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I believe that in the racing world today,there is far to much emphasis on speed rather then stamina.
Staying races are very important for racing,so why are they so neglected?
Just like Australia we seem to be following America in focusing far to much on short sprint races.
I think that race courses should be encouraged to hold more staying races on the flat.And breeders should be given incentives to try and find out better ways of breeding more quality stayers.Like "Yeats" for example.
These are the horses that stay around longer, and stay sound longer.Look at Millenary for example he seemed to be around for ever.Think he was trained by John Dunlop. Still performing at the higest levels at the age of 8
Was just wondering if I am the only one thinking this or does any one else agree?
There is definately and inbalance between sprint and staying races!
Was just wondering if I am the only one thinking this or does any one else agree?
I agree. Why would you not want to watch the likes of Persian Punch, San Sebastian, Savannah Bay, Churlish Charm, Yorkshire, Millenary, Kasthari, Kayf Tara, Ardross, Le Moss, Rainbow High, Solo Mio, Double Honour,
Marienbard, Royal Rebel, Double Trigger, Bollin Eric, Jardine’s Lookout, Mr Dinos, Boreas, Westerner, Sargeant Cecil, Distinction, Alcazar, Vinnie Roe, Black Sam Bellamy…just a few whose existence we would have been the poorer without.Well thankyou so much for that Love Devine, just reading through some of the names you mentioned,brought back a whole raft of memories.
Yeah good old Seargent Cecil what an outstanding stayer,liked how he could show a devastating turn of foot after two miles and make the end look like a five furlong sprint.
It is the likes of the horses you have just mentioned that brings in the crowds,and of course pumps more money into racing which is good for the sport in generall.
Just hope we dont end up like America and get rid of all them Staying races.Would be bad for racing.Well thats my own personal view of course.
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Whats the point of National Hunt Flat races then?
Arnt they mostly run by geldings who cant be bred from? Only kidding yeah point taken,but generally they are run by jump horses if ya get me.
Whats the point of National Hunt Flat races then?
To give a horse who have never seen a racecourse before( excluding point to point courses) a chance to gain experience of racing. Added to which there is a limit to how many ‘bumpers’ horses can run in. Think it may be now four but not absolutely sure about that.
Added to which there is a limit to how many ‘bumpers’ horses can run in. Think it may be now four but not absolutely sure about that.
The British limit is, I think, four ordinary bumpers. However, Championship-class bumpers do not count towards that tally, which is why, for example, Refinement ran in seven bumpers all told – the last three were the Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown Festivals’ respective Champion Bumpers.
I don’t know about the practice in Ireland.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Think Ireland there’s no limit to how many you can run in providing you meet the age requirements ie. 4-7yo. Here if you run over hurdles you can’t run in any more bumpers, that is not the case in Ireland.
To right we should have more staying races on the flat.
Im not anti sprint by any means but racing is all about speed and stamina.
Yeah I could not agree with you more there neil.
Whats happend to all our great staying races on the flat in the past? over the years the seem to have dwindled and dwindle and seemingly replaced by "MUCH SHORTER" shorter fast sprint races.Dont get me wrong either I love the sprint races aswell.But its the great staying races on the flat that I prefer.
I think all this emphasis on speed breeding will lead to the demise in the quality of a horses stamina in the thoroughbred as we know it today.
But I suppose its all about making quick money now isnt it?
Can any one think of any top staying mares of recent times aswell? Its these who we should be breeding from more "of"
It’s the variety of flat racing in this country that is one of its greatest strengths, and more emphasis on stamina would reduce the monotonous diet of sprint and mile races that we seem to "enjoy" today.
A good idea would be to upgrade the Goodwood and Doncaster Cups to Group 1 status, and the stayers’ Triple Crown to be properly showcased. It’s not difficult to do – there’s a vast amount of tradition and heritage in these races, and the horses tend to stick around for a few seasons.
Another thing "they" should do is to reintroduce the old rule that each card should contain at least 2 races, differing in distance by at least a furlong, which add up to 2 1/2 miles or more. This seems to have fallen by the wayside in recent years. There also used to be a limit on the number of 2-y-o races you could have on a single card.
I wouldn’t want the breed to become completely plodder orientated, and I’m a great enthusiast about the Global Sprint Challenge series which is the sport’s only hope for a truly international championship competition, but the pendulum shouldn’t be allowed to swing too far the other way.
Aswell as making the Goodwood and Doncaster Cup Group One events why not have a Stayers Series starting with a race like the Ormonde or Yorkshire Cup culminating in the Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket.
Include races like the Irish Leger and maybe the Cadran aswell to appeal to European Stayers aswell.
These are the horses that stay around longer, and stay sound longer.
What is your evidence for this?
I just spent a good five minutes writing out a reply to a few of the above posts and it went bank as I tried to send it! That is so annoying has any one else had this problem?
Will reply to your posts PRUFROCK,NEIL WATSON,VENUSIAN later on but am in a mad rush,Take care all!
Sometimes if I hit the "enter’ or the space bar I lose everything But I know it is my fault not the machine I just don’t know what I am doing wrong.Sorry I can’t help.
Can any one think of any top staying mares of recent times aswell? Its these who we should be breeding from more "of"
Celtic Native was a very good mare in her day – she has only had one runner so far, which is a shame, but has two youngsters who may prove to be decent, and Lady Rebecca is another one who immediately springs to mind. A winner at the weekend, Carole’s Legacy(?) was out of a decent mare I think? The trouble with staying mares is that they tend to be national hunt horses as flat horses disappear if they are decent at an early age, and then are bred to ‘flat’ stallions, and national hunt mares unless very decent, are not bred from and then the offspring take a long time (relatively) to appear.
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