Watering again!!

[Drone]

@Drone if you haven’t watched the youtube fillim that @IanDavies posted upthread definitely do so

Thanks, a very good and prescient interview. I wasn’t aware of that directive sometime in the ’80s permitting a change in watering rules

Racing is reaping what it’s sown, if you’ll pardon the pun

[Father_Jack]

https://www.ihrb.ie/referrals-appeals/investigation-into-ground-conditions-cork-28th-may-2010

Found this from 2010 regarding “hard” ground for a jumps meeting at Cork.

The important point is near the end-

“(ii) Watering should be judicious and not do more than assist in the promotion of good grass growth thereby producing safe, level ground with no jar so as to achieve optimum ground conditions. For summer national hunt racing ground should be good to firm.”

Exactly what Mark Prescott said.

[Cork All Star]

And now Lingfield has a horse slip on a bend, causing two races to be abandoned.

At least the races on the straight course can go ahead later…

[IanDavies]

I am expecting more, not less, of this in the coming days, weeks, months and years.

This ill-judged policy on watering to alter the going – allied to the increased fixture list – is damaging turf Flat racing in the UK and sadly strengthening the business case for universal AW surfaces.

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[chestnut]

How on earth are they going to get round Tattenham Corner?

[Gladiateur]

Maybe there’s some sort of conspiracy going on to get every racecourse in the country to go artificial?

🤔

[FinalFurlong91]

Maybe the Derby being abandoned would put a stop to the ridiculous watering

[IanDavies]

Dateline: 30th May 2032. Epsom Downs, Advance Going: STANDARD.

CoC A Cooper Jnr reports the dyed green Tapeta surface looking pristine.

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[AndyRAC]

I agree with both IanDavies & Cork All Star

When I first became a serious follower of the sport back in the late 80s, as a schoolboy I’d keep an exercise book with my daily selections; what I recall is Devon & Exeter, Newton Abbot running on firm, even hard ground; and the same horses would run throughout August into September and usually plenty of Pipe/Scudamore winners.

And as for the AW, introduced in autumn 1989, it wasn’t my cup of tea, but it served a purpose; guaranteed racing in the winter months. And that’s how it should have stayed. Nov – Mar 3-4 times a week, job done. However, they’ve got greedy, and we see more and more all year round, and with Group horses running. What’s that all about?

I couldn’t believe Newcastle were allowed to transfer their races to AW…….it still seems wrong to me, as it’s a different style of racing.

[Cork All Star]

I remember the clerk of the course at Newcastle saying on the Morning Line that there would still be Flat racing on turf at the venue and the Northumberland Plate would not be moved to an artificial surface.

She was either lying or (more likely) decisions were being taken over her head. In any case, it was not a good look for Newcastle when it was announced that Turf Flat racing would end there, in total contradiction to her assurance.

The Plate should really be given a different name now because it is very clearly not the same race.

Likewise the races at Kempton. The Queens Prize, which I can just about remember being a big betting handicap, now reduced to a 2 mile all weather race which hardly anyone notices.

[IanDavies]

I agree with CAS.

With the Jubilee course, Flat racing on turf at Kempton Park used to have a bit of character.

Now it’s like a right-handed dog track for larger than average hounds!

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[FinalFurlong91]

Ground at Epsom soft gd to soft in places after rain yesterday

[Cork All Star]

They had better start watering then, just in case it dries out too much by Friday.

[FinalFurlong91]

Looking like Catterick might be added to the lost of abandoned meetings

[LD73]

Times at Epsom suggest the ground might be at best good but getting quicker even though they are making a good print and kicking up turf indicating it could be loose on top:

1st race was 1.30sec slower than standard
2nd race 1.34sec slower than standard
3rd race 0.70 faster than standard

Interesting that the winner and second in the first race came down the centre, whilst the whole field for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th races all came up the centre indicating that the ground is softer than good even though the times don’t.

[IanDavies]

I have been highlighting this in another folder.

They’re kicking the top off but it’s clearly getting quicker all the time underneath.

0.7 seconds outside standard, even for a Group 1, says it is no slower than Good for me.

The clock absolutely does not lie.

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[FinalFurlong91]

Catterick survives the inspection

[Author]

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