- This topic has 13 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 11 months ago by
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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-ra … 77100/top/
Given they’ve moved the Champion Stakes from Newmarket to Ascot in order to run it over the round 10F, this seems laughably perverse. What are these people playing at?
- Total Posts 17716
I don’t understand why they are even considering it personally ..
The most infuriating "reason" for running the QE2 over the straight mile given is this:
"At the end of the day you could have a bit more certainty about the surface on the straight track at that time of the year".
So … RfC have pulled the
Champion Stakes
off a straight, fair track to a course which can’t guarantee a sound surface in late October and itself admits to worries about the lottery of the draw. How odd that Ascot (and indeed Newmarket) failed to mention these doubts at the time this most idiotic of changes was nodded through.
http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-ra … 83205/top/
Confirmed on the straight course in the latest round of bizarre announcements for this day.
The other bizarre announcements being Ascot’s plan for a "30,000 sell-out" and limiting the Champion Stakes to 14 runners because of the potential impact of the draw.
We also have sectional timing for one day only.
Fortunately I’m going to be at Cheltenham avoiding and ignoring the whole farce the new Champions Day will be.
- Total Posts 17716
Beggars belief. This shows what trying to manufacture such meaningless "champions days" leads to.
If the ground on Ascot’s round course is going to be too bad for phenomenally valuable Group 1 races; and if the field is to be limited to 14 because of the bias of the draw towards low numbers, perhaps it would be better to reschedule this 10f
Champion Stakes
malarkey on a straight course somewhere else.
Ah, here’s an idea … how about
Newmarket
, Rod? Funny nobody thought of having this October showpiece there before…
There were two races over the 10F course during Royal Ascot. Both had a maximum field of 16 declared, but there were two non runners in the Wolferton Handicap.
The first six home in each race were drawn as follows:
Tercentenary Stakes 11-5-3-15-14-16
Wolferton Handicap 15-11-10-12-4-13
What low draw bias?
Do these people actually watch racing?
AP
If there was a draw bias – which seems not to be the case given the stats above – would someone care to explain how reducing the field from 16 to 14 would eliminate it anyway?
Presumably Rod and the trainers consulted reckon stall 14 does have a ‘chance’ but 15 and 16 that oh-so-crucial few yards further to the left would have ‘no chance’
Folks I hear what you are saying , its a farce no doubt , Rod and his kind have got their way , but one thing ….what about the entire tradition and history of these great races , all torn up at a minute’s notice
That is what I object to in the strongest possible terms , a total and utter disregard for the great history of these special races , consigned to the bin for no other reason than justifying their bloated salaries, justification of their existence
The mere fact that the main constituents of racing allowed this to happen shows the lack of leadership and most of all any integrity to protect the pattern which up to now has been wonderfully enshrined in the racing calender
Shame on them , I sincerely hope it ends in tears ….I want no part of it at all and will be ignoring in its entirety
Ricky
- Total Posts 17716
Another blow against diversity in the Pattern, too. Am I correct in thinking that there is now only one all-age, open Group 1 Mile race in the UK run over a round course?
Doubtless RfC will now be wanting to move the
Sussex Stakes
from Goodwood to Ascot on the grounds that it’s a whacky exception, run on a weird course miles from anywhere, where horses have to negotiate a hill and a sharp bend.
The new, straight substitute – run half an hour before the
King George
in late July – will be worth a trillion pounds to the winner. Renamed the
Berks Champion Mile
, it will represent a true mid-season championship test and bring 15 million new race fans into the fold.
These people will never be satisfied unless they’re constantly meddling with something. Who employed them? What have the BHA got to say? Are the BHA impotent?
If you owned an outsider with a chance, would you rather be drawn 15 or 16 or not get a run? Maybe they could have a special dispensation for outsiders to be allowed a run if they accept stall 15 or 16. That should create a bit of interest for them.
These trainers who were consulted over this, is it possible to have a few names?
Does make you wonder who is the brains behind this idea.
One thing which could be done is to get to a meeting with a BRC series race and hope you get collared by these people with camcorders who are asking the fans what they think and this would be a good plan to tell them when asked about your views of the series.
This new Champions Day will only benefit the very rich owners with prize money that could easily be given to the much smaller meetings.
Cannot believe though that they are hoping for a 30,000 sell out at Ascot, last year Cheltenham got more than Newmarket when they raced in October for last years Champions Day.
I bet they will get about 10-15,000 and then say they are pleased as it gives them something to aim for over the next few years.
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