A 16 runner handicap at Kempton – isn’t that unsafe?

[Glenn]

Notice a 16 runner non-heritage handicap at the Sunbury sandpit of shame today. I thought these were unsafe.

I’ve now realised they’re talking about the safety of the bookies not the horses. Sixteen runners are allowed there when the day is big enough to justify the cartel to send representatives down there to rig prices and grease palms.

[thedarkknight]

Northern Spy is a non runner sadly.

[Glenn]

What an absolute cesspit that place is. What do they do to the inside of the stalls there that makes so many horses go berserk? Second time in as many days that eight runners have become seven due to unsafe stalls.

[sberry]

did you get barred from kempton once for acting a tosser or something ? must be something like that to have so much hate for the place, which is a much better racing venue than many out there – looks like it’s consuming you, you should maybe seek help

[Glenn]

To get thrown out for being a complete tosser

a) I have to be a complete tosser
b) I have to be actually enter the sandpit of shame

There’s a double where the last leg is always gonna let you down. I just want to know why it is unsafe to have more than 14 runners on most days, yet it’s safe for 16 runners on big Saturdays? Something that has never been satisfactorily explained.

[dave jay]

Yes .. it’s quite odd that you can have a safe 16 runner race on a Saturday, that’s insanely dangerous on a Friday.

Some sort of explanation would be appreciated, even if it’s just for the Jockeys families.

[Pompete]

I noticed today all 16 decs in the 2.10 Handicap Hurdle at Exeter ran.

Has this ever happened before

[davidjohnson]

There was a 16-runner 3yo handicap at Doncaster on Friday in which all declarations went to post. Not as interesting to point out though when you can’t claim conspiracy theories and brown envelopes in trainers pockets.

[Glenn]

David,

Can you answer the question of why safety limits change at Kempton depending on the day of the week? Are you saying there hasn’t been an asserted attempt to cull 16 runner hadicaps?

The proportion of four place handicaps has fallen by three quarters in the last five years. Are you saying there hasn’t been a conspiracy to cull them or are you trying to destroy a paper tiger (the old brown envelope theories) rather than address the real issue of this thread?

[davidjohnson]

Hi Glenn

To answer your points chronologically, no (such a situation that remains unexplained is unacceptable) and no (I honestly don’t know if there has been a concerted attempt, and if you have data that suggests such races are markedly on the wane, I’m not going to disagree with you.)

[Author]

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