- This topic has 28 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 6 months ago by
.
- Posts
What made Zenyatta’s magnificent victory all the more emotional is that it occured in the last race of the day.
All eight races were a preamble leading to an absolute "Classic" climax. Almost all the US big races are in the last one (or two) events of the day.
Santa Anita punters were able to drive back to San Diego and Los Angeles with the fresh. immediate glow of excitement unencumbered by the memories of a beaten trifecta in a concluding maiden claimer.
Here, as you all know, the big races occur in the middle. Most of the time you haven’t got time to digest your eight quid cheeseburger and five pound pint before starters orders for the big one.
The last race of the day is often contested by lady riders and apprentices and is a Class 6 satchel filler of interest to noone but the jockey’s relatives and demented addicts trying to recover the grocery budget.
Is this an accident of history? It seems bizarre. We’ve demolished centuries of culture by having every single big race run on a Saturday including, in an act of insanity, The Derby, so why not change this anomaly? Lets save the best till last…
That’s OK on an artificial surface, Max, but I’m not sure that it would work on turf.
Colin
It was the last Breeders’ Cup race of the day but not the last race of the day as there were 10 races on the Santa Anita card last night.
The first race of the day was the 100k 2nd running of the Damascus Stakes and this was followed by the first Breeders’ Cup race, the Juvenile Turf.
The Classic was followed by race 10 on the card, the Oak Tree Derby in which AOB’s Augustusthestrong got stuffed.
I should imagine after the Classic there were plenty of happy punters with winnings to burn thinking they could do no wrong and no doubt plenty of them gave some back seeing as the winner of the last returned at a price of 22.80.
They probably still drove home very happy though.
Thanks for that, Simon. I knew about the first race but not the last.
Is our position down to preserving the state of the turf, then?
Thanks for that, Simon. I knew about the first race but not the last.
Is our position down to preserving the state of the turf, then?
Bear in mind the cards at Santa Anita started in the morning on both days. That might be tricky at most UK meetings, especially with the issue of travelling horses etc. Not to mention the issue of TV scheduling.
That was the biggest barrier I came up with, Rory. The TV.
But let’s face it, the BBC are more or less pulling out of anything but the showpieces and Channel 4 require a subsidy from us to continue. How long that will last is anyone’s guess.
Last race of the day was the Oak Tree Derby which some of us sadly watched at 12.30 in the morning.
I think I heard on the Racing International Coverage that there was a ‘Pick Four’ on the last three Breeders’ Cup race plus the Oak Tree Derby. I suspect the numbers players may still have had an interest to the last race of the day.
Rob
Any merit in the idea though, chaps?
The Derby run at 5.45 instead of that Bradley benefit(6f sprint)? The QEII at 4.55? The Sussex or the Juddmonte at 6PM after an eight race build up?
Or for the jumps men, the National or the Gold Cup at 5?
I ought to have polled this one.
I like it Max, how about this for over indulging the last four races at the Cheltenham festival being the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, World Hurdle and Gold Cup.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
York’s revamped Ebor meeting suffers from being a vast tasty hors d’oeuvres followed swiftly by a small sponge pudding with no custard.Punting considerations aside, a relaxed anticipatory two or three race build up to the main race then a couple of lesser races to accompany reflection on events now over, while still fresh in the mind and while still in racing mode, is the way I like an afternoon’s racing to unravel.
From an on-course point of view I actually liked a crappy maiden or bumper to be scheduled last as it allowed me to get away from the course early, thereby avoiding the crowds in the pub, on the road or at the railway station.
Drone
I’ve no objection to a bumper being last on the card since a goodly portion of the crowd depart before the event, thus allowing the rst of us relatively easy passage after the race!
Rob
Any merit in the idea though, chaps?
The Derby run at 5.45 instead of that Bradley benefit(6f sprint)? The QEII at 4.55? The Sussex or the Juddmonte at 6PM after an eight race build up?
Or for the jumps men, the National or the Gold Cup at 5?
I ought to have polled this one.
Don’t like the sound of that at all, I peak much earlier in the day than 5.30 or 6. Wouldn’t like to see the National any later, would get fed up waiting. Think the big races work quite well in the middle of a card with a bit of winding down after them.
Agree with too many big races have gone to a Saturday though and would still like to see The Derby on the first Wednesday in June.I’ve no objection to a bumper being last on the card since a goodly portion of the crowd depart before the event, thus allowing the rst of us relatively easy passage after the race!
Everyone’s a winner then RobYou’ll no doubt’ve noticed that a few courses have got wise to the pre-bumper exodus – Newcastle and Uttoxeter spring to mind – by scheduling them as the penultimate race and finishing with a chase
Keep those bums on seats and empty those barrels in the bars
Or for the jumps men, the National or the Gold Cup at 5?
I can almost see the
Post
‘s write-up of the former being preceded by; "fifteenth and sixteenth fences on first circuit omitted – low sun".
Possibly not a workable idea for me on that basis, I’m afraid.
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.
You’ll no doubt’ve noticed that a few courses have got wise to the pre-bumper exodus – Newcastle and Uttoxeter spring to mind – by scheduling them as the penultimate race and finishing with a chase
Most Rasen cards that don’t feature a bumper similarly conclude with a handicap chase.
Keep those bums on seats and empty those barrels in the bars
…or more importantly in my estimation, actually get your money’s worth. I’m no more understanding of people leaving a race meeting one or two races from the end than I am those who only watch 75-80 minutes of a Premiership match (though at least the former usually only costs about a quarter of the price).
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.
Everyone’s a winner then Rob
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.