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Sans Shoes: Barefoot Trotting Filly Heaven Hanover Upsets Hambletonian Oaks

For the second year in a row, post 10 posed no problem for Tim Tetrick in the Hambletonian Oaks.

Tetrick guided Heaven Hanover to victory in Saturday's (Aug. 5) $500,000 race for 3-year-old female trotters at the Meadowlands, rallying from the back of the pack to defeat Bond by a neck in 1:50.3 at odds of 28-1. Righteous Resolve finished third as five horses were separated by 1-1/4 lengths at the finish.

Last year, Tetrick won the Oaks from post 10 with Fashion Schooner. Saturday's triumph was Tetrick's fourth in the Oaks, tying him with Berndt Lindstedt for second most in the race's history. Yannick Gingras holds the record, with six.

It was the first Oaks victory for trainer Marcus Melander, who previously finished second twice, with Hypnotic AM in 2020 and Iteration in 2021.

Heaven Hanover got away last in the 10-horse field and was more than 14 lengths behind when leader Railee Something got to the first quarter in :26. Railee Something remained in front to the half in :53.2 and three-quarters in 1:21.3, at which point Heaven Hanover was a three-wide ninth, still more than seven lengths behind.

From there, Heaven Hanover began her charge. She trotted her last quarter in :27.3 — the fastest in the field — and passed four horses down the stretch to get the victory.

“I needed exactly what happened to happen,” Tetrick said. “If there was no speed up front, we were too far back. But those fillies got tired, we had fresh legs, and we got it done. She had to earn it. She got the money and it's great.”

The win was Heaven Hanover's third in eight starts this season. She was third in her Hambletonian Oaks elimination last week, two weeks after winning a division of the Delvin Miller Memorial, also at the Meadowlands.

“She's been racing good all year, to be honest,” Melander said. “We took her shoes off for the Delvin Miller, and she really stepped up. We've been racing her barefoot ever since. (The Oaks) was such an open race, and if by going barefoot we can get out five percent more, that could be enough to win the race. That's why we do it.”

Heaven Hanover is a daughter of Father Patrick-Hillarmbo owned by S R F Stable, Rick Wahlstedt, Heights Stable and AMG Stable. She was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms. For her career, she has won five of 14 races and earned $429,731.

Melander's Secret Volo, who started from post nine, finished fourth, beaten by only a length.

Heaven Hanover paid $59.40 to win.

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Third Annual New York Aftercare Day Set For Aug. 17 At Saratoga Race Course

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), and New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) will host the third annual New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day on Thursday, August 17, at Saratoga Race Course.

Free with paid track admission, the celebration will include a variety of events and demonstrations to highlight the work of the New York State Thoroughbred aftercare community.

The featured race on Thursday's card will be the $125,000 Rick Violette Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for New York-bred sophomores named for the late trainer and NYTHA President who spearheaded the creation of the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program and TAKE THE LEAD Retirement Program.

Representatives from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organizations will be on-site at Saratoga on August 17 to educate both racing fans and the general public about the importance of responsible aftercare efforts, including Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue, ACTT Naturally, Lucky Orphans, New Vocations, Old Friends at Cabin Creek, ReRun, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, and Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga.

“Thoroughbred Aftercare Day reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting and re-training equine athletes when their racing days are done,” said Dave O'Rourke, NYRA President & CEO. “New York is the national leader when it comes to supporting and investing in meaningful aftercare efforts, and we are thrilled to host the third annual New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day at Saratoga Race Course on August 17.”

Racing fans will be able to donate to TAKE THE LEAD by texting AFTERCARE2023 to 44321 to make a contribution, or by opting to make a donation to the TAA when cashing a winning ticket on an AmTote International self-service betting terminal. All donations are tax-deductible.

“We are so excited to present our third annual NY Aftercare Day,” said Rick Schosberg, the New York-based retired trainer who serves as Vice President of NYTHA and President of TAKE2/TAKE THE LEAD. “It is so important to be able to provide safe and purposeful retirements and second careers for these wonderful equine athletes, and to showcase all of the fine work to the public is so gratifying and rewarding. It's a massive combined effort of the horsemen, NYTHA, the TAA and the many accredited aftercare organizations, the NYTB, and the New York Racing Association. It's a full team effort! Enjoy the demonstrations and learn about the great work being done here in New York to provide safe and meaningful lives for our racehorses when their racing days are over.”

About TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program: Started in 2012, TAKE2 was created to provide second career opportunities for retired racehorses in the show ring and to increase the popularity of Thoroughbreds as Hunters and Jumpers. The program has grown from eight horse shows in three states and now partners with over 500 horse shows in 23 states. More than 2,500 Thoroughbreds have competed in the TAKE2 Hunter and Jumper divisions across the country.

TAKE THE LEAD works with owners and trainers to find placements for the horses retiring from the NYRA tracks with TAA-accredited aftercare organizations. TAKE THE LEAD is co-funded by members of the Thoroughbred industry around the country: New York Thoroughbred Breeders; New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund; Thoroughbred Horsemen's Associations in Maryland (through Beyond the Wire) and Pennsylvania (through Turning for Home); Ocala Breeders' Sales Company; and members of the racing and horse show communities across the country, For more information on TAKE2 and TAKE THE LEAD, go to www.take2tbreds.com.

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Study: Surgical Site Infections Not Always Bacteria-Related

While bacterial contamination can cause infection at a surgery site, a study from the University of Liverpool in England suggests that bacteria may not always be to blame for surgical site infections after a colic surgery.

A team of scientists sampled skin from the midline of 31 horses prior to colic surgery, during the surgery, and every 48 hours after surgery until the horses were discharged. All samples were then cultured for bacteria. The researchers found that the presence of bacteria on the skin taken from the midline during or immediately after surgery did not indicate a greater likelihood of surgical site infection. The type of bacteria found on the skin also did not indicate that an infection was forthcoming.

The scientists found that only seven of the horses (22.6 percent) developed surgical site infections. In each of these horses, either no bacteria was identified during surgery or the type of bacteria found on the skin was different than the type of bacteria found in the incision's infection.

In several horses, no infection developed, though the presence of bacteria was found on the incision either during or right after surgery.

The team concludes that infection development at the surgical site is not solely related to bacteria on the midline during or immediately after surgery. They suggest additional investigation to better understand what causes surgical site infections.

Bush Track Racing Responsible For Rise In Two Equine Diseases

Unsanctioned horse racing, commonly called “bush track” racing, has been associated with widespread transmission of both Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) and Equine Piroplasmosis (EP), both blood-borne diseases.

Spread of disease at bush tracks is often iatrogenic, meaning that it is not spread by insects, but through medical treatment or examination. The most-common methods of disease spread are the reuse of needles, syringes, and tools used for intravenous administration of multi-dose medications; using blood and plasma products from other countries that have been illegally imported; and direct blood transfusions between horses, also called blood doping and used to increase performance.

EP outbreaks occurred in Quarter Horse racehorses in 2008 and 2009 in Florida and Missouri, respectively. It was the first time that bush track races and iatrogenic transmission were found to play a key role in the outbreaks. In 2013, EIA was confirmed in racing Quarter Horses; they are now the predominant breed and discipline affected by the disease.

Cases of EP and EIA are often caught when Quarter Horses racing at sanctioned races are tested for the diseases. There is significant crossover between sanctioned races and bush track races for racing Quarter Horses.

Between 2008 and 2022, 541 cases of EP and 409 cases of EIA were confirmed in current or former Quarter Horse racehorses. Many of these horses were known to have raced in bush track races and all the cases were found to have used unhygienic practices that spread the disease. Some horses had both EP and EIA infections.

Previously, EIA was most often identified in untested herds that had fly-bite transmission of the disease. Since 2017, EIA is now primarily identified in racing Quarter Horses and the primary spread is iatrogenic transmission, each of which could have been prevented through more-hygienic practices.

Some EIA cases are identified in those horses that have been illegally moved into the United States from Mexico, where EIA and EP are endemic.

Thus far, 121 bush tracks have been identified in 28 states, though many more are believed to be operating. Word of bush track racing is often spread via social media, and some tracks boast attendance in the thousands. Many races are recorded and then posted.

The tracks are a hotbed of equine welfare issues: horses are given performance-enhancing medications, with all horses medicated on the day they race; horses are raced lame and on poor surfaces; whips are used excessively and catastrophic breakdowns are common. Rarely is a licensed vet on the grounds.

Often these horses are tested only when they retire from racing and are about to shift to second careers. Vets who conduct pre-purchase exams on retired racing Quarter Horses are encouraged to test them for both EP and EIA.