White hurdles

[patriot1]

There was an interview on RTV from Musselburgh. All British racecourses will have white padded hurdles from the start of the new season in April as it is believed that horses see white better than any other colour.

I am assuming that this doesn’t affect Worcester and Southwell with the brush hurdles.

[IanDavies]

This gives me the opportunity to drag everyone off on yet another trip along my personal memory lane.

It was in very early January 1978 that I paid my first visit to a NH meeting and the obstacles at Doncaster that day fascinated me.

I then went to Newton Abbot races during a family holiday that summer and noticed the gorse in the hurdles there was dyed a dark green – I never saw this at any other track.

I then noticed on TV the hurdles (and take off bars on the fences) at Hexham were painted yellow, not orange as elsewhere.

In more recent times we’ve had fixed brush hurdles at Worcester (and did Haydock have them for a spell?).

My preference is the “mini-fence” fixed brush hurdle – surely the optimum educational stepping stone towards chasing.

I’d like to see them rolled out everywhere tbh.

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[Gingertipster]

White hurdles because horses see them better?

If that is the case… If the smaller obstacles, what is the logic in not doing white bigger ones too?

Value Is Everything

[patriot1]

Hexham still have the yellow hurdles Ian, although they will obviously be changing at the end of April.

Haydock ran some races over fixed brush hurdles until a couple of years ago while retaining the traditional hurdles as well. The lucrative fixed brush handicap hurdle on Betfair chase day was one of my favourite races of the year as it always attracted a very strong and competitive field and was always run at a good gallop.

Several years ago I was at Perth when they had a trial after racing of the Easyfix hurdles which were used at a few courses in Ireland. These were solid plastic and had a more sloped shape than the traditional hurdles. I am not sure what the outcome of the trial was but these hurdles have never been used on these shores. Do any Irish tracks still have them?

[Gladiateur]

White hurdles? Won’t they reflect sunlight more strongly? 🤔

[patriot1]

That may come in time Ginger.

https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1478015644255797252?s=20

[LD73]

Being that a lot of show jumping poles have white in them I guess that there must be something to it – I do wonder how they test the theory in practical terms though.

I have heard reports that horses see less colours than humans and do actually see blues and greens the best but have trouble distinguishing red and its various hues.

[patriot1]

Oh no Gladiateur!!

“The hurdles in the home straight have been omitted due to the glare from the sun”

[vikingflagship]

Only a few years back they where on about making the padded part yellow?

VF x

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