The Library
Look for all our archived information here.
This will include all home produced information as well as any articles our visitors send us, of interest.
The “Horse-thorn” Effect
Understanding the role that “change” plays in racing performance.
By: The Player
Back in the early thirties, Harvard Business School professor Elton Mayo along with associates F.J. Roethlisberger and William J. Dickson studied factors that influenced human performance at the Hawthorne Plant of the Western Electric Company in Cicero, Illinois. Their five year series of studies gave rise to modern Industrial Psychology. While their conclusions were numerous, by far, the most interesting fact that emerged in their research was that ANY change they made to the worker‘s immediate environment led directly to increased performance. For example, a change in lighting led to better performance. As did a change in wall color. And a change in temperature and humidity. In fact, any and every change led to increased performance. The Hawthorne Effect was early proof for something that I have believed my entire life; that being, boredom is the parent of poor performance.
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Milkshaking
By: The Player
Milkshaking is a term that refers to tubing a large quantity of sodium bicarbinate, that is, baking soda, and sugars down a horses throat prior to racing.
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The Bounce
By: The Player
There continues to be heated debate over whether there is really such a phenomenon as "the bounce."
Basically, a "bounce" refers to a sub par performance following a better than average (or expected) performance. In other words, imagine a first time starter with average works coming out and running 1:10 flat for six furlongs. Four weeks later the horse appears for his second start and runs a very flat 1:13.
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Bandages
By: The Player
There are different types of bandages but for the purposes of this
discussion we are talking about racing bandages.
A racing bandage is basically a very thin, spongy, self clinging tape that is applied round and round a horse's lower leg a couple hours
prior to racing.
Originally, the modern racing bandage was made by the 3M company and was sold under the brand name Vetwrap. It was available in a variety of colors.
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Bits
By: The Player
A little BIT can be a big bit of information.
Unless you have been around horses for a part of your life, you probably do not understand the role a bit plays in racing. If you are in this category, sit back and enjoy this article.
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Ears
By: The Player
All those in favor of running, say “EAR.“
Past performances are a wonderful tool to tell where an individual horse HAS BEEN, but they fall short on telling you how a horse feels immediately prior to a race.
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Tails
By: The Player
Tails can tell a tale.
Earlier, I wrote an article dealing with the ears. Now, we will travel to the other end and deal with the tail.
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Color and Muscles
By: The Player
The Coat and What is Underneath It:
The Role Muscling and Color has in Pre-Race Evaluation of a Thoroughbred.
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Horse Shoes
By: The Player
Performance Begins with the Feet.
That is a truism that virtually every horseman believes. If you do not care for the horse‘s feet properly, he will not run optimally. It is that simple.
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