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Both horses were running before the time that I got into jumps racing but surely the Bula hurdle should be renamed in its own right instead of the meaningless "International" hurdle? I never understood why they changed the name in the first place.
It will always be the Bula as far as I’m concerned.
What’s wrong with Stan James International Bula Hurdle?
It will always be the Bula as far as I’m concerned.
What’s wrong with Stan James International Bula Hurdle?
You answer your own question GD. For people of a certain age it will always be the "Bula", but that is not the case with younger racing enthusiasts. Sponsers don’t like something/"someone" associated with their race where the sponsers name can be forgotten about.
Value Is EverythingHowever,
I do think it is wrong that a horse short of top class has still got a good race named after him, where as there are outstanding Champions with nothing.Value Is EverythingThe Relkeel Hurdle did indeed used to be titled the "Relkeel" Hurdle. Why the quotation marks were used I don’t know and they were dropped in 2007
However,
I do think it is wrong that a horse short of top class has still got a good race named after him, where as there are outstanding Champions with nothing.I take it that you hate the Rapid Lad Handicap at Beverley, then?
However,
I do think it is wrong that a horse short of top class has still got a good race named after him, where as there are outstanding Champions with nothing.I take it that you hate the Rapid Lad Handicap at Beverley, then?
If a horse had a particularly good record at a minor track Gladiateur, then fair enough. But a top racecourse like Cheltenham… Relkeel may have won three Bulas, but there are many more deserving horses to name a race in perpetuity. On Timeform ratings not among the top 10 hurdlers in any year he raced. I could understand it if Cheltenham wanted to name a race after the horse for a few years, but not 14 after that last triumph.
Value Is EverythingHowever,
I do think it is wrong that a horse short of top class has still got a good race named after him, where as there are outstanding Champions with nothing.Prior to its re-christening as the Relkeel hurdle, the race was named after Lonesome Glory. A horse whom graced Cheltenham on an uninspiring one occasion. Even then, it was an intermediate hurdle which to this day, serves as a supporting entrée/after dinner mint to the major attractions on the card.
Given that Relkeel was a hugely brave and popular soul at the time of his third win, his level of sentimental prestige is wholly correspondent to the standard and occurrence of the race. Naming a race after him would hopefully encourage the more curious newcomers to the sport to gain a greater appreciation of the race-day’s heritage.
Besides, given the perpetually increasing gentrification of race names, I’d much sooner have the Relkeel Hurdle over the "Play Deal Or No Deal World Slot NOW! at casino.bet365.com Hurdle (Grade 2)".
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