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I can’t see this one taking off
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I was once in favour of this many years ago, Nathan. Putting the question to a panel of experts at a West Berkshire Racing Club event. On health grounds rather than weight for age. In theory the older horses have fully matured and I thought sounder.
A Newbury racecourse vet said he’d done his own research in to injuries of racehorses. He believed if anything it is best as it is. Horses starting to race as three year olds still get the same injuries, but their joints are more advanced, aren’t growing at the same rate and therefore take longer to heel. Older the horse is when first going in to racing the worse the problem is/the longer it takes to heel. Indeed, in his experience the type of horse that gets more injuries than any – by purely running – are bumpers. Although the reason why they haven’t raced yet might have been because they’re unsound, in his opinion it did not make up for the disparity.
So that changed my opinion somewhat.
Value Is EverythingWhy not just scrap all Flat racing and be done with it!
Because how many jump horses are non geldings…..?
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I was once in favour of this many years ago, Nathan. Putting the question to a panel of experts at a West Berkshire Racing Club event. On health grounds rather than weight for age. In theory the older horses have fully matured and I thought sounder.
A Newbury racecourse vet said he’d done his own research in to injuries of racehorses. He believed if anything it is best as it is. Horses starting to race as three year olds still get the same injuries, but their joints are more advanced, aren’t growing at the same rate and therefore take longer to heel. Older the horse is when first going in to racing the worse the problem is/the longer it takes to heel. Indeed, in his experience the type of horse that gets more injuries than any – by purely running – are bumpers. Although the reason why they haven’t raced yet might have been because they’re unsound, in his opinion it did not make up for the disparity.
So that changed my opinion somewhat.
On the basis of that vet’s opinion NH breds, designed to be late maturers, who may not see a racecourse until they are at least five would be the most susceptible. That flies in the face of traditional views of how to best nuture a potentially great steeplechaser (though not so much in the nineteenth century or in France).
There is the perception that jumpers are more prone to long-term injuries but, excluding those caused by the act of jumping, are they? Are there any figures relating to comparative injury rates jumps vs flat or between horses of different ages and if so how can injuries sustained in the act of jumping be filtered out?
Why not just scrap all Flat racing and be done with it!
Because how many jump horses are non geldings…..?
There used to be a lot more. If there was no Flat then breeding (of jumpers) industry would adapt and flourish.
Lol :) Bear-baiting Flat lovers is one thing I do to occupy the ‘summer’!!!
Not long now until the jumps Golden Miller
looking forward to seeing your contributionsGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Blimey, good stuff from the RP. It is so depressing to see the way racing/breeding is going, and there is a knock on effect on the NH game. If 2yo couldn’t run, certain sire lines would never gain traction, and Flat studs would hold onto the lines they consider ‘robust’, but which are highly unlikely to produce staying chasers. Perhaps commercial Irish interests would leave the 4yo NH agenda alone too.
I wouldn’t mind getting rid of two-year old races.
First of all, it’s unfair to run animals that aren’t fully matured or haven’t even reached their 2nd birthday. This happens quite often in March or April when late foals take on horses born in January or February two years ago. For a punter betting on two-year old races is simply a guessing game. They can improve a lot faster than older horses and no one knows what to expect after a 5-6 week break or towards the end of the season. Are they running out of fuel or just getting mature and more experienced and improve for the step up in trip?Looking at what used to be a two-year old operation, Ballydoyle has now become very poor at getting one ready first time out. I think they’ve only had like 3 or 4 first time out winners in the past two seasons. Looking back at the 90s, it was especially Michael Tabor who landed quite regularly decent bets with 1st time out winners trained by A P O’Brien. Things have changed for them as far as successful breeding goes. All their top sires weren’t famous for being spectacular two year olds, though they still had winning form: Camelot only ran twice and both times over a mile, Galileo one race over a mile very late in the season, Montjeu just two runs over 8f and 9f on heavy going in France, High Chaparral ran three times at 2, but also made his debut in September.
Maybe the “German solution” isn’t a bad one, since they have very few 2-year old races and the first ones are rarely run before July. Horses get to know the track and the competition, but very late in the season and aren’t overraced. Can’t stand those idiots who run their juveniles 12, 15 or almost close to 20 times during a season.
Yes indeed, German 2y are brought out later, and for many of them even that is way too early..
But I think in German breeding early maturity is not a big factor, as we don’t have really big prized 2y races.Yes indeed, German 2y are brought out later, and for many of them even that is way too early..
But I think in German breeding early maturity is not a big factor, as we don’t have really big prized 2y races.If you look at Schiergen or Woehler who have been in the business for quite a few decades, they are very good at handling older horses. Of course they know what it takes to win a Derby as well, but they seem to be better the more a horse matures. And this is how it should be.
Thank you for knowing our trainers
, those two are indeed the best German ones.
Peter Schiergen was also our best ever jockey, I saw his Europe record at Dortmund in 1995.
This one was only bettered by P.C. Boudot last year.
You are right, they are building up their horses very patiently,
and this year is a Schiergen year again.I believe 2-y-o racing is right, because of the growing athletes development into a stronger racehorse. 3-y-o+ who have raced at 2 or at least trained upon that are sounder and race longer than stowaways.
Can’t find the article from Howard Wright on Racing Post Titled: “Veterinary Seminar: Study claims early racing does not harm horse” this is due to the Tendons stop in developing flexibility and strenght at app 2 years of age. A winters training and racing or close to at 2 is good to the horse. This I believe is true, but if fact says different, keep them on the farm another year.Best Wishes
SilkSimply going on the argument that should this be brought in then there would be no weight allowances and we’d have definitive champions at the end of the year – I think this would be a good idea.
It’ll never happen though.
Thank you for knowing our trainers
, those two are indeed the best German ones.
Peter Schiergen was also our best ever jockey, I saw his Europe record at Dortmund in 1995.
This one was only bettered by P.C. Boudot last year.
You are right, they are building up their horses very patiently,
and this year is a Schiergen year again.Hi Hein Bollow, I won’t pretend to know much about German racing, but can you tell me anything about Sascha Smrczek’s Prince Flori? If he is still standing in Ireland next year, he is a stallion that I am interested in using. Unfortunately he is covering few mares, and there’s a danger that he will not be around. I think the proof of the German model (premium on soundness) is there for all to see, and I’m told that they have more or less eradicated bleeding. If that is true, the world should take note and follow suit. As for racing 2yo/soundness, no horse should be wrapped in cotton wool, but physical and mental pressure is a different thing. The French model is to race NH horses young, but (perhaps because of the bookmaker situation) they are not given such hard races as they are here. The Irish are looking at the French model and cherry picking the ‘young horse’ bit. It’s not the full story.
Whenever anyone makes a bizarre suggestion such as this or banning the whip I never cease to be amazed why they never make it clear whether they want a worldwide ban, or they just mean for Britain to do it unilaterally. I would have thought that was quite an important factor in any decision with regards the possible implications.
, those two are indeed the best German ones.
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