Today, the world of
horse racing is changing. Overall, fewer race tracks, fewer races,
but more opportunities with larger purses. However, often these races
may be in seemingly far off destinations (i.e. The Japan Cup, The
Word Cup of Dubai, The Grande Premio de Brasil or if one is at Gulfstream...
The California Classic Crown).
One
aspect of racing that has not changed is that the easiest way to win
races is to find the easiest spot to enter your horse. Nevertheless,
sometimes that spot may be at a different race track. Fortunately
for horseman, the convenience of air transportation for your horses
has never been more readily and easily available to many destinations
both domestic and worldwide.
For example lets conjecture:
There is a $250,000 purse Grade-III for your promising newly turned
three year old in New York next weekend. No problem! At 3:00am Thursday
morning he is picked up at the barn at Hollywood Park. At 5:00am he
and his groom are safely on board the aircraft. The FEDEX MD-11-freighter
is on taxi for takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport. This
is a flight which operates daily to Newark. After four hours fifteen
minutes in the air the aircraft arrives Newark Airport. Within 30
minutes he is on his way to Belmont Park. He arrives at his stall
at 2:30pm local time (11:30am pacific) plenty early for afternoon
feed. Total time enroute, eight hours thirty minutes: about the same
amount of time it takes to travel by van to Bay Meadows.
International
racing can be relatively easy as well. Within about three weeks preceding
a foreign race preparation begins. In advance of shipment, passports
and visas are prepared for all personnel who will be needed to care
for the horse on his trip and during training in the foreign country.
International health certificates, blood testing, customs and United
States Department of Agriculture documents, import permits, registry
certificates, pedigree and race records are prepared for the horses
to be exported. Cargo airline schedules usually permit transportation
in the week prior to the race.
After
the race has been run and the horse has had a few days to rest, he
is returned usually within a week. Preceding import to the United
States a permit by the USDA and customs documents will need to be
issued. Blood testing is carried out during three days of post import
quarantine. Registry certificates are reissued and the horse is qualified
to resume racing in the United States.
One might ask: "how DO those horses go on
an airplane?" This has been developed into a relatively simple
procedure. The horses travel on main-deck freighter aircraft. These
types of airplanes generally are an all cargo configuration. Unit
load containers or pallets are used to ship the cargo on these aircraft.
The unit of space is recognized as an "aircraft pallet position."
First on the ground, the horses are loaded into
a specially designed container known as an aircraft stall or airstable.
One can visualize this as a horse trailer mounted on an aircraft pallet.
This unit container can accommodate as many as three horses in single
shipping stalls. Often times trainers will prefer to ship a horse
in "a stall and a half" that will allow more room for the
horse to stretch out during the trip. This is comparable to an athlete
traveling in a first class seat on a passenger aircraft. This extra
space comes at additional cost.
Once
the horses are safely in the stall, they with their attendant are
transported to the airplane. The stall is then lifted on a hydraulic
elevator and rolled onto the main deck of the aircraft. The deck of
the airplane is constructed of a roller bed system. Each palletized
container is elevated to the airplane and rolled into a specific position
based on weight and balance considerations. To avoid shifting in flight,
it is secured in place with floor locks.
Horses are generally last to be loaded so they
can be the first off loaded in order to expedite their trip. They
are placed in the first pallet position behind the cockpit. Passenger
seats are in place behind the cockpit for attendants to rest and have
meals when not immediately caring for the horses. During the flight
the horses have hay at all times and are fed and watered periodically.
The temperature of the cabin is controlled to keep the horses from
perspiring. This aspect of shipping by air is most beneficial in addition
to the time advantage.
Although it may not be like walking up to the ticket
counter and handing over your American Express card, transportation
for you and your horses to any interesting and promising destination
is very possible. Wherever events may be to maximize the aptitudes
of the members of your racing stable, you can be confident the opportunities
are within reach.
One
aspect of racing that has not changed is that the easiest way to win
races is to find the easiest spot to enter your horse. Nevertheless,
sometimes that spot may be at a different race track. Fortunately
for horseman, the convenience of air transportation for your horses
has never been more readily and easily available to many destinations
both domestic and worldwide.
International
racing can be relatively easy as well. Within about three weeks preceding
a foreign race preparation begins. In advance of shipment, passports
and visas are prepared for all personnel who will be needed to care
for the horse on his trip and during training in the foreign country.
International health certificates, blood testing, customs and United
States Department of Agriculture documents, import permits, registry
certificates, pedigree and race records are prepared for the horses
to be exported. Cargo airline schedules usually permit transportation
in the week prior to the race. 
After
the race has been run and the horse has had a few days to rest, he
is returned usually within a week. Preceding import to the United
States a permit by the USDA and customs documents will need to be
issued. Blood testing is carried out during three days of post import
quarantine. Registry certificates are reissued and the horse is qualified
to resume racing in the United States.
Once
the horses are safely in the stall, they with their attendant are
transported to the airplane. The stall is then lifted on a hydraulic
elevator and rolled onto the main deck of the aircraft. The deck of
the airplane is constructed of a roller bed system. Each palletized
container is elevated to the airplane and rolled into a specific position
based on weight and balance considerations. To avoid shifting in flight,
it is secured in place with floor locks.