never travelling

[Pavelos]

Hello, blokes!
What does it mean never travelling in “James Millman, the rider of GEORGE THISBY, unplaced, reported that the gelding was never travelling. The Stewards ordered GEORGE THISBY to be routine tested”
from here http://www.britishhorseracing.com/resources/about/whatwedo/disciplinary/whyranbadly.asp?theDate=28/09/2011
What was the horse doing in that time? Describe it in another words, please.
My mother language is not English.

[okjoe57]

I was at Salisbury races that day, the 28th of September, it was my birthday. I had backed George Thisby and I was pleased the stewards spoke to the jockey after the race. From memory, remember it was my birthday, GT finished a long way off the leaders having been a well-backed co-favourite. ‘Never traveling’ presumably meant the horse just couldn’t keep up with the leading pack, he certainly never featured in the race at all.

[douginho]

Its a phrase used commonly in explanation of defeat or in description of a horses past runs. For me, and I guess it can have different meanings, "never travelling" means the horse didn’t grab hold of the bit, was needing encouragement to keep up from an early stage, never in a rhythm.

I didn’t see the race or the ride so with reference to the stewards enquiring I have no idea.

[nighthorse]

Hi Pavelos. I suppose a simple way to describe "never travelling" would be that right from the start the horse did not seem happy and keen to race. Maybe he was not feeling 100% well, or had some pain somewhere, or maybe he was just unhappy and having a bad day.

Whatever, he was not in a good mood for racing and had no interest in running and winning. That is why they ran blood tests on him.

[Author]

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