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In last years 1000 Guineas Nahoodh may have been unlucky not to win. Six Perfections was also unlucky.
Would it be a good idea to have a false rail from the start, ending one and a half furlongs out? Allowing those caught on the rail a way through, with the field fanning out. Normally I’d be in favour of jockeyship having some effect on the result. However, for Classics it is surely the right thing to do; to enable the best horse every opportunity to win.
Mark
Value Is EverythingMark,
I know it sounds slightly harsh on my part but if a horse has got itself into a pocket in the first place why should there be a false rail to ‘get it out of jail’ near the tail end of the race?
Realistically, the horse that doesnt get stuck in a pocket and has a great trip throughout should be classed as the best horse on the day surely?
It is not always the way though is it HTH?
95% of the time the best horse wins but what about the other 5%?
Last year’s 2000, Henrythenavigator was on the rail and it opened up for him, what if he had not got through? As I said Nahoodh was possibly unlucky, Six Perfections was definitely unlucky.
It surely devalues Classics if the BEST HORSE does not win.
Mark
Value Is EverythingI know where you’re coming from Mark. I always like to see the best horse or sportsman win as long as I don’t have a financial interest, but why do you suggest this only happens in G1’s?
If this were to be done, I think It’d be only right that we try and find the best horse in every race on the flat calender – handicaps included. The rail is a big part of racing, as are starting stalls, the draw and ground.
Having said that, if an action as detrimental to a horse’s chances of winning as watering is seen as acceptable, then why not?
Do what they do in Cycling – have a Time Trial, and send each horse off at 2 minute intervals.
Do what they do in Cycling – have a Time Trial, and send each horse off at 2 minute intervals.
Sorry Gerald, I don’t follow that? Maybe it’s me being stupid (more than likely and I am a newbie) but are you suggesting:
25 horses in the 2000 guineas, setting off 1 at a time every 2 minutes the race will take;
25 Horses x 2mins = 50mins
+ the time it takes the 50th horse to past the post (1min 40 was the winning time from 2008 if I recall?)
= approx 51mins 40 seconds to run a 2 minute race?
Please tell me I have that seriously wrong…
Deleerious
Do what they do in Cycling – have a Time Trial, and send each horse off at 2 minute intervals.
That would be taking it a little too far Gerald.
Don’t come crying to me when your bet gets stuck on the rails and loses.
It has been done at Goodwood and Chester, so why not Newmarket?
Don’t get me wrong, as a punter I don’t particularly like these false rails. Often I can predict a slow run race where hold up horses are unlikely to get a run. i.e. back prominent runners. False rails take a little away from the average race and would not like to see it as the norm.
But Classics and the top Group Ones are important not only for betting, but breeding and the "racing industry". It can not be for the good of racing if the best horse does not win these races.
The only arguement against it (that I can see) is it may be to the detrement of a front-runners chance. Then again so are pacemakers.
Mark
Value Is EverythingDon’t think Gerald was serious Deleerious.
Think it was a tongue in cheek swipe at my idea.Mark
Value Is EverythingHey, in the Prologue of the Tour de France I think there are 22 teams, each with 9 riders, making a total of 198. They set off at one minute intervals, so it takes over 3 hours. For the longer Individual Time Trials, there is usually a 2 minute gap, but some of the riders will have dropped out by then.
Why not, as an alternative, or a novelty? In France, the Time Trial is known as the Race Of Truth.
Don’t think Gerald was serious Deleerious.
Think it was a tongue in cheek swipe at my idea.Mark
I’m pleased to hear it! I’ll get used to the various "characters" on here in time I’m sure
I know it’s a bit sad, but I’m buzzing about the guineas this weekend, I really am!
Deleerious
Surely breeders will recognise that a horse was unlucky and their offspring will still find their natural market-driven price at the sales.
Also, there are several valuable races which a horse can win and arguably, if a horse consistently finds trouble-in-running in their races, there is a bigger problem which needs addressing.
Surely breeders will recognise that a horse was unlucky and their offspring will still find their natural market-driven price at the sales.
Also, there are several valuable races which a horse can win and arguably, if a horse consistently finds trouble-in-running in their races, there is a bigger problem which needs addressing.
Breeders will recognise unlucky losers though I don’t really think they will get the praise they deserve. Did "Yesterday" in Casual Look’s Oaks?
Agree with your second point David.
Mark
Value Is EverythingJust so that you don’t get paranoid or neurotic Mark, I wasn’t having a swipe at your idea – I just typed the first thing that came into my head when I saw the thread title.
Gerald
How about having the false running rail starting 2 furlongs out and then gradually narrowing into a funnell of say just four horses width at the finishing line?
That way, every damn jockey would have to go all out from the off to make sure they got to the funnel first.And yet, who can forget Martin Dwyer’s skill on Sir Percy in the Derby? Is it purely about the fastest horse or is it the greater spectacle of man and beast facing adversity and different outcomes? To completely remove the element of chance and luck would invariably also have to include dispensing with the lottery of the draw.
Pursuing Gerald’s frivolity, why not just stick them all on treadmills and see who covers the furthest distance in a set time?Just so that you don’t get paranoid or neurotic Mark, I wasn’t having a swipe at your idea – I just typed the first thing that came into my head when I saw the thread title.
Gerald
I don’t mind it at all Gerald, humourous criticism (swipe) of a point of view lightens the thread mood.
Mark
Value Is Everything
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