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Michael (may I call you Michael?).
The thing is that, in effect, you can’t actually post about non-triers, other than in non-specific ways or by referring to a case that has been proved, and even then you need to be careful. People need to be oblique and euphemistic. None of this "you must call a spade a spade" nonsense. Acknowledging that J Bloggs’ Hook-It-Up just might have been some sort of a garden implement is about as far as it can go.
Bad rides are a similar matter, though there is a bit more latitude here. But any imputations of dishonesty or inability to ride a clothes horse about a person whose profession it is to ride real-life horses also have to be made very carefully.
That’s why the two issues are arguably not all that important on here. Candour is usually not possible. Not unless the poster wants to end up sharing a cell (with cormack, possibly) in Wormwood Scrubs.
Prufrock
God I haven’t been called Michael since I was….. I can’t remember, but yes, if you must lol.
All points noted also – thanks for your advice Simon.
Michael
- Total Posts 9
Blimey, the etiquette of a racing forum. You never know who your swimming with till you dip your toes. Friendly smiling dolphins, greatwhales who make sure you know your place, and sharks who when not eyeing you up as food spend their time swimming around picking fights with whoever crosses their path.
It’s back up for air for me, and a return to the glass-bottomed boat.Notorious Cheltenham fence to be moved
By Andrew Scutts and Robert Smith 5:04PM 25 JUL 2010 THE notoriously tricky second-last fence on the old course at Cheltenham is to be moved to a new position in the home straight, the track’s managing director Edward Gillespie said on Sunday.Safety concerns have prompted Cheltenham to act, with the move welcomed by trainers and jockeys.
The second-last has claimed several lives over the years, including Granit Jack and Citizen Vic, while also ruining the chances of horses who jump the fence well, only for their momentum to get the better of them on the landing side.
Gillespie said: "Safety of the horses is the important thing for us, and the key with that fence was that horses were falling without making mistakes.
"Many appeared to jump the fence well, only to knuckle on landing, with their backend going faster than their front end.
"It tended to be horses in contention who fell, rather than those dropping back, and that’s what really got us asking, ‘Is there an alternative location?’ Last autumn we came up with this new position in the straight."
He added: "Swinging in, the new fence is about 80-100 yards off the bend. Moving the fencewill improve the spectacle, as well as safety."
Granit Jack’s trainer, Paul Nicholls, said: "I’ve never been against the fence, and it is part of the challenge of Cheltenham, but anything that can be done to improve safety has to be a good thing. I think it could well improve the excitement of the finish too."
I think most on here will agree this is a welcome move. Well done to AP for highlighting it continually until something was done!
…at last.
An original thread on the subject, if anyone’s interested.
http://www.theracingforum.co.uk/horse-racing-forum/archive-topics/cheltenham-chase-course-t70898.html
I think most on here will agree this is a welcome move.
It’s welcome if 80-100 yards is far enough after the turn in for the horses not to find themselves almost on top of the thing before organising themselves well enough to jump it.
I struggle to remember at this remove how soon after the bend "Tricky Trevor" was at Ludlow before they moved it forward; likewise the trappy third last at Market Rasen, which hasn’t been moved as far as I’m aware. Maybe someone can confirm?
A mention in the article that the newly repositioned fence has already been subject to rigorous testing in situ (and with horses running at as close to race speed as it’s possible to simulate, at that) would have helped allay these nascent concerns.
A guarded welcome, then, though naturally I’d far sooner it proves a wholly successful move than not.
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.
Great news and full credit to Cheltenham for being willing to act, despite the problems having been fewer since our original debate due to softer ground at the Festival and the November meeting.
I’m also encouraged that the issue of fairness has been included in the consideration, not just the fatalities, sad as they obviously have been.
I shall make a point of being at Cheltenham for the first days racing over the new configuration.
Perhaps we should arrange for TRF to sponsor this fence Cormack ……..
AP
Many appeared to jump the fence well, only to knuckle on landing, with their backend going faster than their front end.
Erm…
what?
Mike
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An original thread on the subject, if anyone’s interested.
http://www.theracingforum.co.uk/horse-racing-forum/archive-topics/cheltenham-chase-course-t70898.html
Thanks UM
Just re-read the thread and what a good one it was: informative and debated in a refreshingly understated and gentlemanly/ladylike manner
Good news from Cheltenham and a definite leg-up influence-wise for TRF
yes indeed. Perhaps not the best time of year though for this racing forum to get motivated behind it…?
Just re-read the thread and what a good one it was: informative and debated in a refreshingly understated and gentlemanly/ladylike manner
Agreed in spades, Drone – it’s one of the threads of which TRF should have most reason to feel proud, in terms of conduct as much as eventual outcome. Worth nominating to be moved to the top of page one of this forum as a Sticky?
I’ll leave it up to the TRF mandarins to decide whether rebranding it as "How to debate on TRF" would also be appropriate.
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.
A big fan of Katchit as I recall.
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