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A bad idea IMO. British tracks should not be staging races which encourage british trainers to race their horses on dirt tracks.
gc, you are quite right of course and it’s not good of me but it’s only done in return to the constant AW knockers on here, the one thing that surprises me most about here, the lack of inclusiveness and dismissal of what is now a main part of british horse racing.
I really do think AW racing will gain a bigger and better share of the action as time goes on and it wouldn’t surprise me if it becomes the mainstay of racing here but as long as I can still enjoy Lingfield in the snow I’ll be happy – we need some snow this winter.
I’ll try not to react to the negative comments any more but I doubt my consistency.
The horse gets an extra $100,000 for just showing up to Churchill Downs as well.
Ok, now to brainstorm: who out of the current squadron of 2YOs has a decent profile?
Bernadini’s half sister, due to debut at Kempton on monday
Have Kempton actially staged any other 9f races there this season? I think that is the only one.
There was a 9f conditions race won by Campanologist in March this year.
Thanks Marcus, I mean in excess to that one. Though I concede it wasn’t crystal clear in my post. Any ideas why there haven’t been any more? Strikes me as a good distance to use for the late 2-y-o’s, early 3-y-os so that there isn’t such a big step up from 8f to 10f.
It is an interesting idea so why not roll with it for a couple of years to see how it pans out.
AW does have its own niche market and dedicated followers, While i dont pay much interest in it during the "proper" racing season you cannot fault that the quality is improving and National Hunt racing as ceratinly not suffered as a result from it.
National Hunt racing as ceratinly not suffered as a result from it.
You make an excellent point, Neil. NH has never been stronger. The only impact the AW has had on the traditional jumps season is the possibly reduced infill into novice hurdles. (This might not be a bad thing; AP’s wry descriptions of Taunton mega-cards with four fully subscribed divisions of the same novice hurdle never sounded like much fun in the first place).
Why don’t the Kentucky horsemen reciprocate by laying on a formal trial for our 2000 Guineas? We can add to the prize pool and help with travel expenses for the successful horse (a la Ascot and Hard Buck).
the one thing that surprises me most about here, the lack of inclusiveness and dismissal of what is now a main part of british horse racing.
Oh, it’s here for keeps alright, and punditing on enough of the stuff this year has heightened my own curiosity in it somewhat. Indeed, whilst still being anything but an all-weather evangelist, only a balls-up at my Day Job (sorry, Prufrock) prevented me from taking in my first ever artificial surface meeting at Kempton the night before last – I’m sure I’ll put that right in the coming weeks.
Now, as they used to say on Drop the Dead Donkey, here is something to stir around in your ideas wok. Given that;
– the North and Scotland is still totally unserved by an artificial surface course,
– the chances of one such coming to either Musselburgh or Sedgefield seem to have been stalled or died completely,
…could the time be right to convert the Flat course at Ayr to an artificial surface?
I’d say it’s reasonable to assume the course is likely to enter a bit of a state of flux following its recent putting up for sale, and part of that might include a reappraisal of how best it can serve the prevailing racing trends / racing calendar.
Moving Europe’s richest sprint handicap from turf to sand might be a bit much for some to stomach, but a variety of Group and Listed contests at Kempton have made the transition in the last couple of years without the world imploding.
Moreover, with Ayr lying on the west coast, the prospect of decent (or better) Irish Polytrack performers being attracted to the mainland would be greatly enhanced – I’d suggest it is the geography, rather than just the often estimable prizemoney, that is preventing more Irish runners making the trip over to Wolverhampton, Kempton, etc.
Best of all, the switch from turf to sand could be made with the absolute bear minimum of impact (if any at all) on the jumps track – assuming, that is, that I have remembered correctly that hurdles races are run on their own strip of turf rather than on the Flat course.
Thoughts?
Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)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.
Jeremy!!!
Does anyone know a priest? I’m sure Jeremy is going to start spraying pea soup around the room soon!Sand in this country should only be used for building sandcastles.
Horse > Grass
Camels > Sand.
You make an excellent point, Neil. NH has never been stronger. The only impact the AW has had on the traditional jumps season is the possibly reduced infill into novice hurdles. (This might not be a bad thing; AP’s wry descriptions of Taunton mega-cards with four fully subscribed divisions of the same novice hurdle never sounded like much fun in the first place).
The counter to that is that the really ordinary horses, the OR40 and under brigade, will no longer be absorbed by Banded class contests on the sand once the BHA’s edict banning them comes into place.
TRF’s very own Lekha85 told the Post a few weeks ago that Arab cards will continue to increase the number of contests open to such equine flotsam and jetsam hereafter; but unless expressly prevented from doing so, I don’t think we can rule out the possibility of some (many?) of them being sent over hurdles instead.
I love mediocre horses, as many of you well know, but at the same time I’m not sure whether, for example, it serves the best interests of some demented, 32-rated failed 5f sprinter who was bred to go no further than 5f-6f to be given an assignment three times as far and with several lumps of timber in the way. Doubtless there could be occasional exceptions to the rule who will improve beyond all logic for the switch, but what of the remainder?
Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)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.
Jeremy!!!
Does anyone know a priest? I’m sure Jeremy is going to start spraying pea soup around the room soon!
“The power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you!”, etc.
Worry not, Underscore, you know where my stronger affinities do and always will lie. I just think a more holistic approach to artificial surfaces may serve racing’s interests quite well.
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.
this could be good news for me as I am applying for the job of commentator at Churchill Downs!
Craig
Doesn’t seem like Bernardini’s half-sister ran on Monday? Better look again.
Kentucky Derby or Oaks trial? Because another nice candidate could be Dreamtheimpossible – out of sensational Breeders’ Cup Distaff filly Spain. Her first foal being sired not by Storm Cat, but Giant’s Causeway.
Good luck Craig.
Whoever gets that job though has a tough act to follow on from Luke Kurytbosch.
Good luck Craig.
Whoever gets that job though has a tough act to follow on from Luke Kurytbosch.
Extremely. I knew Luke pretty well. WHat will be eerie is he made the commentary box into his own little racing shrine. Posters and memrobilia all over the walls together with the biggest collection crayola wax crayons, here, there and everywhere.
if I get the job, I will probably get a plaque for the door reading: "Luke’s View"
Craig
Doesn’t seem like Bernardini’s half-sister ran on Monday? Better look again.
Kentucky Derby or Oaks trial? Because another nice candidate could be Dreamtheimpossible – out of sensational Breeders’ Cup Distaff filly Spain. Her first foal being sired not by Storm Cat, but Giant’s Causeway.
She won a Leicester 7f fillies maiden on debut today quite nicely. She’s obviously going to the unconventional route.
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