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Todays bumper at Folkestone had 20 entries with only 10 declared to run.Unfortunately, because the bumper is normally the last race on the card you get the worst of the ground. If you want good going there is a strong chance this time of year of it being on the soft side for the last race.
I think in Ireland that horses that have run in points or hurdle races can also run in bumpers. If I am wrong I am sure someone will put me right!I beleive it is the size of the lungs and heart that makes a great horse.
Lungs to get the huge volume of oxygen into the blood and the heart to pump it round.
I don’t think the size in hands makes any difference. With the selective breeding of race horses, size can be bred into a line.Some jumpers seem to have a self preservation mode. They may not be the quickest, but land safely on the other side. Tiredness undoubtedly plays a partbut the jockey also hasa part to play. How many times do you see a horse travelling well at the last obstacle., only for the jockey to get the red mist, push him in too close or too fast and fall?
As MarkTT says, the information was there in a quick glance of the form. Distance and possible addition or removal 0of tongue tie can also sometimes be an indicator. On the turf, there is also the going to consider.
These things are not ‘bent’, merely the game between trainer and handicapper.
As an aside, I have had a horse put up 2lb whilst standing in its box.Even though the verdicts and penalties were not given by a court of law, would the owners of the horses involved be able to sue the jockeys for the race day costs?
Have just retired 1 of my horses and am looking for a good home. He’s a 7yo with a great temperament and winner of a Gp 3 on the flat and a winner over hurdles. With retraining we believe he will make a good showjumper or show horse or even just for pleasure riding.
If interested please pm me.
If the above is true, I stand by my point that something is wrong with him. If he is 100% sound he could go to the sales. To advertise between ‘friends’ without the reason for retirement does not seem like a very good idea.
The last horse I retired took me a long time to find a suitable home. I wanted to sell her as a broodmare because she had bad joints. A trip to the sales was out of the question because I did not want her to run again. I found a stud for her and ended up paying the transport!!Lets hope he comes back safe and sound and enjoys his retirement. It’s about time…he has had more retirements than Frank Sinatra
If you are retiring him at 7, he is either a yak or has problems.
As you seem confident that he can make it in another sphere have you thought of doing it yourself? An owner should act in a responsible manner and not just palm off a horse to someone else for them to incur costs. I would assume that you had about 5 yrs to put arrangements in place.
You could always put him in a livery yard for around £40.00 per week.Not eaten up usually means the horse has not eaten its usual amount overnight. This is normally seen as something amiss.
Other ‘excuses’
Cast in the box
Stone bruise
Struck into itself
Knocked its head on stable door
Snotty nose
Lame…covers anythingWhy on hell is the first race at Southwell tomorrow starting so early as 11:10? I know the race times have to fit in with Cheltenham and Doncaster, but that’s a ridiculously early start time, will anyone actually be in the betting shops at that time?
Those who play the machines will be in the shops
Those at work can still bet via mobile and PC.
I am surprised that Southwell haven’t managed to put in floodlights.Would you be happy to see the ROA abandoned and have to fight independently to get what yoy want Harry?
I think the way it is now should work, but for some reason it doesn’t.
I was expecting there to be less racing with the BHA’s statements earlier in the year, yet what do we get?
I am not a member of ROA. They try and come across as if they represent ALL owners. They don’t. They only represent people who join them if they own at least 50% of a horse. This precludes syndicate members and partnerships which number thousands.
They have tried to negotiate minimum tariffs for low grade races and have been fairly succesful. My worry is that by asking owners to boycott races which do not meet the tariff is unfair. I should be allowed to run my horse wherever I choose, after all, I pay the bills. This is why they then put pressure on trainers not to run. Again, ok for larger trainers who probably don’t want to train lower grade horses but what about the trainers who have no choice?
Horse racing has always appeared an elitist sport. Instead of waking up and filtering money downwards they throw money to the top end. Bookies bread and butter is at the lower end of the scale. The bookies fund racing via the Levy Board. The owner of the Derby winner does not need another £10g in prizemoney, he is already guaranteed a fortune from breeding.
Going back to the ROA, Paul Dixon , the chairman is a wealthy owner with many top class horses. Is he really doing anything for the bottom grades or is he just trying to preserve as much as he can for himself and his other rich owner chums?There are too many factions in "Racing" for an elected body to work. It stands to reason they have to do things occasionally that will upset one or more factions, for the benifit of racing as a whole. They would not be able to do that looking over their shoulder at the electorate.
Not that I believe the BHA have done a good job anyway.
I understand what you are saying and I don’t have all the answers. As you say, there are a lot of factions. Would it not be better to have them under one roof? The BHA have fostered these factions by ‘subbing out’ some of their responsibilities. The ROA dealing with tarrifs , The RFC, the PJA monitoring the whip rules etc.
If racing is to be run by one body all the above should be dealt with by them.
