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Jeez, there are some very narrow minded people out there!!
I enjoyed the Arab race today, and seeing as the sponsors asked for it, I don’t see the problem at all. The sponsors, put a huge amount of money into the races today and are entitled to have a say in the races they want to support. The last race on the card was worth a lot less in prize money than the Arab race, and so, the arab race logically fitted in well before it IMO.
In all countries that have Arabian racing, except the UK, arabians are trained by professional trainers alongside Thoroughbreds (shock, horror). There is huge money involved (you only have to look at todays race – (£50,000 prize money), the Arc meeting Qatar Arabian World Cup(450,000 euros in prize money) and the Dubai Kahyla Classic on Dubai World Cup night (250,000 USD) to name but a few.
It’s such a shame that some people will not give Arabian racing a chance, however, that is their opinion and they are entitled to it.
The shrewd amongst you will realise that there’s a lot smaller base of Arabians racing in this country compared to thoroughbreds, and so, it’s easier to follow the horses and pick the winners.
As I said at the beginning, I think it made a refreshing change today, and would like to continue seeing it.On the positive side for the Arab race:
1. Abu Dhabi are now major sponsors for Ascot and want an arab race on the card, somewhere meaningful and not as the last race on the card. The people from Qatar similarly wanted an Arab race on the Arc card in exchange for their massive sponsorship.
2. All the arabic families like these races and are pleased that they are included on proper cards – they do help to underpin our sport at this time.
3. By putting this race as the 7th race it didn’t interfere with the Placepot and it also allowed connections of the King George winner to do all the media activities after their win – the ladies race used to perform a similar function -without having to rush off to ride in another TB race.
4. This race was the richest arab race run in Britain – 50,000 pounds – and was the equivalent of the Arab Derby. No less that 5 horses travelled over from France to race in it and for Christophe Lemaire, Thierry Jarnet etc it was their only rides that the meeting.
5. I think it is best to try and embrace the idea as they will be here to stay.Might as well have a race for Blackpool donkeys at next years meeting as well. Put it directly infront of the King George so Blackpool gets its publicity.
FFS the sport is thoroughbred horse racing there is no place for other garbage. Arabian racing – how about running it in Arabia?
Perhaps we should have a camel race as well.
If it wasn’t for the Arabian horse there would be no thoroughbred racehorses. Is it too much to ask that their founders get a race at a big meeting occasionally?
Was there any Punting on it? Stateside we were not given any info at all except the horses name owner as well-
We have this one meet over here–I never bother with it-in the same day-they have Quarter Horses-Paint Horses Arabian’s-Long Ears-(Donkey’s)Its a mass of confusion
I do understand what you are saying- Both sides-I from 3Thousand miles away should shut up-
Carry on.Here at Arapahoe Park, In Denver, Colorado, yesterday we had different races for Quarter Horses, Appaloosa’s and Paints, Arabians and Thoroughbreds.
Quarter Horses and Appa’s and Paints are big out west but some of the Arabian Racing we have is not always enthralling. AFter 6 furlongs of a mile race they are moving like three mile novice hurdlers on a heavy track at Worcester.
Plus they get very strung out and the Arabians do not often seem to run to form here.
I have no problem with a mixed breeds card but I agree there is not much entertainment value in an Arabian race when you have a G1 TB race on the same day!
I’d rather like to see a quarter horse race; what sort of speed to they get to?
Fast!
Go down on the rails and on a fast track it is like a huge thunderclap rumbling towards you, louder and louder until CRASH and the color gos by you in a second and the the thunder echoes in your ears as they cross the wire!
They will go 400 yards in less than 20 seconds with no problem.
They will go 350 in 17 seconds with no problem.Just in a 12 horse quarter race, please remember the Commentator can’t call all the horses!!!
Craig
Putting those times of Craig’s in a little bit of perspective, I think it is the same with US Thoroughbred racing – they start a few yards before the furlong pole and then run through a beam at the furlong pole to initiate the timing mechanism, so the times are from a rolling start and not a standing one.
I’m not 100% sure about this, so if I’m wrong, don’t worry about upsetting me when you point out I’m wrong.
If it wasn’t for the Arabian horse there would be no thoroughbred racehorses. Is it too much to ask that their founders get a race at a big meeting occasionally?
Yes it is IMO. The fact that Arabian horses existed before thoroughbreds is neither here nor there.
Give an inch and soon it’ll become a mile. If they want their own races let them have their own day but lets not have them on a proper race card.
As I think Paul said, it’s not so much an Arabian being on a card it’s its position on the card that is controversial.
For people who had no interest in the Arabian race yesterday there was the choice of wandering around aimlessly for half an hour or buggering off home and missing the last.
First or last or even first and last and I don’t see that there would be any problem.
Even though I worked with Arabians for seven months and got to love them very much, I can understand the irritation of racegoers with a situation such as yesterday.
Colin
As I think Paul said, it’s not so much an Arabian being on a card it’s its position on the card that is controversial.
For people who had no interest in the Arabian race yesterday there was the choice of wandering around aimlessly for half an hour or buggering off home and missing the last.
First or last or even first and last and I don’t see that there would be any problem.
Even though I worked with Arabians for seven months and got to love them very much, I can understand the irritation of racegoers with a situation such as yesterday.
Colin
To be fair I could live with it being at the end of the racecard. Not first race but after the last I can’t see why there would be a problem.
I really don’t have a problem with this race, its presence and position on the card are fine by me.
The sponsors will not have been pleased by the studied refusal of the RP and other media to even acknowledge the race’s existence, never mind provide some form and background.
Are they frightened it’s going to take over from thoroughbred racing, or is it just plain old laziness? What on earth is wrong with having something a little bit different (especially a Group 1 event) and not hiding it at the start or finish of the card?
The equivalent G1 race at Chantilly on July 5th was the 6th of 9 races, and the collapse of civilisation was comfortably averted. Fields, form, results were all available on the PMU site. Here’s picture of the finish (won by Raqiyah):
http://www.gulfnews.com/images/09/07/24/25_sp_historic_4.jpg
I really don’t have a problem with this race, its presence and position on the card are fine by me.
The sponsors will not have been pleased by the studied refusal of the RP and other media to even acknowledge the race’s existence, never mind provide some form and background.
Are they frightened it’s going to take over from thoroughbred racing, or is it just plain old laziness? What on earth is wrong with having something a little bit different (especially a Group 1 event) and not hiding it at the start or finish of the card?
The equivalent G1 race at Chantilly on July 5th was the 6th of 9 races, and the collapse of civilisation was comfortably averted. Fields, form, results were all available on the PMU site.
I have to admit, the only problem I had with it was the way the media ignored it, and I wasn’t able to find enough info in the limited time I had! RP don’t even have a basic result – at least Sporting Life/ATR have. And they’re free…
I don’t really understand why people are complaining. If you were given the form to study, what would be the difference between a race with Arabians and one with Thoroughbreds? Alan Munro and Christophe Lemaire didn’t seem worried. The race wasn’t won by a big outsider, either.
To me it seems more fear of something different than anything rational.
At the Arab race meeting that I did attend I just thought the horses seemed to be going incredibly slowly [and thats from someone that tends to only go to nh meetings].I didn’t realise, however that the Arab race was part of the sponsorship, which does make me understand more the timing of the race [and it’s existence]. Perhaps they will show it on The Morning Line next weekend; that would give it a bit more coverage. It’s interesting the way that racing has evolved in different parts of the world. I suppose that quarter horses were bred to round up cattle, and racing developed from that over a period of time. [Craig; I read a couple of years ago that Appalloosas all but died out a few years ago, and they have a problem with blindness in the breed; is that still the case? Again, I’d love to see a field full of them, like our all grey races].
At the Arab race meeting that I did attend I just thought the horses seemed to be going incredibly slowly [and thats from someone that tends to only go to nh meetings].I didn’t realise, however that the Arab race was part of the sponsorship, which does make me understand more the timing of the race [and it’s existence]. Perhaps they will show it on The Morning Line next weekend; that would give it a bit more coverage. It’s interesting the way that racing has evolved in different parts of the world. I suppose that quarter horses were bred to round up cattle, and racing developed from that over a period of time. [Craig; I read a couple of years ago that Appalloosas all but died out a few years ago, and they have a problem with blindness in the breed; is that still the case? Again, I’d love to see a field full of them, like our all grey races].
Moehat!
To my shame, I do not know if the Appaloosa’s we have all but died out or have sight problems. I will certainly try to find out. I do know Appa’s have been raced here for a pretty long time and no one has ever mentioned the sight issue but later on in the week I will speak to a trainer and see what I can find out. The Appa’s and Paints are beautiful to watch!
Craig
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