Conformation clinic at Santa Anita offers insights on thoroughbreds

More than two dozen curious racing fans showed up at Santa Anita Park by Clocker’s Corner on Saturday morning to be escorted inside the stable area to learn about conformation of thoroughbreds from four trainers volunteering their time.

Sponsored by the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the presentation that lasted more than hour provided vaulable insights into what makes a successful race horse.

The trainer I got to see and listen to was Matthew Chew, who’s had a license for 33 years.

He said everything is about finding a horse with balance.

“They’re very similar to a four-cylinder motor,” he said. “And you want those cylinders to work as equal as possible.”

He talked about feet, the front and back of horses, their breathing and their bone structure.

“A horse’s weight is distributed while their standing 65% in the front, 35% on the back, but when they’re running, most of their power comes from their hind end,” he said.

Some people on the tour want to be race owners, and Chew said, “Race horse ownership is one of the most gratifying experiences in your life, but you also can be kicked in the gut.”

Chew rises at 3:30 a.m. and gets to work around 4:15 a.m. He has 18 horses in his barn.

“There’s 100 different trainers. There’s no one way to train,” he said.

In the end, whether a horse has brilliant conformation or not, Chew said, “If they don’t have the heart and the desire to do it, then you have a pretty pony.”

The TOC runs the free clinic once or twice a year. For information, go to toconline.com.