Third generation farriers 'like firemen' of Saratoga Race Course

SARATOGA SPRINGS — When the race is gathering in the paddock, there are two gentlemen there whose job “is, hopefully, to do nothing.” The speaker is Mike Vinas, the official New York Racing Association farrier at all three NYRA tracks. At Saratoga, he is joined by the veteran Joe Campbell.

Both are third generation farriers: “Those who work with a forge and shoe horses.” Campbell recently retired from the ‘official’ part of the farrier’s duties after 17 years. “My dad and his dad were friends,” Vinas reports. “And our grandfathers knew each other,” Campbell notes.

When a forthcoming race is scheduled for either the Inner or Mellon turf courses, “we make sure that all the horses are compliant with the horseshoe regulations of NYRA,” says Vinas. "Then we wait for nothing to happen in every race.” Should a horse act up and lose a shoe — or should a loose shoe be detected — Vinas and Campbell are on hand to replace a lost or loose shoe. “We’re kind of like firemen," Campbell interjects. “We’re the ones you call in case of an emergency.”

As far as their enforcement duties are concerned, they “make sure the shoes used in grass races have no traction devices — flush toes front and back,” according to Vinas. In the past, shoes with sharp rims, heel blocks, toe clips and other such appurtenances were used by trainers and their farriers to increase traction.

The reason for banning those devices, in addition to equine safety, is preservation of the turf courses. Such traction devices tend to tear up the turf and greatly diminish their availability for turf racing as each meeting goes on.

The racing fan who sees a program note saying “Bar Shoe On” may need assistance in defining that term. Vinas volunteers, “A bar shoe is one that is connected at the heels that we put on to...