Campaign For More Four Milers.

[grey dolphin]

I’ve got a racecard here from when we went to the Singer and Friedlander National Trial in 2000; not only was there a parade of Stallions [Karinga Bay slobbered all over my coat] but horses racing that afternoon included Young Kenny, Edmond and Earthmover..later in the day we saw Bindaree, Monsignor and Regal Holly in a novice hurdle [Whats up Boys was in the previous race]..we hardly go to Uttoxeter these days even though it’s only 40 minutes away.

I was there that day too Moehat – remember it well for the horses you mention. That day at Uttoxeter – first weekend in Feb – used to be one of the highlights of the season – better strength in depth than Midlands National day. The equivalent card now is a couple of weeks later and weak, especially since the good novice hurdle was transferred to Cheltenham.

I swore I wouldn’t renew my Uttoxeter badge last year – and then gave in come Midlands National day – I still like the summer evenings and autumn weekdays. But the quality has declined alot – in indirect proportion to the focus on attracting busloads of drinkers from Stoke and Derby – which wrecks many of the weekend meets.

[KendalCavalier]

And the response from Haydock

Sorry to be slow in replying to your enquiry. There’s no cast ironobjection to running 4 mile races, but they do tend to be an end inthemselves – so that, for instance, you’d not have a National Trial over4 miles, because the horse may well need some time off afterwards. Onecan debate whether this Saturday’s Gold Cup would be better over 3m, andnot 3m 4f, as it would probably detract less from the subsequent chanceof any National horse and would have a bigger slice of the horse herdeligible to run in it. The shift away from the breeding of old-fashioned heavy-boned chasers,to lighter, faster less robust horses will have a part to play in theequation. We Clerks have to work with what we’re given. There’s room fora few 4 milers, but we’d probably end up with small fields or finisheslike an Atlantic convoy if we ran a lot of them.Regards,Kirkland Tellwright.

[RexWayne]

Fewer and fewer horses, not less and less horses.

[moehat]

Uttoxeter card looks really good on Saturday….so many people desperate to get a run into their horses I guess…hope it goes ahead! [sorry; going off tangent again..]

[Ultimate Nightmare]

[quote= – the sight of really tired horses almost at a standstill, does little for the sport

[Author]

Posts