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i think so
and i think its the worst commentry ive ever heard on channel 4 Watching the replay, GC looked to go wrong on the flat before the fence, Scotsirish broke a hind on landing at that funny little green hedge. I dont get anything from seeing horses jump banks and cheese wedges at speed personally. They could dispose of these silly novelty races and I wouldn’t even notice.
I usually enjoy watching them. I think it is brilliant how a jaded horse like Garde Champetre, Spotthedifference or L’Ami can be revived by the test of agility and speed.
They are usually pretty safe too – apart from jockey errors.
I think the main question here must be about the watering. For two horses – who have been sound through long careers – to break down fatally suggests a poor surface.
With today’s awful news I hope this puts an end to these unloved cross country races. Put a veterans or stayers chase in its place from next year.
X-Country course was good to firm, owners and trainers knew this and chose to run their horses. I seem to recall the x-country not being run once due to the going being too firm, maybe it should have been abandoned.
I usually enjoy watching them. I think it is brilliant how a jaded horse like Garde Champetre, Spotthedifference or L’Ami can be revived by the test of agility and speed.
They are usually pretty safe too – apart from jockey errors.
I think the main question here must be about the watering. For two horses – who have been sound through long careers – to break down fatally suggests a poor surface.
Agree, the talent of those horses you mention, is fantastic. The way they turned their hooves to the Cross Country course was a sight to behold.
Such a shame that Garde Champetre hasn’t made it.
RIP Garde Champetre.
There’s just too much risk involved in jumping unusual fences at unusual angles and gradients, watering obviously insufficient, shouldn’t have run it IMO. I just wish there aren’t any further fatalities this week, i don’t think I or Mrs Rich1985 could take it….
Course record broken by 12 secs: too fast, too firm over awkward obstacles.
Had they been able to water for safety they would have done: they couldn’t, but still ran the race. Racing’s its own worst enemy at times
Once again I’ll mention the Steeplethon as a model for UK cross-country races. To my knowledge there have been no fatalities or major injuries in the history of the race, and it is always popular with fans. There aren’t any real tricks, just a variety of fences and a meandering course (that takes the horses through the infield lake!).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-SmbKUolMkThere’s just too much risk involved in jumping unusual fences at unusual angles and gradients, watering obviously insufficient, shouldn’t have run it IMO. I just wish there aren’t any further fatalities this week, i don’t think I or Mrs Rich1985 could take it….
I’m afraid Educated Evans was fatally injured in the last. Triple event today. Doesn’t bode well for the rest of the meeting if there is no rain. I agree, racing is its own worst enemy at times being that the racing at the festival is run a right old clip. Its asking for trouble running on anything better than good ground.
Seems they got it wrong with the watering on the main course as well ? It has been very dry here in general and especially in the last few weeks. Think the CC has been run on the firmer side of good before ?
I will be on tenterhooks through the next three days, begging for no more fatalities.
With three horses lost on the first day, I can’t help but think of when 10 or 11 died at the 2006 Festival. Three losses is already awful, but any more and Animal Aid, the Daily Mail and co will feel that they have some powerful ammo.
RIP Garde Champetre, Scotsirish and Educated Evans.
Nothing wrong with the race itself, the ground is too firm. The clerk has admitted so hasn’t he? He has kept saying thay aim to have safe jumping ground, soft side of good, for the first day. Therefore if the CC course is good-firm it is by his own definition not safe jumping ground.
The race should have been cancelled on Monday before final decs once it was clear there was going to be no deluge.
Nothing wrong with the race itself, the ground is too firm. The clerk has admitted so hasn’t he? He has kept saying thay aim to have safe jumping ground, soft side of good, for the first day. Therefore if the CC course is good-firm it is by his own definition not safe jumping ground.
The race should have been cancelled on Monday before final decs once it was clear there was going to be no deluge.
I tend to agree.
Perhaps they could have contacted connections of the runners and said to them, "We’re going to cancel the race because of the going, so we’re now intending to run the race over the standard course?"
If they got (say) 6 or more acceptors, then at least they’d have had a race to put on.
It’s interesting that during the pre-festival press conference Phil Smith was imploring more home based trainers to have a go at the Cross Country race.
Hen Knight responded(and I will have to paraphrase as I can’t find my notes) the reason there are so few entries is the ground on the cross country course rides too firm and the risk of injuring a horse is too high. Until something is done about the ground then trainers "will not risk their horses".
We were hoping for a ding dong but the subject was quickly changed.
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Bit ironic that horses running at Goodwood would probably be racing on slower ground than most of the races at the Festival this week
They wont admit it but the drainage is probably too good at Chelt these days
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