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For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
- Proverbial Rhyme
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
- Proverbial Rhyme
In the past, steel shoes were the accepted idea, with all trainers using them, but desiring a lighter weight shoe to allow their horses to run faster. The aluminum shoe was the next shoe that appeared at the track, but “the aluminum racing plate nearly disintegrated after just one race” (Erb). In 1929, Leonard Liepman began to develop a racing plate that was lightweight, but also more durable than the current aluminum shoes (Erb). With the creation of the VICTORY Racing Plate, Liepman began to slowly find support for his invention, but not without struggle, as the shoes weighed more than the current aluminum racing shoes that fell apart too quickly.
Today, thirteen types of shoes are listed on the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders website, including the Flat Steel Plate, Aluminum Plate, Egg-Barr, D-Bar, Half Aluminum Bar, Glue-On, Bonded, Outer Rim, Toe Grab, Quarter Horse Grab, Jar Calks, Outside Sticker and Blocked Heels. A detailed description of the shoes can be found at the link below.
Barefoot racing, while not readily accepted has been promoted more in the Arabian Racing field, and it may be adopted in the future in the Thoroughbred racing industry. Titanium shoes are the next big idea in lightweight, durable shoes. They are, again, not as supported as the aluminum shoe, but the idea is more popular than barefoot racing.
Today, thirteen types of shoes are listed on the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders website, including the Flat Steel Plate, Aluminum Plate, Egg-Barr, D-Bar, Half Aluminum Bar, Glue-On, Bonded, Outer Rim, Toe Grab, Quarter Horse Grab, Jar Calks, Outside Sticker and Blocked Heels. A detailed description of the shoes can be found at the link below.
Barefoot racing, while not readily accepted has been promoted more in the Arabian Racing field, and it may be adopted in the future in the Thoroughbred racing industry. Titanium shoes are the next big idea in lightweight, durable shoes. They are, again, not as supported as the aluminum shoe, but the idea is more popular than barefoot racing.