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I lost my fervour for the flat many years ago. Frankel helped revive it slightly and I now take a bit more interest.
I was struck by the relatively trouble-free starts to non-stalls races at Chester. It must be easier on the horses, mentally as well as reducing the physical effects of stress.
Jockeyship comes to the fore as well and there would be fewer stalls-related injuries and more reliable off times (false-starts, of course the unknown potential fly in the ointment here).
Any ‘sacrifice’ in fairness might be a worthwhile trade-off. I’d like to see a pilot project on races at 9f or farther.
I lost my fervour for the flat many years ago. Frankel helped revive it slightly and I now take a bit more interest.
I was struck by the relatively trouble-free starts to non-stalls races at Chester. It must be easier on the horses, mentally as well as reducing the physical effects of stress.
Jockeyship comes to the fore as well and there would be fewer stalls-related injuries and more reliable off times (false-starts, of course the unknown potential fly in the ointment here).
Any ‘sacrifice’ in fairness might be a worthwhile trade-off. I’d like to see a pilot project on races at 9f or farther.
Flag start for the Cambridgeshire might be interesting!
Perhaps stalls starts for NH would sort out not just the grand national but also those dodgy NH jockeys who throw the race at the start. Would also make it easier to find winners.
Little wrong with NH starts in general imo – many want dropping in.
Flag starts on flat would be most entertaining on the old maxim alone – Starter: "Get yourselves sorted out. Triers at the front, non-triers at the back!"
Seriously, I think jockeys would be under a lot more scrutiny these days at the start. Arguably, it’s easier to pick up deliberate dwellers in a flag start than in stalls where the horse and most of the jock is hidden and excuses are harder to argue against.
And yes, think of the audience the Cambridgeshire would draw for the start alone – what a spectacle!
The Summer Of Love: Sgt. Pepper and Starting Stalls
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/new-s … ry/Bernard
Do TRF’s silver-surfers recall if the Temple, King’s Stand, July Cup, Nunthorpe etc were generally shambolic ‘lotteries’ when barrier-started?
steeplechasing
11 May 2012, 09:57
Little wrong with NH starts in general imo
– many want dropping in.
Joe , back to the doc quickly …your medication is plainly not working
what a load of bollocks
Ricky
The Summer Of Love: Sgt. Pepper and Starting Stalls
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/new-s … ry/Bernard
Do TRF’s silver-surfers recall if the Temple, King’s Stand, July Cup, Nunthorpe etc were generally shambolic ‘lotteries’ when barrier-started?
You don’t have to go that far back Drone. The Temple Stakes was flag started in 2004 during the stall handlers’ strike. Suffice it to say it brought the strike to a swift resolution.
It was won by front runner Night Prospector, who mostly plied his trade in middling handicaps before and after. The second fav started off in the direction of Tatenham Corner station.
I remember that farce well but I’d imagine it was particularly shambolic because neither the starter, jockeys or horses were drilled in it; nor (IIRC) was it a ‘barrier’ start (elastic band) as in days of old but simply ‘form some sort of line, wait for flag drop, every man for himself’
Can’t believe all sprint (or other) starts were quite so ragged prior to stall introduction, hence the query
If Alan Potts were still corresponding I’m sure he could give examples of favourites at Ally Pally heading for Wood Green Underground station with aggrieved punters heading for the tracks on the LNER, or at Lewes heading for Brighton and Beachy Head respectively…or perhaps not
Presumably jockeys had an inkling of ‘draw bias’ prior to the introduction of stalls with statutory draw, so the manouvering at starts with a profound bias e.g Beverley 5f must have been interesting. Given the weighing-room pecking order it seems likely the senior jockeys would demand the plum draw with Lester and Scobie then trying to outwit each other
Anyone know if the draw was introduced at the same time as starting stalls, or did it come later?
Little wrong with NH starts in general imo – many want dropping in.
errmmm what about the Grand National as a terrible way to start a race with a bit of knicker elastic? I’ve always been a fan of John Francome’s idea of having a line of sawdust before the actual starting point
Little wrong with NH starts in general imo – many want dropping in.
errmmm what about the Grand National as a terrible way to start a race with a bit of knicker elastic? I’ve always been a fan of John Francome’s idea of having a line of sawdust before the actual starting point
I did say ‘in general’. The National start is indeed an issue year after year. The first thing they ought to do is eliminate the parade imo.
I’d have a draw as they do on the flat only the draw positions would be for what rank you started in. I’d have three ranks, approximate position – don’t break rank – to be maintained till after jumping the first.
This should also help slow them down
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