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It would get us closer to an answer, agreed; but if the maxim of "speed kills" is held to be true, then the slower pace of many French hurdle races (on account of slower ground and rather more than eight hurdles per 2m) next to their British counterparts tempers the validity of a like-for-like comparison a touch.
Not an easy issue for any of us to pronounce on with maximum confidence, this, is it!
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.
Not only are there fatalities from timber hurdles on the day but sometimes weeks or months afterwards. The owners of Golan Way previously had a filly with Sheena West called Kalmini, who finished 10th in the 2006 Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle. As I understand it she came back with a very small piece of birch in the leg. This led to an infection and death.
I agree, the replacement of timber hurdles with fixed brush hurdes is probably a good idea. Not sure the current design is good enough, but I do think it probably teaches hurdlers a better way of jumping. For a natural progression to fences.
Mark
Value Is EverythingHave taken a look at how many fatalities (since March 13 07) at each particular venue. Figure in brackets show those
not
said to have fallen or brought down. Though have not seen how many meetings, races, runners and ground conditions (firm, heavy etc)
; so it is not that scientific. Also, looked at the Timeform racecourse description to see if there might be a type of course that might be worse than others.Sedgefield 16 (eight) Sharp, fairly easy fences, some undulations.
Cheltenham 12 (5) Undulating, galloping, stiff fences.
Market Rasen 12 (3) Sharp, easy fences, minor undulations, favours handy type.
Newton Abbott 12 (7) Tight, flat.
Plumpton 12 (7) Tight, steep undulations, favours quick jumpers / handy types.
Wincanton 12 (6) Sharp, level (though the cross fence is downhill).
Huntingdon 11 (6) Fast, speedy, flat.
Ludlow 11 (5) Sharp, easy fences.
Stratford 11 (2) Sharp, flat, triangular.Do think it is unfair on Cheltenham to start the information on the first day of the festival; not at the start of a season. It also has the most competitive fields.
With all the other courses being described as either tight, sharp or fast; there does seem a link to speed.
It was interesting that "bottom" of the league were:
Newbury with 2 fatalities (neither after falls). Despite large fields. Galloping, flat, easy bends and plenty of room.
Catterick also had 2 despite being a sharp track.
Doncaster 2 Dont know how many meetings they have had in this period since building work.
Kempton 2 Flat, fairly stiff fences, has taken out the water jump.Anyone know how I can get hold of information about the consistancy of soils? Clay, chalk, sand, mixture, etc. To see whether that might have an effect.
Mark
Value Is EverythingThe Young Fella’s critique of fixed-brush hurdles is spot on. I have long regarded these obstacles as potential death-traps and would be horrified if they were introduced at any more courses. The rigidity of the heavy wooden frames and the unprotected planks at the base of the take-off side must be important contributory factors in the high number of equine injuries and fatalities that we’ve seen in fixed-brush hurdle races over the years.
No, the way forward must surely be the all-plastic EasyFix hurdles which have been designed first and foremost with horses’ welfare in mind. I’ve watched a lot of the races over these obstacles on the Irish tracks where they were introduced about 18 months ago and have only ever seen 1 faller. Many of the top UK trainers are now using them for schooling and have been fulsome in their praise. Let’s hope that the BHA gives Perth the go-ahead to use them at their April meeting and that the ball can then start rolling.
To a degree, though, that risk is not unique to brush hurdles.
Take away the odd exception with butter-soft fences, e.g. Will Be Done literally walking through one of Haydock’s Neo-Bullfinches the other week to no ill effect, and the onus not to take a steeplechase fence by the roots or base is the same as that for the brushes. And getting horses not to do that with fences will presumably have been paramout from the very start of their schooling over them.
I understand where you’re coming from re: the severity of injuries with brush hurdles, and the proportion of base-to-twig for these obstacles is slightly different to that fences, I’m pretty sure. Notwithstanding, I don’t really see them as uniquely or disproportionately dangerous for all that the losses can err on the notably conspicuous, graphic side.
gc
Given that we can both construct cogent arguments in favour of brush and timber hurdles, I think it is important to have a balance in what is available. Should a trainer, as Martin Pipe did, dislike the brush hurdles then there are plenty of other options. If they have a marked preference for the brush then there should be plenty of opportunities across the country.
Neither should dominate, though. Especially not Fixed Brush on the grounds of preparing horses for the proper fences. A few who were regulars in Haydock’s Fixed Brush Novices’ Hurdle series spring to mind.
Mister Potter – clouts at least one fence per race even now
Cloudy Lane – great jumper and completed in the National
Or Jaune – hasn’t looked like a natural yetMy hazy memories only provide a tiny sample, but with them I can’t subscribe to the
"they teach a horse how to make a good shape"
theory.
John
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