Always Looking For An Edge
JONATHAN HUNTINGTON,
SPECIAL TO THE EDMONTON SUN
Fri, December 17, 2004
Kelly Hoerdt is always looking for an edge. With
millions of dollars in purses available, he'd be foolish
if he wasn't looking for a competitive advantage.
So, that explains why he jumped at the opportunity
to become the first Canadian harness trainer to try
a radically different water system in his Northlands
Park stable.
SEAIR - a publicly traded Edmonton-based company
- has installed an oxygen-diffusion system in his
barn that has "raised the level of oxygen (in the
water in the barn) to five times the amount (found)
in Edmonton (tap) water," according to Hoerdt.
The system was installed last month - and the
results are very intriguing.
EARNED $15,000 IN TWO RACES
Eye Promise U - a three-year-old gelding - started
drinking the new water last month and has earned
$15,000 in just two races.
Bought for $15,000 by Hoerdt and two partners
on Nov. 20, the gelding finished third in his first
start the following week and then won a stake race
in his next start.
"What a Cinderella story," said Mike McAllister, one
of his owners. "The horse is paid for (already). I'm
not saying (this new water system) is the cause for
(the wins) but I'm sure it's a great help."
Skip The Run - a veteran pacer - has two wins and
a third-place finish since trying the water.
In total, 10 horses in Hoerdt's barn are being used
as a testing case with the new water.
"It's not an overnight cure," commented Hoerdt.
"(The water system) is not going to be the end-all
and be-all (for racing), but it adds to the (training)
program we already have. And I'm very pleased.
"I know the horses I am using it on are performing
very well for this time of year. More oxygen in the
water means more oxygen in a horse's system and
that means more oxygen is being carried by red
blood cells, thus more energy and more stamina."
There are other benefits.
"The horses love the taste of it," continued Hoerdt,
referring to the slightly sweeter taste. "The horses
drink almost double the amount of water they do
from the tap and I add different vitamins and
minerals to my water.
"And having that much oxygen in their system is
obviously going to help their immune system, which
is crucial at this time of the year because of the
weather change."
INTRIGUING RESULTS
This isn't the first time SEAIR has witnessed
intriguing results while testing the oxygen-diffusion
system with horses.
The only other testing period occurred last year at
famous Santa Anita Park in California with a relatively
unknown thoroughbred trainer.
"We tried (the water) with six maiden
(thoroughbreds) and all six broke their maiden
within two months," said SEAIR president Harold
Kinasewich. "Some of them paid $100 or more to
win. There was a five-year-old thoroughbred ...
that always finished 14 or 15 lengths behind. The
day he won he came from behind and passed the
pack like they were standing still. He won by almost
13 lengths. It made the hair on the back of your
neck stand up just watching this horse."
But the testing period didn't last much longer.
So, Hoerdt is the only trainer in North America
using the technology.
But his competitive edge might not last long.
In exchange for using the system at no cost during
this fall meet, Hoerdt agreed to promote the product.
The publicity means some competing trainers could
pay $7,500 to buy an identical SEAIR system.
Hoerdt realizes that might happen - but also knows
something else.
"I'm not pushing (this product) just because I'm
getting to use it for free," he said. "If I thought it
didn't do anything I certainly wouldn't be here
talking.
"I definitely believe it helps the horses."
