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It’s a regular occurrence to see blindfolds removed late when the stalls open and in many cases horses lose all chance eg Epeus fav for the 5.25 Carlisle yesterday or the horse have it’s chance seriously compromised like Momentofmadness in the first at York.
I have seen hundreds of incidents of blindfolds being removed late but have yet to see or hear of any rider ever being penalised. Obviously every single one according to the BHA was an unavoidable accident that the rider could do little about. What an amazing coincidence that is? Just say the blindfold is stuck in the bridle and you get off scot free.
Another glaring example of the hopeless BHA sweeping something neatly under the carpet while actively encouraging corruption.
No wonder a large percentage of the general public consider horse racing corrupt.
Agree – the BHA should monitor this and any regularly offending jockeys should be dealt with and their licence temporarily removed until they can prove they can take a hood off competently in a timely fashion.
And the handicapping system itself encourages cheating. We should have more claiming races and create a different culture regarding claiming.
Agree – the BHA should monitor this and any regularly offending jockeys should be dealt with and their licence temporarily removed until they can prove they can take a hood off competently in a timely fashion.
And the handicapping system itself encourages cheating. We should have more claiming races and create a different culture regarding claiming.
I couldn’t agree more regarding handicaps. Racing should focus on conditions events and claiming races. It’s no wonder that bookmakers love handicaps and sponsor so many. It simply encourages sharp practice by “shrewdies” in certain circumstances.
I had a fantastic trip to the start at York today with jockey George Chaloner who explained all that goes on down there and gave me a jockey’s perspective on things. He explained how it works with the blinds, saying the starter shouts ‘blinds off’ just before he switches the gates open. he also said they can get stuck which sounds like a problem that needs addressing.
So, as usual, after finding out some FACTS I’ve slightly changed my view!
Did you see them interview that Gary fellow at the start today I think it was? He said some tricky horses are almost trained to run as soon as the blind is removed and if you take it off before the gates open the horse could charge the closed gates!!
It sounded to me like you have to have impeccable timing to get the best results and obviously that doesn’t work all the time!!
I had a fantastic trip to the start at York today with jockey George Chaloner who explained all that goes on down there and gave me a jockey’s perspective on things. He explained how it works with the blinds, saying the starter shouts ‘blinds off’ just before he switches the gates open. he also said they can get stuck which sounds like a problem that needs addressing.
So, as usual, after finding out some FACTS I’ve slightly changed my view!
It’s a regular occurrence to see blindfolds removed late when the stalls open and in many cases horses lose all chance eg Epeus fav for the 5.25 Carlisle yesterday or the horse have it’s chance seriously compromised like Momentofmadness in the first at York.
I have seen hundreds of incidents of blindfolds being removed late but have yet to see or hear of any rider ever being penalised. Obviously every single one according to the BHA was an unavoidable accident that the rider could do little about. What an amazing coincidence that is? Just say the blindfold is stuck in the bridle and you get off scot free.
Another glaring example of the hopeless BHA sweeping something neatly under the carpet while actively encouraging corruption.
No wonder a large percentage of the general public consider horse racing corrupt.
Would’ve thought it’s obvious how a blind can often get hooked up and/or the jockey slow at removing it.
Horses have blinds used for two reasons.
1. Without them the horse goes to sleep in the gate and therefore slowly away. Blinds removed just as the stalls open having the effect of waking the horse up and (hopefully) gets away on terms. They tried this with Caravaggio in France, but even with a normally docile horse they got caught up and as a consequence Ryan was “slow” at getting them off – Caravaggio slowly away. He’d reared slightly just before the gates opened at Ascot and been slowish at Newmarket, both – I believe – when without the blinds.
2. Without them the horse plays up in the stalls and therefore the blind calms them down. However, although it may often look as though horses are slowly away because of the blinds, often these horses are slowly away with or without blinds. Or need blinds left on until the very last second. Epeius – the horse Yeats talks about – is frequently slowly away. One occasion on his previous start at Newcastle losing ground when rearing up leaving the stalls under Graham Lee. Suspect in the amateur race at Carlisle, Mr.B James was either having trouble with Epeios in the stalls just before they opened (therefore late removing them) or nervous of what would happen if pulling the blinds off too soon. With such horses it is a matter of split second timing.
I dare say the odd one is deliberate. However, with blinds being held in place by pushing it in to the bridle; must be impossible for stewards to distinguish between accidentally being slow and deliberately slow.
How can this be described as “the BHA actively encourage corruption in horse racing”?
Value Is EverythingYou can scratch your head all you want, the starts and the use of blindfolds are an absolute shambles in this country and a wide open door for the corrupt but the BHA do absolutely nothing that’s why they are encouraging corruption. Apparently no jockey has ever been careless in not removing a blindfold
I see 3 jockeys have been up to no good with chamois leathers the last couple of days. Winston has a 3 day suspension but no proper explanation from the BHA. More unavoidable accidents Gingertipster?
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