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Jim Bolger (IRE) and his successful season:

“The ECB Equine Spa is my most important training aid”

December 2004

On examination of total winnings, Jim Bolger would stand out among Irish trainers in the 2004 flat season, with an increase of a whopping 51% from 2003*; not surprisingly then the County Carlow based yard is very pleased with its first year using an ECB Equine Spa in its training regime. “I regard the ECB Equine Spa as the most important aid that I have encountered in over twenty years of training racehorses”, Jim remarks.

With 54% of all the Coolcullen yards’ 2 year-old runs finishing in the top four; and a similarly impressive performance from his 4 year-olds plus - 14% of runs finishing with a win (5% in 2003); Jim praises the hydrotherapy treatment both in terms of prevention and cure, “We treated a large number of horses on their return from racing on the summers going and found that they were ready to run much earlier than previously”.

Jim has always been renowned for his training of fillies and again this year seven out of ten of his top prize winning horses were ‘ladies’. After his 3 year-old fillies’ win in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera Casino Barriere d’Enghien on 3rd October 2004, Jim explained, “I was quite hard on Alexander Goldrun during the early part of the season… but she just keeps on improving and is very game”. Professor Evan Hunt has found throughout his 33 year veterinary career and eight years of specific research into cold water spa treatments that, “Regular spa therapy during fast work prevents some of the effects of repeated concussion on joints, ligaments and bone.”

Jim Bolger                            Alexander Goldrun winning in                                                                 Longchamp. In December 2004 she went

                                                                on become the first ever filly to win the

                                                                Hong Kong Cup, Sha Tin - Hong Kong's

                                                                biggest race and highlight of the year.

The 2004 statistics put Jim Bolger firmly in the clear top 5 Irish flat trainers, and with 90 plus horses in training he has fully incorporated the Spa into training regimes, “I am very pleased with the results all round and I shall be continuing to use the Spa”. His high class horses are clearly doing well, with an 18% win rate in his Class 1, 2 and 3 contests this past season.

Mr. Bolger and other equine clients are currently aiding Professor Evan Hunt on continuing scientific research into the effects of equine cold water hydrotherapy. With a growth in recognized backing of the treatment and the international spread of ECB Equine Spas, there is a large sample of studies to examine. Professor Hunt recognizes the wealth of information that has been collected over the last three years throughout the numerous spa centres, however it needs collecting and evaluating to establish best practice for different conditions. Professor Hunt has taken on this vast task and looks forward to, “The collective information allowing substantiation of the exciting results previously published, and being seen by individuals such as Irish trainer Jim Bolger”.

*With a decrease in stable runs of 16%, 2003 to 2004 - Statistics from Racing Post.co.uk and Irish Racing.com

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