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On this Jose we agree that the BHA shows such scant regard for communicating properly with punters that resentment and mistrust is allowed to grow, often without good reason. The linking of levy to profits is not a policy that I have ever agreed with not least because of the issues with perception. Issues that the BHA has done little or nothing to anticipate and address.
The fact is that racing has always needed us to lose. Always. Nothing has changed.It could have changed. It should have changed. But as it’s not going to change any-time soon, I almost hope racing gets nothing back from the betting industry and how it’s relying upon with this system. I don’t blame the BHA for everything. In fact, some might say they’re in a pretty difficult situation with what they actually control in racing. Fixture list, racecourses, tote and media rights and so on.
Doncaster holds off on watering for Lincoln
By James Burn 3:14PM 31 MAR 2011DONCASTER clerk of the course Jon Pullin is likely to wait until Friday morning before deciding whether to water the track, which will host the William Hill Lincoln on Saturday, after rain forecast on Thursday failed to materialise.
Speaking at 3pm on Thursday, Pullin, who described the going at Doncaster as good, said: "We had 3mm overnight but the rain forecast for today hasn’t arrived.
"Tomorrow is forecast to be dry, so I’ll wait until late tonight or early tomorrow and decide if we need to apply more water, which we’d do tomorrow.
"We put 12mm on last week to promote grass growth and 5mm on Monday, which is all we’ve put on this week.
"It’s on the easy side of good and we want to maintain that. We’ve a drying wind today and I’ll only water if I think it’s going to get quicker."
The draw for the 22-runner Lincoln was made on Thursday, but Pullin does not think any clues can be gleaned from it.
"Since the track was refurbished
there’s been no evidence of a track bias," he added. "Horses have won on both sides and down the middle."
Reap what you sow; RIP fast and g/f ground horses
"It’s on the easy side of good and we want to maintain that. We’ve a drying wind today and I’ll only water if I think it’s going to get quicker."
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What’s happened to the BHA directive to only water to produce good to firm ground? Another issue on which the BHA are badly letting us down.
If you’ve a decent fast ground horse what’s the point of keeping in training here? The prize money’s crap and you can’t have fast ground.It’s more than slightly ironic that the Clerkwatch 2011 thread on Betfair kicked off with news that the old Doncaster COC had left.
I make it 11 horses out of the 22 declared have won on ground described as Good To Firm. Tartan Gigha has won on Firm ground and Johnston was rightly applying pressure earlier on ATR.
It’s absolutely ridiculous a clerk of the course is stating that he wants to maintain ground on the easy side of good. Only a drought would stop these people……
Spot on, chaps.
However, as the apologists will doubtless point out..
and lest we forget..
"the grass NEEDS TO GROW"
IF the racecourse decide to water to maintain ground on the softer side of good, don’t worry, I am sure Doncaster racecourse will kindly reimburse the entry fee and expenses of connections who withdraw their horses that prefer ground on the faster side of good.
After all if the racecourse decides to change the groundrules surely connections should not be out of pocket and should be entitled to compensation.
Or am I living in cloud cuckoo land???
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The Doncaster straight isn’t usually subject to extremes of going (or overwatering, for that matter) and I’d doubt very much there’ll be withdrawals because of the ground.
Bear in mind the ground is on the easy side of good without the expected and hoped for rain today. Obviously they wanted it very much on the soft side.
Always used to be at least good to firm at Donny without rain.Reet Hard,
There was obviously a touch of sarcasm in my post but frankly I am astonished that any racecourse would wish to water given "It’s on the easy side of good" and the meeting is 2 days away.
I’m guessing most races at Donnie this weekend will be competitive affairs and any trainer of a fancied runner who prefers top of the ground should be tearing their hair out.
Let’s see what tomorrow brings and whether he decides to water – my pound says he will not.
Sea Mus would have already watered, chaps. Apparently, he’s asked Lord March to buy one of those Fukushima Chinooks, so he can carry out a nightly sea water sprinkle on the Glorious meeting.
"If he’s a good ‘oss, he’ll go on with a nice bit of dig, so he will," he’s allegedly fond of saying.
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Hear what you’re saying,OD, but I’d be surprised if the going doesn’t turn out to be on the fast side of good, despite the usual hot air to the contrary.
But there shouldn’t be any doubt, guessing or worrying whether it will be watered, it should be on the fast side now.
Mark Johnston is correct in my view that the clerk is an idiot whatever the ground turns out to be on the day.- Total Posts 17716
The Doncaster straight isn’t usually subject to extremes of going (or overwatering, for that matter) and I’d doubt very much there’ll be withdrawals because of the ground.
One withdrawal – because they hadn’t watered.
One withdrawal – because they hadn’t watered.
7 actually, most due to unsuitable ground. To be fair only you used withdrawals as a barometer.
In fact the ground was little changed from declaration time due to the lack of forecast rain and the coc quite rightly giving in to pressure, not to water further.
By common consent the ground was on the dead side of good and Gosden withdrew due to the rough nature of the ground which Ryan Moore described as "the worst I’ve ever seen there".- Total Posts 17716
Considering the
slowest
race of the day was only 3.4 secs above standard, I think we can safely say the course wasn’t overwatered.
Fifty percent non runners in the last at Nottingham and several others throughout the day suggest Leika has kept her watering can firmly in the potting shed.
I can’t remember the last time a Nottingham meeting was run on primarily Firm ground. Certainly not a Further Flight meeting.
There has been no significant rain here for weeks and the promised downpour yesterday failed to arrive. All good for the fast ground horses.
NOTTINGHAM
Going
Firm, Good to Firm in places
(GoingStick: 9.5 on Monday at 08:00)Stalls
5f – Stands Side; 1m – Centre; Remainder ? Inside
Rails
A LARGE AREA OF FALSE GROUND HAS BEEN FOUND ON THE STRAIGHT OF
THE INNER COURSE.
BECAUSE OF THIS, ALL TODAY’S RACES WILL NOW BE RUN ON THE OUTER
COURSE.I did see a mention that there was a problem with the watering system Max and they were unable to water parts of the course, can’t seem to find word of it now
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