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This subject came up in conversation the other day and I just wondered if anyone had any idea the last time the going condition ‘hard’ was used in UK racing? I’m assuming it was some years ago. My dad seems to think Bath was known for using it occasionally.
Thanks
According to my Timeform database the last occurrence in NH was at Taunton on the 3rd of October 1996 and prior to that at Exeter on the 6th of September 1995
Both tracks didn’t have a watering system then, or at best a rudimentary one utilising water bowsers. Don’t know if either have a proper system now
The last occurrence on the Flat was at Bath on the 3rd of August 1999 though my flat database ceases in 2010, so there may have been an instance since but I rather doubt it, ‘officially’ anyway
Bath, I think, still doesn’t water preferring to rely on the natural springiness of its downland turf; and good for them if still true, though I do recall ‘problems’ with slippage in recent years which may be due to overuse or perhaps, heaven forfend, they’ve desecrated the course with a hosepipe
Edit: crossed post, apologies Ex Ruby Light
Brilliant. Thanks. Apparently your dad is always right then. I’ll never hear the end of it.
23.
For Jump racing only, where the going is assessable but there is insufficient
moisture in the ground to race (i.e. the going is Hard), the state of the ground must be
given as “Hard (unraceable)”.Hard Going at Jump Meetings
24.The following procedure should be adopted when Jump racing may have to be
abandoned because of hard ground on any part of the course:
(i)
An inspection must take place by 08.00 the day before the meeting.
(ii)
The Clerk of the Course must contact the Inspector of Courses at least 24
hours before the proposed inspection time and arrange for his attendance
at the inspection (see paragraph 25). If it is then considered that the
ground is Hard, and consequently in an unfit state to race, the meeting
must be abandoned at that time in accordance with Rule (B)9 irrespective
of the weather forecast.http://www.britishhorseracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/BHAGI-03.pdf
Value Is EverythingI would have thought Bath would be the last place where they didn’t turn on the taps
Bath doesn’t have a watering system and often produce firm going. Oft-results in smaller fields, but interestingly it still receives support from many of the good yards. Mark Johnston has made his opinions known on watering to manufacture going and regularly sends his horses on a 500 mile round trip to the track. Shame it is pretty much the only place in the country a horse wanting fast ground can go and get it.
The fields for that last Bath meeting on Hard in 1999 were 9 9 15 10 3 6. The 3-runner event apart (an 18f staying handicap) decent fields by any standards
The fields at the last NH meeting on Hard, at Taunton in 1996 were 4 12 5 6 4 7, with the two chases having 5 and 4. Reasonable
The fields at the Exeter meeting in 1995 were 8 3 4 7 4 3 with the two chases having 3 and 7. MC Pipe had a treble which included his 2000th winner
Reasonably unreasonable though I’d guess (haven’t checked) that those fields were on a par with other late-summer meetings at Exeter which were quite frequent back thenTaunton on the 3rd of October 1996
Wow, I was expecting a June, July or August.
If only I had known the ground was that quick in October I would of gone back in for a personal best in the 400 metres.Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Bath going described as “Firm-hard in places” tomorrow. Probably why there is only 31 runners on the 7 race card. This may get worse as the season progresses although some rain is forecast Friday though probably not enough to make a difference.
Bath going described as “Firm-hard in places” tomorrow.
The Racing Post are more diplomatic when it comes to publishing going allowance descriptions, for example if the going was hard, “Top Speed” will have his going allowance as “Firmx”.
Whilst overwatering is a bit of a blight on racing, there is no excuse in this day and age for a track not to actually have a watering system in place and Bath (ironic name all things considered) I believe is the only course in UK that doesn’t. I know this summer is more the exception rather than the norm but I really don’t see how in the age of health and safety first ARC get away with this situation.
Genuinely good to firm ground will obviously not suit all horses but it will not in the main harm them either but once you get into the description of simply firm or hard, even horses that need quick ground run the increased risk of jarring themselves, which could potentially put them out for the rest of the season.
There are not even enough runners at today’s Bath meeting to have an each way bet for a 3rd place finish and with only one event actually getting more than 5 runners this really is a disgrace – can’t be good for the racecourse either as turnover will likely take a big hit.
Frankly all so unnecessary and avoidable for the outlay of an actual watering system – which should be mandatory for all racecourses.
Bath’s GoingStick reading of 11.1 this morning still lags behind Thirsk’s 12.8 (which was presumably taken in the car park) on a surprisingly early-season April 17, 2009. A few weeks earlier on March 25th that year, Taunton recorded a pavement-like 11.7 for it’s jumps meeting.
The late Folkestone’s 3.1 on April 1, 2008 and Haydock’s watery 2.7 on Feb 20th this year are the Flat & NH records respectively at the soggy end of things.
Mike
3 non-runners declared at present means runners down to a paltry 28 – 2,3,5,3,7,3 and 5. Maybe the first 7 racecard where each race consists a prime number of entries
Enzo on ATR talking about one of the runners at Bath
‘Could do with a little bit more cut in the going’……..Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
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