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From racingpost.com:
THE distance of the £60,000 Summer National at Uttoxeter is being shortened by four and a half furlongs in a bid to attract a better quality field. This year’s ninth running of the Britannia Building Society-sponsored race, on Saturday, June 28, will be over three and a half miles, following discussions between the course executive and the BHA
Uttoxeter clerk Keith Ottesen explained: “The Summer National has been elevated to Listed status, but we have now made a further positive move to enhance its standing.
For me, a race should not be titled as a “national” unless it is at least 4 miles. I cannot see this as a positive move as true fast-ground stayers are going to be severely inconvenienced at a time when marathon races are already scarce.
For me, a race should not be titled as a "national" unless it is at least 4 miles. I cannot see this as a positive move as true fast-ground stayers are going to be severely inconvenienced at a time when marathon races are already scarce.
In that case; what would the Irish and Welsh Nationals be known as? "The Really Long, But Not Long Enough To Be Called A National Irish/Welsh Race"?
Haha, fair point!
In the case of Chepstow, the undulations of the track balance the shorter distance. Still, the Summer National, often on fast ground is surely going to attract a different profile of horse to the typical ‘national’ type.
3m4f+ should be the requirement for any race to be give National Status.
That said we have the Winter Derby over 1m2f and THE Derby over 1m4f so work that one out.
Good idea by Uttoxeter i think 4m on summer ground can be a bit tough and this should attract a better class of horse.
The top-rated last year were 139. I think it will be very difficult to get any horses in the 140s.
Are they trying to get horses in the 140s, or are they just trying to get more horses 125-139 so that the overall quality is better?
I am fuming – another four miler lost. This can’t keep happening. It’s absolutely shameful.
I wrote to Uttoxeter (copy of text below) who have now lost me as a customer…….
Hello
It is with no little bitterness that I respond to what was reported in the Racing Post with regards to the reduction in distance of your Summer NATIONAL. I write this is bold because that is what the race is – a National. However, this race seems to be going quite the same way as the Singer & Friedlander Grand National trial – do you recall this race – I do, it was a great race with of course "was" being the key word because, quite shamefully, I don’t know what you’ve done with it. And then the Midlands National itself. Now correct me if I’m wrong but this used to be over 4m 4f and bit by bit it’s coming down in distance and no doubt within the next three years it will be run over two miles and indeed over hurdles because lets face it Uttoxter – you have one of the most apalling records for omitting fences in the entire UK and I, rather naturally, have the figures to prove it.
And the reason for the reduction? To attract a better class of horse. And there was me thinking that the race, in its current guise, had produced a Gold Cup runner up, a Grand National runner up (who let’s face it would have one if he hadn’t gone lame on the Aintree run-in) and indeed a Betfair Chase winner.
I would like to hear the individual responsible explain to me what sort of better horses he/she hopes to attract. Can he/she throw any names at me? I didn’t think so. Take a look Uttoxeter (a copy of this is being posted on a much viewed forum) you’re not exactly the most popular racecourse with NH enthusiasts as it is and I just think you’re making it worse for yourselves and you’ve certainly lost me as a customer, not that I’m sure you care.
First the Singer & Friedlander, then the Mount Argus Hunters’ Chase, and now the Summer National.
Just need the Midlands National to be reduced in trip and the emasculation of Uttoxeter’s marathon chases is complete.
Something of a shame, that, and nothing I expect would have happened on Sir Stanley Clarke’s watch.
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.
Good heavens yes.
That’s assuming a safe surface can be attained, of course; and the strict watering edicts to which Uttoxeter and the other summer jumping courses have to adhere ensure that this is achieved as a matter of routine, unlike at some of the racecourses that don’t fall under those edicts immediately either side of the summer season (e.g. the extremely firm ground occasionally thrown up at Exeter and Taunton in May or September).
As for the temperature issue – I can’t recall too many flag-cracking late Junes at Uttoxeter, but what heat there may be to bother horses on the day can be countered by a few strategically-lobbed buckets and a standpipe.
I’d maintain that tempering marathon chases on the pretext of what conditions
may
– but not assuredly
will
– occur sets an extraordinarily unwise precedent. I wouldn’t want the Eider Chase reduced to a 3m handicap out of fear that it might be run on heavy and / or in temperatures barely above freezing again one year in the future.
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.
I was thinking more about heat exhaustion (in spite of the 50s- and 60s-style summers of the last couple of years).
Hence the mention of buckets and standpipes. It’s possibly too linear an argument to equate distance travelled to propensity to keel over through heat exhaustion.
The last horse to drop dead at Uttoxeter was Prince Vector in a novices’ chase there 13 days ago, having travelled 2m6.5f in conditions one would be hard pushed to describe as any hotter than "pleasant". Nothing befell a similar fate in either of the three races on the card over the same trip or further (up to 3m2f).
I’m going through old runnings of the Summer National as part of a trends piece for one of my employers. Still got a couple of years to go, but so far it doesn’t look like anything has collapsed in a previous renewal of the race – ever.
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.
Please don’t mention buckets and standpipes…I came back from last years race wetter than I have ever been after a days racing [probably wetter than I have ever been in my life]….felt as if I’d been hosed down for three hours…..
First the Singer & Friedlander, then the Mount Argus Hunters’ Chase, and now the Summer National.
Just need the Midlands National to be reduced in trip and the emasculation of Uttoxeter’s marathon chases is complete.
gc
If I remember correctly, there was a race in the 1970s called the Jack Carter Memorial Chase which was also run at Uttoxeter over about 4 miles – or maybe my memory is playing tricks with me again!!
Mind you, this problem isn’t just at Uttoxeter – after NO horses were declared for the Listed Badenia Jadgrennen Chase at Mannheim last month, organisers had to drop the distance – from 2m 5f to 2m 2f!! They ended up with a field of 9.
Darren – AngloGerman
________________________________________‘The Hungarian’s going hell for leather’ – Jim McGrath
Pretty sure the Jack Carter Memorial and the Midlands National are one and the same – certainly the race carried both titles when I first became aware of it in the early-mid 1980s.
No runners for a Listed chase? For shame, for shame! Time some of the UK trainers considered making the odd raid across with a good chance to pick up some prizemoney, methinks…
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.
Heat exhaustion not a problem?
Read this http://www.gallopfrance.com/blog/2009/0 … e-won-but/
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