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Willie Mullins has the new favourite for the Champion Bumper after Love Sign d’Aunou won by a wide margin at Naas today.
I note that the Racing Post’s comments described the win as being in a “canter”. The Post used the same word after Winston Junior’s easy victory at Ascot last Saturday.
Would anyone here describe either of these successes as being in a canter? Both horses had to be shaken up and went into a gallop for some time before being eased down close home – although they passed the post travelling easily, they had to be shaken up at some point. I am old enough to remember when the racing papers (the Sporting Life, as well as the Post) would only use the word “canter” when a horse had never had to try at all, and I don’t think the term applies to either Love Sign d’Aunou or Winston Junior – they both won very easily, but not in a canter.
Do I have a point, or am I just being a pedantic old curmudgeon (for a change)? 🤔
I know what you mean. It is rather like performances being described as “impressive”. I remember when that word was seldom used in the in running comments. A horse had to do something really out of the ordinary to earn it. Now I see decent, solid enough performances described as “impressive”, when they are not.
According to Professor Wikipedia, a canter is generally a speed of 10 to 17 mph. Therefore, I suppose if we are being really pedantic about it, no horse ever wins in a canter.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canter_and_gallop
If the word is merely being used as a slang figure of speech within racing, what would constitute a canter? The jockey not moving a muscle? Not having to shake the reins? Not having to use the whip?
“The jockey not moving a muscle? Not having to shake the reins? Not having to use the whip?”
That’s certainly what it used to mean in the 80s – it meant winning without coming off the bridle at all.
Unless the horse was tying up I’m not sure why he decided to push and shove anyway.
The more I know the less I understand.
This is winning ‘in a canter’ :
The runner-up had finished second in the Fighting Fifth, the third (btn 34L) finished a close third in the Xmas Hurdle, then won the Kingwell and the Champion Hurdle.
AP was devastated by the lose of that horse , the French Furze was tough as teak get made to look like a plater
I was going to post that, Ruby, but Maguire pushed Relkeel out close home. Everything up to the last few yards was the very definition of “canter”.
I know Gladders, but that was the closest you can come to your definition of “canter”, especially in a very competitive handicap.
According to Barry Connell you won’t have to wait long to see a nice example of a canter- it’s how Marine will win at the DRF according to him. Here’s a wee song for you Barry:
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