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Is it just me, but the flat season is lacking something, and just doesn’t seem as exciting as a great season over jumps? With quality racing every week, were we spoiled, or is the season just yet to get going?
know what you mean. suppose royal ascots the big meeting compared to cheltenhams festival, and we havent had that meeting yet. different generations of horses, AOB doesnt have his squad from a couple of years ago, no duke of marmalade, henry the navigator etc. no new approach, finsceal beo. all of them were good bankers.
See the Newmarket Stewards… thread & you’ll see exactly the reason why the flat season, in 2010 at least, has got a lot of catching up to do to be as good as the jumps season.
Especially with stewards that can’t find their backsides with both hands.
This is why you ought to be following the American jumps season! Just yesterday the mighty Bubble Economy won the Mason Houghland Memorial Timber Stakes a week after his grueling victory in the 4-mile Virginia Gold Cup! The 2009 champion 2nd-year novice horse Tax Ruling seemed to take the crown from 2009 champion steeplechaser Mixed Up in the G1 Iroquois Hurdle, where he outlasted the front-running Slip Away. In the Margaret Henley Filly & Mare Hurdle, Danielle Hodson expertly rode Sweet Shani(NZ) and powered to the lead over Diva Maria at the final fence. And so on and so forth. The Willowdale races are today at 1:30pm EST, and you can watch every meet for free at http://www.nationalsteeplechase.com/
Also, the Iroquois Course (in Nashville, TN, named after the first American-bred Epsom Derby winner who stood at stud in Tennessee) recieved
13 inches of rain
last Sunday. The turf was listed as "firm" yesterday, and it certainly looked like it. The limestone soil drains very well.
Is it just me, but the flat season is lacking something, and just doesn’t seem as exciting as a great season over jumps? With quality racing every week, were we spoiled, or is the season just yet to get going?
What doesn"t help is when there is a lack of consistency to form,ie Wonder horse
St Nicholas Abbey
using a Classic as a pipeopener! Even money on ground he had never encountered beggars belief! Then the flip side is
Special Duty
going off the biggest price she has been for the last 6 months because of ground issues affecting her ability to last home! Frustrating times i"m afraid! Both Guineas were a huge dissapointment for various reasons!
Things can only get better! Personally speaking Workforce
will either make or break my start to this flat season!
Is this ‘Fav Backers Inc.’ ?!
Aiden ain’t got nothing…no shorties – I know that you’re awaiting the ‘Rip’…
But there’s plenty of good(ish) things that ain’t from his yard & a short priced FAV!
Well I’m loving every hoofprint of it. From November to April, I live an anticipation-free lifestyle, playing the artificials to keep myself interested and thus avoid like bubonic plague jump racing, most of which could bore the most dimwitted of monks.
From April to November, I’m as happy as a pig in poop. History, culture, an international infrastucture, fast horses, meaningful racing, professional trainers, world famous racecourses and a Pattern which links everything together. Top quality stuff.
I do wish you jumpies would pipe down. Though a substantial ethnic minority here, us flat fans are entitled to more respect than we actually get.
From April to November, I’m as happy as a pig in poop. History, culture, an international infrastucture, fast horses, meaningful racing, professional trainers, world famous racecourses and a Pattern which links everything together. Top quality stuff.
Not if Racing For Change get their way, matey
I’m not the biggest flat fan but am following it even more distantly this year because we seem to have no potential superstar waiting in the wings yet. That’s always the biggest thrill, seeing the next potential wonder horse!
That might change if Overdose is back to his best! This year was always going to ne an anti climax imo whatever happened. And we’ve still got Zenyatta.
Thanks for the link Miss Woodford – due off in 10 mins for the first if I’ve timed it right
The entire culture of jump racing seems more friendly, greater atmosphere, camaraderie, mutual respect. Not to mention all the great moments we got last season, Katy Walsh at Cheltenham, AP with the grand national, Denman at Newbury, and so many more. The flat seems destined to not be able to match it, and it is a hard act to follow, but still seems drab, lacking characters and personality.
The warmth that jump racing has seems non-existent in flat racing.
Does seem rather strange timing to air a thread like this
Whatever one’s views of the Flat season as a whole – or Flat racing in general – few would deny surely that the Guineas and Chester meetings see it shifting from a spluttering misfire into cruise-control top gear with a regular supply of fine racing until a short hiatus ‘twixt Glorious and Ebor
Can’t say I follow the Flat with remotely the same degree of vigour and verve I used to but May and June were – and remain –
la creme de la saison
, despite the bigwigs best efforts to balls it all up
This tweedy twighopper finds an October – May NH season more than adequate thank you very much and enjoys a summer on gardening leave punctuated by a bit of the Flat, fleet, fast and sleek
Watch it, follow it, punt it if that’s your thing… or ignore it, but don’t knock it
vive la difference
No matter how tiresome the Flat may be, it’s no where near as mind-numbingly boring as threads like this.
Some National Hunt fans remind me of GAA followers in that they cant seem to enjoy their own sport without feeling the need to knock someone else’s. "You’d never see that at a soccer match" they jeer when fans of rival counties occupy the same terrace, seemingly oblivious to the protagonists pulling the heads off each other on the field of play (Gaelic Football). Is it some deep rooted, unfathomable insecurity I wonder.
Were today’s 24 National Hunt races not enough for you?
Yawnsome indeed.
And roll on the Dante.Nothing Better than Cork vs Clare in Thurles or wherever and Davy Fitz Giving it socks and Jamsie O Conner running rings around a young Sean Og.
Good Times.
The ald Gaelic Football is a different Breed IMO
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