Drosselmeyer and Birdrun wore Bar Shoes !

[terpsichorist]

I know there are many posters here who work or have worked with racehorses.
Many of the handicappers as well are aware of the shoe changes . So I have some
news and some questions.

I gotta say that this has to be a rare win especially for Drosselmeyer in the Classic
to be wearing Bars.
Goes to show you how good Bill Mott is too , getting the job done. Pretty amazing.

After I wagered a small bet on Drosselmeyer , due to the great reports I heard all week , I
saw on screen at the OTB , equipment change report . He was listed as wearing bars in front .
I figured there was no chance at that point , figured they were holding his hooves together. Wished I hadn't bet . What a surprise to see him win like that.

In all my recall I can't think of another horse that won a race this huge wearing front bars . BTW Birdrun had the same . Confirmation is in their charts at DRF with the small r
below equip.I had to see it again .
Only thing I can think of is that the Bar Shoes they wore were lighter than the ones used years ago , and possibly with a pad to protect the frog of the foot. He is the
only horse in the race with these shoes and this may be the only race he wore them .

Any input appreciated.

[Kurenai]

Well the dirt was sticky, some described it as peanut buttery. If you have a bar shoe it allows a bit of build up under the hoof (or even prevents it more) without sticky dirt on the hoof hitting the surface again. With a normal shoe, since it doesn't cover the entire hoof, the backside of it - if the dirt sticks there will have less traction or more build up. Plus you get a better grip on the track. That's at least my theory why he used those shoes.

[terpsichorist]

Well the dirt was sticky, some described it as peanut buttery. If you have a bar shoe it allows a bit of build up under the hoof (or even prevents it more) without sticky dirt on the hoof hitting the surface again. With a normal shoe, since it doesn't cover the entire hoof, the backside of it - if the dirt sticks there will have less traction or more build up. Plus you get a better grip on the track. That's at least my theory why he used those shoes.

Might be right Kurenai , although Drosselmeyer had a good deal of foot issues before , he was training beautifully lately . He didn't use them on his filly though only on Drossy and Birdrun . So I'm thinking there was some prophyllactic or precaution involved with thse two.

[affirmed79]

So happy for Drosselmeyer. I like him a lot. I remember him as a 3 yr. old at the Fair Grounds when lots of people would bet him, and he wouldn't win. He would come in, but never would win. Then he won the Belmont. Was injured and out for a long time. Now he wins the BC Classic. Congrats to Drossy, and Bill Mott. Wish i had bet him. I had him in 3 tri's but didn;t bet him by himself. I really should have had him as i always like him. He ran the race of his life. And what a weekend Bill Mott had. Congrats to all connections.