April, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Research Update: Accuracy Of Noncontact Infrared Thermometers On Horses

Measuring rectal temperatures with a digital thermometer is considered accurate and reliable for estimating a horse's body temperature. But noncontact infrared thermometers may provide a safer, more efficient option for taking a horse's temperature. Researchers at Texas A&M University evaluated the validity of a noncontact infrared thermometer (NCIT) on the neck and forehead compared to a rectal digital thermometer when estimating a horse's body temperature.

The researchers included 142 adult Quarter Horses (76 mares, 55 geldings, and 11 stallions) and 34 foals (17 male and 17 female) in the study. The adult horses had body condition scores between 5 and 6. Temperatures were taken using a NCIT by holding it .98 inches above the skin in two locations: 1) midline of the forehead, 1.96 inches above a line extending from the medial canthus of each eye and 2) center of the neck on the right hand side, 4.7 inches from the base on adults and 2.3 inches on foals. Rectal temperatures were taken using a digital thermometer.

For adult horses, the mean rectal temperature (99.4 degrees F) was significantly higher than forehead (97.4 degrees F) and neck (97.7 degrees F) temperatures. No differences were observed between male and female horses. In foals, mean rectal temperatures were highest (100.7 degrees F) followed by neck (97.6 degrees F) and forehead (97.1 degrees F) temperatures. No differences were observed between male and female foals.

The researchers found that the accuracy of NCIT temperature readings were poor and differences were large by clinical standards (nearly 2 to 3 degrees F) when compared to rectal temperatures taken with a digital thermometer. Therefore, without additional research, NCITs are not a good alternative to rectal thermometry when monitoring a horse's body temperature.

For more information on this research, read the abstract published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Sciences.

The post Research Update: Accuracy Of Noncontact Infrared Thermometers On Horses appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Hong Kong Racing Study Guide: Full Starting Gate Means Great Betting Opportunities

Through Wednesday, March 22, 2023, there have been 227 races run at Happy Valley. The average field size is a robust 11.53 starters per race. But, as impressive as that stat is, taking a deeper look at the field sizes at Happy Valley is even better.

Averages can be skewed with an extreme range of numbers. A course like Ascot usually has a handicap race with 24 starters. With another race with 10 starters and four more with 8 starters, the average number of starters per race would be 11. But only one race would have more than 11 starters.

The median is the number that separates the higher half of a sample from the lower half. In the case of Happy Valley, the median number of starters per race is 12.

The mode is the value that occurs most frequently in a set of numbers. In the case of Happy Valley this season, the mode is 12.

The starting gate at Happy Valley is limited to 12 starters. In 172 races so far this season, the starting gate has been full. In some cases, there were more than 12 starters entered but did not draw in and were not able to run. So, 76% of the races run at Happy Valley this season had a full gate of 12.

There were 26 races run where there were 11 starters in the gate. In some cases, the reason that the starting gate was not full was a late scratch. Still, 87% of the races run at Happy Valley this year have 11 or more starters per race.

The following chart illustrates the number of starters in each of the 227 races run at Happy Valley this season.

6 starters – 1 race
7 starters – 1 race
8 starters – 3 races
9 starters – 9 races
10 starters – 15 races
11 starters – 26 races
12 starters – 172 races

Let's look at this from a reverse angle with not how many horses have started but how many stalls were empty. For example, with 26 races with 11 starters, that equals 26 empty stalls. 10 races with 10 staters equals 30 empty stalls. The total number of empty stalls in 227 races this season is only 106 or less than one half stall per race.

What makes this meaningful is the positive impact on the racing and the betting. For example, an eight-horse field means 56 possible exacta combinations (8 times 8 minus 8). But a 12-horse field means 132 possible exacta combinations (12 times 12 minus 12) which spreads betting out even more. A 50% increase in field size means a 135% increase in exacta combinations.

Full fields, especially on Happy Valley's tight seven-furlong turf course, results in a scramble for the lead. Riders have to break their mount alertly to keep from racing too wide around very tight turns. Even over firm going, a winner rarely makes all the running since the leader is under constant pressure. Rivals are stacked up behind the lead and no matter what the distance, it is hard to get a breather.

The proof is even with a relatively short homestretch of around 340 meters, depending upon rail placement, horses are able to rally from off the pace even after going around a very tight final turn. The only exceptions might be the races going around two turns – 1650m and 1800m.

So when racing resumes at Happy Valley on Thursday, April 6, expect the “No Vacancy”' sign on nearly all of the stalls of the starting gate.

The post Hong Kong Racing Study Guide: Full Starting Gate Means Great Betting Opportunities appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘We’ll See What Happens’: Reddam’s Ocean Breeze Farm Listed For Sale

Ocean Breeze Farm, a 1,4oo-acre property owned by two-time Kentucky Derby-winning owner, has been listed for sale, with the possibility of non-horse farm development, Daily Racing Form reports.

Located in Bonsall, Calif., the property was purchased by Reddam in 2014. It was previously the site of the vaunted Vessels Stallion Farm, which stood top Thoroughbred sire In Excess and all-time great Quarter Horse sire First Down Dash.

The farm is listed at $75 million. Reddam said he did not expect a sale in the immediate future, but he was interested in testing the market on the property.

“We're putting it all up for sale and we'll see what happens,” he told DRF. “You don't know what a prospective buyer would want. Someone could want to keep the property. It could be a developer or a horse ranch guy who doesn't want to develop.”

Ocean Breeze Farm is currently the home of stallions I'll Have Another, Pavel, and Listing. Square Eddie, formerly the farm's cornerstone stallion, was pensioned due to infertility in 2020. Reddam acknowledged that the breeder reception for Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another has underwhelmed since his return from Japan in 2019, and the other stallions on the farm lacked broad commercial appeal in a rapidly shrinking California breeding industry.

In total, Reddam and his wife Zillah have about 100 horses on the property, with plans to downsize both the racing and breeding operations.

No Foul Claim, Inquiry or DQ, Yet Geroux Suspended for Winning Oaklawn Ride

Jockey Florent Geroux has been suspended two days by the Oaklawn Park stewards for “careless riding while allowing his mount to cause interference multiple times” after a winning ride in the Apr. 1 $200,000 Hot Springs S. that did not involve a foul claim, posted inquiry, or a disqualification.

The penalty was handed down in a Monday ruling. Eyeing Clover (Lookin At Lucky) scored by a length as the 9-5 second choice in Saturday's eighth race for owner Ten Strike Racing and trainer Brad Cox.

Eyeing Clover, who was racing with blinkers removed for the first time in his four-race career, caught a flyer out of post two, but then got outgunned for the lead by two outside rivals. Geroux conceded the top spot to save ground, but landed in a tight spot at the fence on the heels of the horse running second. He then shifted outward and appeared to briefly affect the momentum of the two trailers in the five-horse race.

Oaklawn announcer Jim Byers described the trouble as Eyeing Clover having to “steady sharply around that club turn.” The Equibase chart stated the colt “fell back off the leader early in the first turn, [was] rank [and] fell back soon after.”

Eyeing Clover briefly bumped with a rival just prior to splitting horses entering the far turn. In upper stretch, he drifted slightly prior to straightening out approaching the short-stretch wire.

The stewards specified Saturday, Apr. 8, and Friday, Apr. 14, as the dates Geroux must sit out, adding that, “During the term of his suspension, if named to ride in designated stakes races he may ride in them, but then must serve a replacement day of suspension for each day that he rides in a designated stake.”

It is unclear if Geroux will be appealing. A phone message left with his agent, John Panagot, did not yield a return call prior to deadline for this story.

The post No Foul Claim, Inquiry or DQ, Yet Geroux Suspended for Winning Oaklawn Ride appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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