HORSEPLOP.COM
General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: captaintreacherous on July 26, 2026, 06:17:48 AM
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Assuming you mean Dr. Ian Moore, I think the short answer is: he has a significant advantage in the combination of veterinary knowledge, early development, and selection of young horses.
Why he may be winning so many 2-year-old races:
He can identify and correct problems early.
As a veterinarian, Moore likely has a more sophisticated understanding of soundness, growth plates, gait abnormalities, respiratory issues, and subtle problems that can prevent a young horse from reaching its potential.
He probably knows when not to train a horse.
With 2-year-olds, timing is crucial. Some horses need more time physically; others can be pushed forward. The ability to distinguish the two is a major advantage. Research on Standardbreds has found that early training and racing milestones are associated with longer and more successful careers, although the research does not prove that early racing itself causes success.
His horses may be exceptionally well prepared before they ever race.
The best 2-year-old trainers generally don't simply “speed up” a horse. They develop the horse's body gradually—strength, balance, gait, cardiovascular fitness, and confidence. The veterinary research emphasizes the importance of early, properly managed exercise in musculoskeletal development.
He may have a better eye for selecting the right horses.
A trainer-veterinarian can evaluate a yearling not only by pedigree and conformation but also by soundness, movement, physical development, and potential problems. That can make a big difference in a 2-year-old stable.
The quality of the horses is still the biggest factor.
I would be careful not to assume that veterinary expertise alone explains his results. If he has a particularly strong group of well-bred, well-selected young horses, the results may reflect both superior stock and superior management.
My impression is that Moore's greatest advantage may be the combination of “horseman + veterinarian.” A conventional trainer may recognize that a horse is off; a veterinarian may be better positioned to understand why and what to do about it. With 2-year-olds, where small problems can mean losing weeks or months of training, that can translate directly into more horses ready to win early.
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Dr Moore is winning because he is the ultimate professional. He loves what he does-and he does it exceptionally well. Of course on this site-talent and professionalism is thrown out the window-and success can only be achieved by nefarious ways. Dr Moore-lives and breathes racing-hes hands on. Sure he knows more about lameness and issues afflicting horses than most-but there are horsemen who have been like him- raised from the ground up in racing -who are equally as successful. Hes been fortunate to have had horses like Shadow Play-who are once in a lifetime horses--that never hurts you level of success--most successful trainers today can point to a few horses they had--that led to their ability to continue to be successful in racing. I love Dr Moore and wish him every success as I for one admire people who dedicate their lives to horses in the best possible way-and we need people like him more than ever.
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Dr Moore is winning because he is the ultimate professional. He loves what he does-and he does it exceptionally well. Of course on this site-talent and professionalism is thrown out the window-and success can only be achieved by nefarious ways. Dr Moore-lives and breathes racing-hes hands on. Sure he knows more about lameness and issues afflicting horses than most-but there are horsemen who have been like him- raised from the ground up in racing -who are equally as successful. Hes been fortunate to have had horses like Shadow Play-who are once in a lifetime horses--that never hurts you level of success--most successful trainers today can point to a few horses they had--that led to their ability to continue to be successful in racing. I love Dr Moore and wish him every success as I for one admire people who dedicate their lives to horses in the best possible way-and we need people like him more than ever.
When I mentioned R. Moore to someone in the industry in Ontario they replied with three words "he's a vet". You read between the lines.
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Dr Ian Moore. why he is winning? Cause he knows more about horses than 99.9% of horsemen! DUUUHHH! ngc3 ngc3
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Thanks for the excellent comment , Bond !
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Assuming you mean Dr. Ian Moore, I think the short answer is: he has a significant advantage in the combination of veterinary knowledge, early development, and selection of young horses.
Why he may be winning so many 2-year-old races:
He can identify and correct problems early.
As a veterinarian, Moore likely has a more sophisticated understanding of soundness, growth plates, gait abnormalities, respiratory issues, and subtle problems that can prevent a young horse from reaching its potential.
He probably knows when not to train a horse.
With 2-year-olds, timing is crucial. Some horses need more time physically; others can be pushed forward. The ability to distinguish the two is a major advantage. Research on Standardbreds has found that early training and racing milestones are associated with longer and more successful careers, although the research does not prove that early racing itself causes success.
His horses may be exceptionally well prepared before they ever race.
The best 2-year-old trainers generally don't simply “speed up” a horse. They develop the horse's body gradually—strength, balance, gait, cardiovascular fitness, and confidence. The veterinary research emphasizes the importance of early, properly managed exercise in musculoskeletal development.
He may have a better eye for selecting the right horses.
A trainer-veterinarian can evaluate a yearling not only by pedigree and conformation but also by soundness, movement, physical development, and potential problems. That can make a big difference in a 2-year-old stable.
The quality of the horses is still the biggest factor.
I would be careful not to assume that veterinary expertise alone explains his results. If he has a particularly strong group of well-bred, well-selected young horses, the results may reflect both superior stock and superior management.
My impression is that Moore's greatest advantage may be the combination of “horseman + veterinarian.” A conventional trainer may recognize that a horse is off; a veterinarian may be better positioned to understand why and what to do about it. With 2-year-olds, where small problems can mean losing weeks or months of training, that can translate directly into more horses ready to win early.
Research on Standardbreds has found that early training and racing milestones are associated with longer and more successful careers, although the research does not prove that early racing itself causes success.
Although I agree with your assessment on Dr. Moore, this statement contradicts itself. And please provide the origin of this research, I'd like to read how it was determined.
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Anybody whom doubts Dr Moore's talent and knowledge should take a look at this video from 2022.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1P3zmsqJFg
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Lately his horses move extremely fast
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Ian has an advantage over most “top trainers “ these days”. Yes he is a vet and that simply means he doesn’t have to rely on a 3rd party to diagnose lameness. Sadly most of the so called trainers he races against have no clue. They just keep training them till they breakdown or rise up.
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Assuming you mean Dr. Ian Moore, I think the short answer is: he has a significant advantage in the combination of veterinary knowledge, early development, and selection of young horses.
Why he may be winning so many 2-year-old races:
He can identify and correct problems early.
As a veterinarian, Moore likely has a more sophisticated understanding of soundness, growth plates, gait abnormalities, respiratory issues, and subtle problems that can prevent a young horse from reaching its potential.
He probably knows when not to train a horse.
With 2-year-olds, timing is crucial. Some horses need more time physically; others can be pushed forward. The ability to distinguish the two is a major advantage. Research on Standardbreds has found that early training and racing milestones are associated with longer and more successful careers, although the research does not prove that early racing itself causes success.
His horses may be exceptionally well prepared before they ever race.
The best 2-year-old trainers generally don't simply “speed up” a horse. They develop the horse's body gradually—strength, balance, gait, cardiovascular fitness, and confidence. The veterinary research emphasizes the importance of early, properly managed exercise in musculoskeletal development.
He may have a better eye for selecting the right horses.
A trainer-veterinarian can evaluate a yearling not only by pedigree and conformation but also by soundness, movement, physical development, and potential problems. That can make a big difference in a 2-year-old stable.
The quality of the horses is still the biggest factor.
I would be careful not to assume that veterinary expertise alone explains his results. If he has a particularly strong group of well-bred, well-selected young horses, the results may reflect both superior stock and superior management.
My impression is that Moore's greatest advantage may be the combination of “horseman + veterinarian.” A conventional trainer may recognize that a horse is off; a veterinarian may be better positioned to understand why and what to do about it. With 2-year-olds, where small problems can mean losing weeks or months of training, that can translate directly into more horses ready to win early.
Ian is a good friend of mine who is a very smart man know what he's doing. He is not some idiot Horseman that runs around using the latest pre-race it doesn't know horsemanship.
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Didn’t he take the competition warming up at woodbine few weeks ago??
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Didn’t he take the competition warming up at woodbine few weeks ago??
if you are referring to him being responsible for putting Sarah Svanstedt in the hospital-then yes