Horse Racing - "Conformation: How To Buy A Winner"

Produced in 1997..
A look at the "Conformation" of a Racehorse..
Bob Baffert and Hall of Fame trainer Mack Miller share their approaches to assessing young Thoroughbreds. The Eaton Sales team of Tom Van Meter and Reiley McDonald critique yearlings destined for the auction ring. Becky Thomas, a leading buyer and seller of young Thoroughbreds, explains how she looks at a horse and what she likes to see.

[@DoubleDogDare54]

Baffert's "tropical fish" colt was 2yo Real Quiet, who won the Kentucky Derby the following year.

[@SketchyTheHorseGuy]

We watched this video in class today what a great documentary.

[@cherylpatton1977]

I like how informative this video is.

[@Nautilus1972]

Johnny Roe told a friend of mine that the reason the Irish thoroughbred is a world-beater is the limestone grass in the middle of Ireland - where all the yearlings are raised. Great for a strong conformation. Many Derby winners - regardless of trainer nationality or owner - were born and raised in Ireland on the best grass in the world for horses.

[@alsosusieq2susan142]

That's what I've heard for many years -

[@tuforu4]

yep i worked for a farmer near coolmore and he said the HEAT stays in the ground during the winter because of the limestone...

[@silverkitty2503]

bs..its good breeding

[@marilynguinnane4663]

Aw, horse manure! What counts is the soul of the horse and his/her breeding. California even produces great champions and the grass there, in summer, is dried up straw-like stuff so I call hooey to 'superior grass'. The animal's intelligence is far more important than the grass the critter eats.

[@montanawarren8462]

@@marilynguinnane4663 I'll have to disagree with you on that a horse doesn't just eat grass, they eat herbs & the reason that the people in Kentucky have had so much luck is because that every herb that they need to grow and run and breathe "used" to grow in Kentucky but when you put a horse in a pasture and he's there for years and years and years they pull it up by the root like a sheep and it don't grow back or reseed, so if they're stuck in a stall or barn or Paddock and that's all they've got to eat they don't get a chance to form a healthy body not the way nature intended. All man-made bulshit but Ireland is supposed to have the cleanest water in the world so if there's Limestone there I'm sure they get their calcium....

[@alsosusieq256]

Excellent video on conformation assets for better odds at being a speed horse. Judging coformation relative to producing speed soundly for their career (which for most is a few years if lucky) is obviously different than what to go by for personal pleasure riding for many years but much the same.

[@AlliWalker]

It's all the same principles.

[@brucetollin7683]

How far the horse "tracks", how far the horse's hind hoofprint reaches the front print, indicates flexibility. The farther, the better! Also, to treat cracked or "shelly" hooves, the best thing is to pack the hoof with silicon used by grain mills to keep the grain flowing in silos. Think of windows whose panes start to develop bubbles and then ultimately will be thin on top and thicker on the bottom.

[@reagancmsingh695]

Quite right.no perfect looking horse but the vet and farrier can do wonders!!

[@SHINNBUCKED]

I always thought the mixed races between Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds would be more popular.

[@donaldmartin3351]

This is a wonderful program for me a horse lover, I've learned a lot I hope to invest in horses so I will know exactly some of the things to look for

[@peterlbaldwin511]

Whilst conformation is undoubtedly important in selecting a potentially good race horse, to me the most important attribute by far is "Heart". I am not speaking of the physical size of the organ, although the legendary Secretariat's was more than Twice the size of his contempories. No, I am speaking of what might be termed courage, the determination to win. Perhaps Penny Chenery Tweedy, owner of Secretariat said it best when she spoke of the animal's eye, with that knowing glint that says "Yes, I can..!" Never forget the story of "Snaafi Dancer", world record price of 13 Million and full brother to English Derby winner "Sharif Dancer". "Snaafi" had more Black Type in his Bloodline than any other and perfect conformation, but that was all..!! Apparently he had absolutely no ability nor any inclination to even try to run.. and never did. He was sent straight to stud and proved to be Sterile..!!

[@brucetollin7683]

Like Secretariat: the machine!

[@spirituallifecoachinginsti7207]

AMAZING BUSINESS......THE HEART AND WILL TO RUN NO MATTER WHAT....PLUS BUILD.....= A TRUE RACE HORSE....!!!

[@clairelewis2777]

All you need to do today is copy the bets they place here… > 4HorseRacingWin.blogspot.de Forget the usual “tips” you normally see pushed in the betting media. Forget the so-called "experts" who do nothing but waste your time and make you lose. This is new, different and unstoppable...

[@carlosariel7009]

It would be really cool , to see a thourghbred today be a throw back to one three hundred years ago in terms of conformation. Like a whistle jacket, or blank , highflyer, eclipse and so on...maybe a cade or regulus lol. The earlier thourghbreds were said to be very fast and beautiful. My favorite is whistle jacket i just like the story behind the horse. He was a grandson of the Godolphin arabian.

[@brucetollin7683]

The best race horses for speed and endurance will have multiple lines of a vicious mare called Vampyre. She killed 3 grooms, but she could gallop 20 royal miles in England, and still win at any length. My wife always makes sure there are multiple lines in the sporthorses she bred for her younger daughter

[@parkerbohnn]

If you're broke buy a horse out of a pig of a mare but the mare itself had good breeding somewhere going back one, two or three generations. Forget the sire always go by the broodmare or dam. This is what I did at Lexington at the standardbred yearling sales.

[@nfapiper1]

Silver Charm and Real Quiet. WOW.

[@ImmortalSynn]

+nfapiper1 ... and now, American Pharoah!

[@dressagerider31]

It's surprising how much of the conformation elements are also necessary when looking for a sport horse prospect.

[@onemusicgroup8249]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing

[@lmarislmarislmaris4271]

Love the view of "Fish", aka Real Quiet, winner of the 1998 KY Derby & Preakness

[@reiningmoney]

Lmaris Lmarislmaris I was wondering if that was Real quiet seen as he was by Quiet American and Trained by baffert that's awsome

[@Ja-ug5gu]

I learned so much thank you

[@vernonfrance2974]

The cameraman shows us the person who's talking. We need to see the horse they are talking about not the person. Anyway, this is a great concept for a video to teach us a little more about what makes a horse have better potential.

[@MarkRobertCuthbert]

Thoroughbred race horses are "difficult" to judge, as to potenial winners. I.E. Saying That Horse WILL WIN. A Good way to loose money. POUR Your Business profits in horse racing. In the U.K. in jump racing the winning rate to Thoroughbred Foals Born is 3 %. So for every 1,000 foald Born in the U.K. and Irish breeding seasons. Only 30 will win. Yes many fillies don't race and go for breeding. And plenty of geldings never make the Trainers stables. BETTER Odds of Winning in a Top Horse Sport. Is getting some to pick you a potential International Winning Show Jumping Horse. Who Will WIN For You in U.S.A. and Europe for 5 years plus, for a very good horse. What to look for? 1. Power 2. Balance, Balance, Balance. 3. Carefulness From Age Two Up Is Easy. As they more developed than a foal or a yearling. The old adage in Int. Jumping concerning a Good Jumper still holds sway: "" A Good Jumper Can Come In Any Shape, Size or Form "". They Most LOVE To Jump. Natural. They have to take after an ancestor. A Champion in their 'Bloodline'. Now that is most of What I Look For but I not telling you Everything ;-)

[@FfStar]

And yet pharlap was a gangly, odd looking horse with an odd gait. Yet he did awesome on the circuit

[@Jefferdaughter]

Actually, nature DID design horses to run great distances. The muscle mass is in their shoulders and hindquarters, rather than along the leg, as in humans. Density of the bone is more important to soundness than size of the bone, and bone density is developed through exercize from an early age. Of course sunshine, genetics and diet play a role, but running is the key to strong bones, since bone density develops in response to running.

[@Oswald_Thatendswald]

Some horses. Not all. Thoroughbreds and quarter horses run best at shorter distances.

[@parkerbohnn]

Muscle Mass and Muscle Hill, Mission Brief was out of the latter.

[@parkerbohnn]

Direct Scooter had the thickest and densest bones of any standardbred horse I've ever seen. Muscle Mass was quite the trotter.

[@Alessandra7967]

AWESOME!!!!

[@lisafoster4468]

My gosh, dude, quit fucking with the chain when he's standing quiet!! (EDIT: That's to the first guy's handler)

[@barbaradyson6951]

Well that goes out the window. Young horse bought for £450, stood no higher 15:2 and won quarter million. P

[@princessj718]

real quiet that is awesome.

[@VishalSingh-df2em]

It is not in their Bloodline...its in their heart

[@ebonydlite5135]

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[@parkerbohnn]

Case in point the "freak of nature" Mission Brief. The durability of Varenne and the speed of Pine Chip.

[@MarkRobertCuthbert]

at 1:39 "No Horse is perfect". (and no human is perfect either).

[@eeffzzyy]

ZENYATA came real close

[@zipchtkdn7804]

Wesley ward races baby's earlier in 2 yr old season.fast too

[@jayrobson2810]

Interesting that there eye was not mentioned 🤔

[@jsphfalcon]

A blind horse?

[@j-man699]

Does the stifle allow for full travel?

[@zipchtkdn7804]

Mac Miller a great trainer

[@pennyg1966]

That's one thing about American breeders, they can get speed, and tons of it. They really need to start breeding for stamina. Lots of it. It helps in those longer races.

[@bishlap]

American racing used to be all about stamina - it changed in the early 90's, now it's all about speed, speed, speed. Speed is what sells, now. They've bred the toughness out of the horses, IMO.

[@brucetollin7683]

Brood mares need to have multiple lines of a vicious mare named Vampyre who killed 3 grooms. But they could hand ride her 20 Royal miles and she could win.

good stuff

[@franciscomendez6941]

Just check the buying percentage of all these guys, it will tell how good they are. Told is cheap.p

[@kimberlyanne434]

Reference Secretariat God built that horse💙

[@MarkRobertCuthbert]

Big Red "" Only "" Lived to age 19. Wouldn't you Want the 'perfect horse' living another 10 years to 29 ?!! To Sire another Great ! !

[@icylynx6067]

@@MarkRobertCuthbertHe died of laminitis. That’s not a conformation issue

[@howtobeme8248]

Omg “the fish” that’s real quiet

[@troyWwinston]

The conformation assets on Becky Thomas are not bad either!

[@jpowner58]

3:15 why is the riders face yellow?😂

[@oldboywanderlust60]

its an old video using the ntsc analogue system. It was always very bad at keeping the colour stable.

[@WeRHisPoem]

Nature didn't design anything, including these gorgeous horses! Read Job. 😀

[@HorsesIC]

Holy shit. Is that Real Quiet?!

[@senseiquickbooks4588]

Only measure of conformation for me is the size of a horse's heart which unfortunately we cant measure 😅

[@kenwithaK]

imagine if these people were as critical of their own bodies

[@tangra681d2]

Aint no way you this stupid. When you buying a horse for a couple hundred thousand, no shit you gotta be critical with every flaw of the horse. Stop writing dumb shit like this

[@bishlap]

Nature has built an amazing animal, I'm suprised there aren't more breakdowns bc their skinny lower legs don't look like much, yet can handle the rigors or racing/running w/ extra lbs on their backs.

[@kathleenmurphy2379]

taj I wonder how many horses break down because of this foolish thing of putting all that weight on their back. And by that I mean not the jockeys weight or the Saddles weight but all the extra weights they make a horse who has one carry more and more to quote try to make it fair to the other horses. It's not fair to a horse that's a great horse that loves to win to make them carry more weight than other horses and I think it causes more horses because of how much they race and the Heart they have to try to win break down break a leg and never get the race again or have to be euthanized

[@parkerbohnn]

There are more breakdowns but at the B tracks where the jockeys or drivers actually know what a whip is. The class A races the jockeys should be strung up alive for not whipping the shit out of the horses.

[@bishlap]

@@parkerbohnn Remember Jorge CHOP CHOP Chavez? little SOB would get horses across the line by whipping holy hell out of them.. bettors loved him, the big time trainers did not and would not use him, or very few would.

[@parkerbohnn]

@@bishlap Yeah I remember him. At least at the B tracks if you lost a race/races it wasn't because the jokey or driver didn't whip the horse. Getting upset throws off your frame of mind and you do stupid things like a steamed bet in poker from knowing full well had the driver whipped the horse he would have won.

[@duquettebeats6312]

bob was born with white hair! lol

[@kabehkhuses6919]

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[@mayinfante5595]

+Duquette Beats Kudos for the Video! Excuse me for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you tried - Chiveard Betting Information Framework (probably on Google)? It is a smashing one of a kind guide for getting an automated horse racing betting system minus the normal expense. Ive heard some great things about it and my BF at last got great results with it.

[@voidmc6212]

A hair disease

[@collschermer4242]

Very informative video, but why do Americans talk about ankles when they mean fetlocks!? 🤔

[@zipchtkdn7804]

Looks like high stakes player at 9:20 has lime at top of hooves

[@bmc06239]

Not one of them lifts the hoof ????????

[@dwaynetempest3433]

I know right.they say nothing on the feet.except u want a good size foot.wth.

[@katherinefitzpatrick7567]

And NO.I AM NOT REFERRING DIRECTLY TO THE TRAINERS BUT,DO YOU HELP ? K.

[@faibishclassical]

It is pity that they start the training so young, they are looking for a good horse, but riding so young finishes the horse.

[@AlliWalker]

Depends on how the horse is treated and built. Many horses retire sound, especially the well-built ones. Trainers who care about long careers don't race their horses more than once a month, and their work outs help them build the right muscles and strength to hold up. Like the video explains, when you race horses with physical problems already, you end up with more injuries. Unfortunately, some horses get raced that should have never been put on the track (and some trainers are too greedy to retire a horse that is just not competitive).

[@Jefferdaughter]

Without running as young horses, the bones will not develop the density and strength to hold up over time. How much exercize, how fast, and at what intervals the ideal is varies from horse to horse, but the development of racehorses has been scientifically studied and that knowledge is used to help build strong horses. That said, children riding their bikes sometimes fall and beak an arm or leg. Horses often injure themselves just playing in a field. Nothing is without risk, but the vast majority of racehorses retire sound. Kelso, who raced until he was 8 yrs old or so went on to be a hunter and show jumper.

[@brandonragoonanan236]

.

[@ianmiles2505]

I agree with that. The same applies to racing pigeons.

[@kitasuka1734]

Would you translated in Indonesian language please? 🙏

[@everettestone1941]

I'm a retired jockey,I'm in my 50s,what about 50 1 mind that bird

[@itsbevinallison]

The engine is in the back. They push forward from the hind. They do not pull themselves forward from the front. That's just basic.

[@aliciasaccotelli2395]

BOBBY SINCE WHEN DOES A HORSE HAVE A ENEGINE IN THE FRONT? DID DEWYNE TEACH YOU NOTHING?

[@franciscomendez6941]

Bevin Allison that s true, Bob is wrong.

[@chrisdukefields9868]

They push off from the shoulder dumbass. How many triple crown u won??

[@biff5856]

If this had any validity we'd all be rich. In fact most of the greats had conformation flaws or were just not well put together. Dr Fager, while attractive with no real faults just didn't look like a blazingly fast horse. Secretariat was goose rumped, and fairly straight in the shoulder, albeit looked like he could fly. Not so Bid or Slew. Not the best upfront. John Henry, cardinal sin of race horse conformation, back at the knee. They never bothered him......

[@chrisdukefields9868]

An now we see why he's won 2 triple crown

[@jamesanagnos6123]

So where were all you horse experts when Seatle Slew was not being looked at as a one year old and sold to some guy for 20,000 dollars, ends up winning the triple crown hahaha none of you know shit about horses you just think you do lol

[@wymansnow9478]

Vvv

[@ebonydlite5135]

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[@jamesdixon2735]

Bob was born with no hair

[@miktims9863]

By

[@teamiro5491]

you love it with my money

[@AmericanAbsolute]

Don't fall for the fallacy that there is a science to buying a winner. You can buy bloodstock and be a loser! And you can buy ragtag gelding or filly for $20,000 on claimers and make millions. If you're going to tell me that there is a way to pick a horse that has guaranteed potential to win then I will listen, other than that put the opinions back in your pocket and keep on stepping.

[@parkerbohnn]

All that concerns me is breeding. I'm known as a moose man in a million. I used to make a good living buying up young moose meat at Lexington Kentucky at the yearling sales. A horse, colt or mare can be a dud but if the moose is bred to the hilt going back one or two generations then that's what to look for when you purchase a horse. When purchasing a yearling always look at the driver of the mare, colt or horse. If the guy's horseshit you can also score big time at the sales because most forget the driver. So find a dud of a mare or a dud of a horse with a great pedigree going back one or tow generations but no more than two. That's what it's all about and a big horse turd in your mouth makes people know you're the big man when you step into the paddock.

[@laurajbrooks4530]

Baffert would rather have one toe out, on the outside. Miller would rather have one toe out, on the inside. Gee that doesn't help the average person to know anything, other than, don't buy one that toes out on either the left or the right! Thanks a lot!!

[@maxlittle1063]

I understood Miller to mean he would rather have one that toes in, than one that toes out. Miller wasn’t talking about the inside leg vs the outside leg like baffert was.

[@MohdAkram-lr8xd]

😁

[@ArchDandy1134]

They notice every single line and curve, but completely miss those horrid flared hooves. How can you judge a horse's conformation when their hooves are going in every direction?

[@lmarislmarislmaris4271]

The feet are shown pretty naturally, not trimmed into tiny shapes. Turf runners have fairly broad feet.

[@lmarislmarislmaris4271]

Your ignorance is showing. Horsemen refer to the hoof as "the foot", and not just when discussing conformation. A race horse which takes very quick strides while running is said to have "quick turn of foot" not "quick turn of hoof".

[@lmarislmarislmaris4271]

You again show ignorance in your lack of understanding Thoroughbred jargon. Online a newbie would mention hooves, but it is nice to see you comfort yourself with your use of projection to soothe your damaged ego.

[@sylviahouder6665]

Bob doesn't take extra good care of his horses!

[@jamesonsix19]

Why would a supposed horse expert not know that those aren't the horses knees, in fact I hear that a lot with horse people. First off horses (and any animal for that fact) don't have knees on their front limbs, just like we don't and even if you wanted to say they have knees on their front limbs (which are really their arms) those wouldn't be them, Plus look at the hind limbs, knees don't bend backwards. What he is calling the "knees" are the horses wrist, and in back it's ankles, horses essentially walk on 1 finger. If you look at where all four limbs meet the body you can right below that where the actual knees and elbows are, especially when its walking or moving them. They just have very short upper arms & legs (forearms & thighs)(Not as quite as short as they appear because they are very muscular and up in the body).

[@scottspooner4320]

+jamesonsix19 , Baffert is correct. We refer to the joint as the knee. It is equivalent in terms of anatomy to the human wrist but it is not referred to as the wrist. The horse does not have knees on his rear limb. The human knee would be equivalent to the horses stifle.

[@aliciasaccotelli2395]

ITS KNEES AND HOCKS NOT ELBOWS AN D WRISTS

[@trebornotlimah]

the horse is unbalanced

[@raymondlozano9028]

Robert Cowan needs that. family. akin to another bloodline or just what was said

[@margaretcampbell80]

Stop horse racing, it kills horses😢😢

[@aliciasaccotelli2395]

BOBBY ! REALLY A STRONG TAIL? i AM SO DISSAPOINTED IN YOU!

[@eliasperdedor2642]

Alicia Saccotelli that other horse he trained had his tail chewn off but the muscles on that ONE were okay

[@paulwarwick1569]

Alicia Saccotelli you don,t know much about horses if you never heard about a strong tail

[@eliasperdedor2642]

I think she was alluding,in jest,to the fact that AP had a short tail when he was racing.

[@aliciasaccotelli2395]

excuse me I worked for d Wayne lucus as a hot walker, groom and pony rider back in the 70's, I have been around hundreds of horses, both race and show and you know what I never heard any one say a horse had to have a great or strong tail to be fast! they need a good wide chest, a well-sprung barrel, a good big ass, blood lines help, also the power comes from the back end, your engine is in the hind end, the shoulder needs to be well slopped and the frount legs should travel in line with the hind legs, or the hind legs should be slightly wider then the front so they do not clip their front legs or heels

[@aliciasaccotelli2395]

of course not but he is acting like he drank the coolaide,

[@berndhorsch8131]

Ban horse racing!

[@lemonbear77]

Bernd Horsch fuck you

[@surindergill4480]

What a naive statement, Ride a Horse you will change your opinion, God bless you