Sefton S.-winning sire French Navy (GB). His dam is also kin to G3 Sovereign S. victor Sea Lord (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). The March-foaled homebred bay, who hails from the family of dual Grade I-winning sire Private Account (Damascus) and GI Beldame S. heroine Dance Number (Northern Dancer), is a half-brother to this term's Listed Derby du Midi runner-up Subahiyah (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) and a weanling colt by Le Havre (Ire).

1st-Deauville, €27,000, Mdn, 8-16, unraced 2yo, c/g, 6 1/2fT, 1:17.83, gd.
BEYLERBEYI (GB), c, 2, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Gherdaiya (GB) (GSP-Fr), by Shamardal
2nd Dam: First Fleet, by Woodman
3rd Dam: Frankova, by Nureyev
1ST-TIME STARTER. O/B-Al Shaqab Racing (GB); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Cheltenham Festival horse racing event to cap spectator numbers

The Jockey Club says the decision to reduce spectator numbers was in response to feedback from racegoers.

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Persistent Cough: Underlying Cause Key To Determining Appropriate Treatment

Though coughing isn't out of the ordinary for horses that might be exposed to viruses, bacteria, or allergens, a persistent cough that interferes with training or a horse's daily life can be a concern, Dr. Matthew Mackay-Smith tells EQUUS magazine.

Horses are often put on antibiotics when they cough. While this can aid in the reduction of coughing, the best way to determine what is causing the persistent tickle is to have a veterinarian scope the horse. A scope shows exactly which structures are affected and helps to determine what is causing the horse to cough.

A scope might show areas in the horse's throat that are enlarged and inflamed. Horses don't have tonsils like humans, but they do have small areas of lymphoid tissue throughout their throat. The swelling of this area is called lymphoid hyperplasia (also called pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia or follicular hyperplasia). This condition is characterized by upper respiratory tract inflammation; it may also be associated with the same issues in the lungs.

Lymphoid hyperplasia is classified by grades depending on the severity: grade I is the least severe, with grades III and IV being more severe. The condition often causes nasal discharge, exercise intolerance, and unusual respiratory noises during work.

There are a multitude of treatments for the condition, but none has been successful in treating every case. The number one method to assist the horse in feeling better is to determine what is causing the coughing and eliminate it, if possible. The horse must then be allowed to rest while the inflammation subsides; this may take up to eight weeks in some cases.

Other treatments for these areas of swollen tissue can include topical or systemic anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, cryotherapy, and frequent administration of influenza and herpesvirus vaccinations, among other things. The treating veterinarian will determine the best course of action based on the horse's medical history, exam results, and diagnostic testing.