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A Group race at some point during the season, I was thinking about every track staging a Group 1 but that would probably devalue the status?
Or I was thinking off each track should nominate their best two year old that’s performaed at the track that season either via a specialist layed out Group race or just in general. Every winner around the country competes in a season finale or maybe a specialist layed out race before the Guineas
Don’t even think of every track holding a Group 1. Group 1 status has already been devalued enough in recent times.
Group races have to pass the European Pattern committee’s criteria. And, to be honest, I don’t like the idea of the Southwell Fibresand holding a Group race.
Is this 1 April?
A Group 1 at Bath, Chepstow, Yarmouth, Catterick or Brighton would be an incredible event!
I think there could be merit in a track holding a "Champions Day" once a year, in which races were open only to horses that had run at the track in the previous 12 months. A bit like a loyalty card, rewarding those who had patronised the track.
You would get pot-hunters, but having a Group horse turning up to win a £10k conditions race at, say, Beverley would have its appeal, and said Group horse would only be able to do so by having run at Beverley in the first place.
Couple of 2yo races, a 3yo "Derby" and open-aged sprint/mile/stayers races would give you a six-race card. You could chuck in a valuable handicap for owners/trainers who had had runners at the course in the previous 12 months for good measure.
If the idea caught on courses would have to spread their big days out across the calendar.
Just an idea.
I think there could be merit in a track holding a "Champions Day" once a year, in which races were open only to horses that had run at the track in the previous 12 months. A bit like a loyalty card, rewarding those who had patronised the track.
I’m not sure about giving it much prestige but I’d go along with a day of racing set aside for regular visitors to a particular track.
If I wasn’t a racing fan but had gone to my local course for a corporate event or something, I’d be more likely to return if I could see that horse I won a few quid on last time run again.
I think there could be merit in a track holding a "Champions Day" once a year, in which races were open only to horses that had run at the track in the previous 12 months. A bit like a loyalty card, rewarding those who had patronised the track.
You would get pot-hunters, but having a Group horse turning up to win a £10k conditions race at, say, Beverley would have its appeal, and said Group horse would only be able to do so by having run at Beverley in the first place.
Couple of 2yo races, a 3yo "Derby" and open-aged sprint/mile/stayers races would give you a six-race card. You could chuck in a valuable handicap for owners/trainers who had had runners at the course in the previous 12 months for good measure.
If the idea caught on courses would have to spread their big days out across the calendar.
Just an idea.
I reckon it’s a pretty good idea, but would it attract the bigger horses?
BlueSky @pghenn.bsky.social
So don't run, just like the others always do
Probably not, but I think it might well cater for the nearly horses rated Timeform 100-110 on the Flat.
Then again, if a major track wanted to, it could put up good prize money and probably get essentially listed/Group 3 horses without much difficulty.
And, to be honest, I don’t like the idea of the Southwell Fibresand holding a Group race.
I do. In my mind’s eye I can just see the East Midlands venue forging a symbiotic relationship with that other frequent host of Fibresand events in Europe, Deauville. Big bonus for any horse to contest Southwell’s Group feature and then win in France? Bet someone like Eoghan O’Neill would give it some serious thought.
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.
- Total Posts 17716
Locating Group flat races at Southwell would make an awful lot
more
sense than having them at Kempton – if only their racegoers’ facilities were a little less, well… basic.
And, to be honest, I don’t like the idea of the Southwell Fibresand holding a Group race.
I do. In my mind’s eye I can just see the East Midlands venue forging a symbiotic relationship with that other frequent host of Fibresand events in Europe, Deauville. Big bonus for any horse to contest Southwell’s Group feature and then win in France? Bet someone like Eoghan O’Neill would give it some serious thought.
gc
Would "very good" horses from France really run on the surface? Deep, tiring, with plenty of kickback. From just viewing races at both tracks on TV, the Deauville looks a staggeringly different (better) surface in comparison to Southwell’s.
Either way, I’m always dubious to the success of "tie up’s" and things like the Betfair Million that we have seen.
Maybe a real AW/Dirt series might be put together – including Taby in Sweden and track in Istanbul.
This thread is a bowl of cornflakes
In as much as the slogan for Kelloggs Corn Flakes is "the original and best", I’m sure contributors to this thread are delighted with the accolade above.
Not sure what the issue is, to be honest. An out of the box (cornflakes or otherwise) idea has been posited, and some posters have run with it. I’m quite enjoying the responses.
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.
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