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If you became the big cheese at the BHA, what changes, if any, would you make?
1. I would move the Derby to Ascot or York and I would run it on a Sunday.
2. There would be no NH racing during the summer months.
3. I would ban NH jockeys from using the whip after jumping the last hurdle or fence, for a trial period.
4. I would lower the admission charges at racecourses.
5. If a horse is difficult to load and delays the start of a race, I would fine the trainer.
6. I would ban trainers from running more than one horse in a maiden race.
7. I would encourage owners to be much more imaginative when choosing their colours. Diabolos, chevrons and hoops are very, very boring.
1. I wouldn’t mind that as I don’t like Epsom, but it won’t happen.
2. What about Perth, why shouldn’t my local get the chance to race when it’s in it’s best condition? Anyway, historically there was always jump through August and into late September and. unless the calendar has change, that period is still summer. The saem goes for Worcester who have well documented problems with flooding, but race very happily from spring to autumn.
Why pick on ‘summer jumping’. If you asked if there should be a short break between seasons, then I agree, but I don’t see why it should be aimed at a branch of the sport which has been succesful in recent years. Witness 12,000 attendance at the Perth Gold Cup meeting.3. Worth a try at least, might teach a few how to ‘ride’ a finish.
4. Good idea. If Tote was properly marketed, and profits went directly to racing this would be a no brainer anyway.
5. Yes, it is the duty of the trainer to train a horse for the race from preliminaries to unsaddling, not just the race itself. That being said, sanctions are taken against unruly horses anyway.
6. Why?
1) I agree with you both as I hate Epsom but it won’t happen. I think that the straight at Ascot is too short and would prefer Newbury or York.
2) I would allow it to continue but not on bone hard ground
3)I would allow them to continue to use it but to disqualify winners if the whip had been used excessively etc
4) Agreed. If bookmakers were banned and replaced witha PMU type system then this would be achievable
5)Agreed in the case of repeat offenders
6)Disagree.
I would also remove handicaps as they are open to abuse and implement a calendar of races more along the American system (although not re the proportion of dirt to turf races)
If excessive whip use resulted in disqualification jockeys would no longer be under pressure to contemplate to do so, and we would face less general public criticism over the issue.
Jesus Christ!
The first 3 posters on this thread must be plants sent by the BHA in an effort to convince us we are much better off with the present incumbents.There is no better place for The Derby than Epsom and Andrew Cooper (one of the best if not the best coc’s) will be absolutely gutted some think bone hard ground is a possibility for the race.
We all know or should do that disqualifying winners and whip restrictions are a nonsense so no need to discuss that further.
For starters, obviously something has to be done about getting rid of bookmakers, they contribute not nearly enough and never will and punters can’t get a bet on with them anyway.
I would get rid of Roy, (do we ever hear anything from him and does he ever show any leadership) replace him with drone and get rid of Stier (what a disastrous appointment he’s been) and replace him with pinza. Also tell Paul Struthers to pull his finger out.Yeats
That’s one of teh harsher accusations I’ve had since I was accused of being the Elgin City manager posting on their forum under an assumed name. They were bottom of the league at the time, so paranoia may have set im some time before. Quite how you seem to think I’m a BHA stooge, I haven’t a clue.
My first answer comes because I simply don’t like Epsom as a course, either atmosphere wise or from the topography. But that’s just my feeling, I appreciate that plenty will go the other way.
The second question got me steamed up because it involved Perth and their core racing period. Summer jump racing takes place at courses that provide decent ground, and it’s successful.
Regarding the whip. My opinion is that too many jockeys resort to it too easily, and they could go with riding finishes without it. The finish of the Grand National was not pretty, even to a dyed in the wool jumps fan. Your statement that ‘whip restrictions are a nonsense so no need to discuss that further’ is arrogant in the extreme. You are entitled to your opinion, but I resent being told I can’t discuss something because you disagree with my opinion.
On admission prices, if you wish to reduce them then you have to raise money in other ways. Prices are cheaper in other countries because they take in betting revenue directly. If the Tote has stronger pools it would support racing better. Years of neglect on all sides have seen stagnation at best, and now a bookmaker has their claws in it.
…and I still can’t see why there should be a block on trainers running more than one in a maiden race. Why just maidens, why not any race?
Rob
A somewhat intolerant post yeats. You are entitled to your opinion as are others. This is after all supposed to be a discussion forum not a format for sermons.
If you re-read my post the mention of bone hard ground relates to summer jump racing, and has nothing to do with the Derby at Epsom.
Still why let the facts get in the way fella !one of the harsher accusations I’ve had since I was accused of being the Elgin City manager posting on their forum under an assumed name.
Ha – I laughed at that. That is hard to top for ‘harshness’!
1. I would move the Derby to Ascot or York and I would run it on a Sunday.
2. There would be no NH racing during the summer months.
3. I would ban NH jockeys from using the whip after jumping the last fence or hurdle, for a trial period.
4. I would lower the admission charges at racecourses.
5. If a horse is difficult to load and delays the start of a race, I would fine the trainer.
6. I would ban trainers from running more than one horse in a maiden race.Why?
1 Keep Epsom. It would be some other race and not THE DERBY if it wasn’t at Epsom.
2. If courses have all the resources in place to make the ground safe for horses and jockeys, then I say race in the Summer if the customers want it.
3. No “ifs” and “buts”. Either allow whips just like now, or ban them entirely. Halfway house regulations lead to too many arguments.
4. The BHA have no authority over what the courses can charge. And quite right too.
5. Keep the current regulations.
6. SmugPunter2011 satrted a thread on this subject just a few days ago. There were several well reasoned replies explaining that it is unnecessary. I can only assume that SmugPunter2011 has had his/her pocket burned, and it still rankles.
1. The configuration of the course at Epsom makes it a unique and ultimate test for both horse and rider. At any other course The Derby would just be another group one contest. I have long argued for The Derby to be run on a Sunday, with The Oaks and Coronation Cup on the Saturday.
2. No problem with summer racing, the only restrictions should be a) suitable going and b) long distance i.e. three mile plus races not being run if the temperature is above a certain level.
3. An option but as Corm says lets see what the BHA review comes up with. What happens if there is a ban and a horse starts hanging dangerously?
4. Let market forces prevail. Some courses grossly overcharge in my view but still manage to sell out – why should they be prevented from making a profit in that way. There is a case for more flexible pricing policy to reflect the quality of racing on offers. However comparisons to overseas racing do not hold water due to different funding mechanisms.
5. There are already penalties in place for horses who consistently cause problems at the start, ultimately leading to bans if there is no improvement. Horses are animals not machines and even the best trained horse can throw the occasional wobbly at the start.
6. Sounds like a pocket talking suggestion to me – betting on a any particular race is not obligatory and if a bettor does not like the ides of a trainer having more than one runner in the race the answer is simple – ignore the race from a betting perspective. For example I tend to avoid the sprint handicaps where Dandy Nicholls has several runners for the very reason I cannot usually work out which one is "the one", even his jockey bookings do not help.
- Total Posts 17716
1. The configuration of the course at Epsom makes it a unique and ultimate test for both horse and rider. At any other course The Derby would just be another group one contest. I have long argued for The Derby to be run on a Sunday, with The Oaks and Coronation Cup on the Saturday.
2. No problem with summer racing, the only restrictions should be a) suitable going and b) long distance i.e. three mile plus races not being run if the temperature is above a certain level.
3. An option but as Corm says lets see what the BHA review comes up with. What happens if there is a ban and a horse starts hanging dangerously?
4. Let market forces prevail. Some courses grossly overcharge in my view but still manage to sell out – why should they be prevented from making a profit in that way. There is a case for more flexible pricing policy to reflect the quality of racing on offers. However comparisons to overseas racing do not hold water due to different funding mechanisms.
5. There are already penalties in place for horses who consistently cause problems at the start, ultimately leading to bans if there is no improvement. Horses are animals not machines and even the best trained horse can throw the occasional wobbly at the start.
6. Sounds like a pocket talking suggestion to me – betting on a any particular race is not obligatory and if a bettor does not like the ides of a trainer having more than one runner in the race the answer is simple – ignore the race from a betting perspective. For example I tend to avoid the sprint handicaps where Dandy Nicholls has several runners for the very reason I cannot usually work out which one is "the one", even his jockey bookings do not help.
6. Typical response from a know-it-all. I don’t even bet on maiden races. Trainers are abusing the system and I don’t think it is right. At Salisbury this week, Hannon had an odds-on favourite in a maiden race which was beaten by a 14/1 outsider and guess who it was trained by?…That’s right, Richard Hannon(Hmmmm….I wonder which horse he was on). Fahey did the same thing at Ayr on Saturday and Swinburn did at Nottingham recently. They’re treating punters with contempt and you don’t seem to mind. More fool you.
- Total Posts 17716
A somewhat intolerant post yeats. You are entitled to your opinion as are others. This is after all supposed to be a discussion forum not a format for sermons.
If you re-read my post the mention of bone hard ground relates to summer jump racing, and has nothing to do with the Derby at Epsom.
Still why let the facts get in the way fella !Hear, hear, Coggy. I wish there were more people like you on this forum.
I look forward to reading more of your comments.How do they choose their colours anyway?
Also how would you choose your colours if you were sole owner of a horse, Smugpunter2011?
Can understand the point being made re the Maiden races although it seems to me there is an obvious answer here from the examples given.
Simply back the outsider of the two.
Can understand the point being made re the Maiden races although it seems to me there is an obvious answer here from the examples given.
Simply back the outsider of the two.
The point is Smugpunter2011 thinks a trainer mustn’t run more than one in a maiden race.
So let’s take Salisbury 2:45 22nd June 2011 as an example of why this idea doesn’t do racing any good.
The race in question was a 6 furlong maiden race with 11 runners.
Richard Hannon trained 3 horses, 1st, 2nd & 4th.
The first one was owned by Terry Neill and was 14/1 in the betting.
The second one was owned by B Bull and was 5/6 fav
The third one was Gallagher Equine & Des O’Rourke.By Smugpunter2011 wishes or rules each owner would have to agree to pull their horses out, why?
- Total Posts 17716
1 Keep Epsom. It would be some other race and not THE DERBY if it wasn’t at Epsom.
2. If courses have all the resources in place to make the ground safe for horses and jockeys, then I say race in the Summer if the customers want it.
3. No “ifs” and “buts”. Either allow whips just like now, or ban them entirely. Halfway house regulations lead to too many arguments.
4. The BHA have no authority over what the courses can charge. And quite right too.
5. Keep the current regulations.
6. SmugPunter2011 satrted a thread on this subject just a few days ago. There were several well reasoned replies explaining that it is unnecessary. I can only assume that SmugPunter2011 has had his/her pocket burned, and it still rankles.
4. Hey man, I’m the head honcho and if I want to lower admission charges, I will!!
I look forward to reading more of your comments.
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