Question 2 – Triple Crown

[cormack15]

Question 2 (from forum member Triple Crown)

May I request to the BHA that course inspections may not take place later than 2 hours prior to the first race, thus saving many pounds and hours in petrol and wasted journeys?

This is an issue we have looked at in depth in the past. If, by setting a two-hour deadline racing was abandoned and subsequently was able to take place, racing would be shooting itself in the foot – prize money would be lost to connections, opportunities for runs missed, chances for jockeys to earn lost and chances for punters up and down the land to have a bet.

Our position is that racing should be given every chance to take place. It is a fact that during winter frost can come out of the ground (or snow melt) at a time that is not much before the scheduled first race. Likewise, it often gets foggy at Brighton and Goodwood but the fog can clear quickly. A two hour cut-off time (when the course is still potentially not raceable) would therefore mean abandonments when they might not have been necessary. The key is good communication from the Clerk of the Course to say e.g. “we’re still not raceable, but we think we will be on the basis of the forecast, and will therefore take another look at 11.30am.â€

[graysonscolumn]

It’s hard to come down firmly on either side here, really. A two-hour cut-off for inspections would have prevented Fiona Needham’s Worst Hour (part two) at Huntingdon last autumn, but by the same token it may well have accounted for the meeting at the same venue on Cheltenham Festival Wednesday which was ultimately able to go ahead safely enough.

I think the BHA is a little too trusting as to how many of the media outlets quoted actually give information on inspections (and the outcome thereof). The use of the word "often" rather than "always" or "every half hour" is almost a tacit admission that the conveyance of such information can fall short on occasion, though I supppose the BHA is admittedly a bit at the mercy of the likes of Five Live in this regard.

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.

[dprp]

Fiona Needhams Huntingdon debacle would have been interesting had there been a 2 hour rule in place. she called it ON at 10.30 but had to backtrack at 12.30 when jockeys,trainers,owners and anyone with a hint of common sense pointed out the frozen solid track!

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