Number of hurdles and fences for each course and distance…

[CarryOnKatie]

Phil,

I think different rules must apply in Ireland as some tracks only have 15 fences in three mile chases (Roscommon, Down Royal & Wexford spring to mind).

Unless courses like Taunton (who have got round the 6 fence per mile rule by having races over 2miles 7.5 furlongs (17 fences)), I presume Market Rasen must have a legitimate excemption – presumably once the Water was removed, which I believe was to avoid a dog-leg run in on the chase course, there was no suitable site for a replacement fence, although I’m sure Lekha will put us straight.

Slightly off topic, but is the third last at Newton Abbot a water-jump, a dry "water jump" (a la Huntingdon) as I’m sure I heard Martin Harris refer to it as a "stretch-fence" over the weekend.

[lekha85]

I seem to remember that Market Rasen did have special dispensation. My time there is something of a hazy memory these days! However, what you say is absolutely right so, yes, it must have special dispensation otherwise it wouldn’t have happened.
I can’t seem to find the list of special dispensations anywhere at the moment though.

The unique nature of all of the UK’s courses means that it is impossible for them to all comply with every single BHAGI all of the time. Dispensations are rare but when they do exist they are well thought through and are given for a very good reason.

It is possible the number of open ditches may have played a role in allowing the change to take place although it was changed before my time so I can’t be sure. With MR being such a sharp track, and with the undulations in the back straight, there wouldn’t be the scope for another fence anywhere else.

[TheBluesBrother]

Interesting thread this.

I must admit I have never took much notice in the number of hurdles/fences that are supposed to be jumped over any particular distance, I have noticed during the winter time how many obstacles are now omitted due to the state of the ground.

I ran a query using Raceform Interactive and ended up with a database of 21,000 races from 2006, it was certainly an eye opener to how many obstacles were omitted from meeting to meeting, so the subject whether or not

Market Rasen

has special dispensation to run with only 17 fences over the 3m1f course falls into insignificance.

At Catterick on the 1/1/2006 there were 3 x 2m3f hurdles run, in the 12.15 –

9

hurdles were jumped, 12.45 –

8

hurdles and the 1.20 –

10

hurdles were jumped

I suppose that if I speed rating these races I would subtract

1lb

for each hurdle omitted

[lekha85]

Not forgetting the number that are omitted due to ‘low sun’!

Drop the word ‘omitted’ into the search box on this page http://www.britishhorseracing.com/resources/about/whatwedo/disciplinary/searchstewards.asp and you will get an idea of the many and various reasons why fences/hurdles might be omitted on any given day.

[robnorth]

At Catterick on the 1/1/2006 there were 3 x 2m3f hurdles run, in the 12.15 –

9

hurdles were jumped, 12.45 –

8

hurdles and the 1.20 –

10

hurdles were jumped

I suppose that if I speed rating these races I would subtract

1lb

for each hurdle omitted

I wondered why that was and looking back I note:

12:15 Second-last hurdle omitted – damaged.
12:45 Third-last and second-last hurdles omitted – damaged.
1:20 presumably all had been repaired

The first two were novice events (clumsy jumpers?) and the third was a selling handicap (slow enough to step over them?).

Normally a broken hurdle can be replaced after first itme round, but there can be a problem if the stake breaks off the hurdle and gets left in the ground. It can be a bit hectic if two sections of the same hurdle are damaged. There would only be a couple of minutes to remedy the problem before a decision has to be made as to whether or not the hurdle can be jumped next time.

Kelso used to have to omit both hurdles in the straight on occasions before their rehashing of the chase course layout last year. Now the hurdles course has its own run-in the last hurdle can be placed nearer the stands where the sun isn’t such a problem. From going out on the course though I can atest that the low sun can still be a real hassle on the chase course.

Rob

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