Nick Zito is in his barn at Palm Meadows, watching horses circle the shedrow. In his distinctive voice, he affectionately addresses them as they pass. “Hey there, buddy. Where are you going?” Or: “How you doin’, buddy?” Clearly, Zito is in his element communicating with his horses. When it comes to people, he is less self-assured.

The home of the Kentucky Derby has gone through numerous management changes during its 135-year history, but for more than 40 years Raymond ‘Butch’ Lehr has worked at Churchill Downs to become one of the sport’s most respected track superintendents.
 

Shockwaves stimulate the healing process, although it is still unknown how. It is widely used on thoroughbreds across the globe, but the problem for trainers is that the rules of racing vary around the world on it’s use prior to racing.

Ligament injuries have led to the retirement of many of horseracing’s great heroes. The list of equine superstars who were forced into quitting the track include Champion two-year-old male of 2002, Vindication; the ever-popular grey Evening Attire; Champion older female of 2006 Fleet Indian; as well as Grade One winners Heatseeker, Zaftig (below) and Dance Smartly. Ligament injuries do not always lead to retirement but they are serious and must always be treated with extreme caution.

It takes a special horse and a special trainer to crack the Test of the Champion. In 1978 Affirmed beat Alydar by a head in the Belmont Stakes to become the 11th Triple Crown winner. The feat has not been achieved since.

Can diet affect immune status during training?
The immune system in horses is complex and relies upon many functional elements to deliver a comprehensive defense against infection and disease.

As I pull up and park outside of Barn 10 at Turfway Park on a crisp March morning, the temperature is 25 degrees with a wind chill in the low teens. As I go through this routine every day, seven days a week, sometimes I think about how I have more uncertainties than answers.

The office with the best view at Churchill Downs will close April 15. Some would say it is the best office, period. No, it isn’t an executive suite whose occupant is leaving.  It is, instead, the office of the Lifestyle Program of Churchill Downs.

“The trainer is responsible for the condition of horses entered in an official workout or race and is responsible for the presence of any prohibited drug, medication or other substance, including permitted medication in excess of the maximum allowable level, in such horses.

Nearly 73 years before future Horse of the Year Invasor arrived in Florida in December 2005, the great Australian champion Phar Lap captured North America’s richest race, the Agua Caliente Handicap, in track record time.

As long as I’ve been involved in the Thoroughbred business, which is getting to be a helluva long time now, I have always had an admiration and affinity for veterinarians and the American Association of Equine Practitioners.