Asmussen: Mandatory Training Dark Days ‘Not In Racehorses’ Best Interest’

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen penned an op/ed for the Thoroughbred Daily News this week discussing some tracks' practice of closing for training one day per week. In a time of increased accountability for all racing participants, Asmussen argues that the mandatory dark days are a “short-sighted cost-cutting move” which is “not in racehorses' best interest.”

“Denying an opportunity to train on a schedule tailored to the individual horse, rather than for someone sitting in an office, hurts the health of our racehorses,” Asmussen wrote.

Asmussen goes on to share an opinion from his veterinarian, Dr. William C. Hawk: “Most horses can benefit from a day off. It just needs to be by the trainers' discretion… No athlete is scheduled to take a set day off every week because schedules change, weather changes and games are played on different days of the week. We find the same in horse racing.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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