xanadu
26th January 2003, 10:38 AM
" Forget the run....forget that he went around today...." To me, these are the most frustrating comments uttered by our supposed expert commentators and racing journalists. What do they think we punters bet with each raceday....monopoly money?
Due to all the variables in racing it is hard enough now to stay in front in this tough game without the extra burden of your selection being unfit and having no realistic chance of winning. The stewards have tolerated this form of hoodwinking the public for too long. After all, we are the ones who keep this TAB monolith operating therefore we are entitled to some protection from these practices. When stewards do enquire about a horse'e inglorious run, under no circumstance should they accept the explanation that the horse was "underdone" as it has a long campaign ahead. The stewards should adopt the Japanese standard whereby horses are weighed and if they are presented well above their optimum racing weight they are scratched and connections queried as to the reasons. Trainers will argue that the only way to get a horse fit(be it a champion or a hack)is to get it race fit. Isn't this a cop-out, aren't they professionals and are they treating the racing public as "mugs?" While on this subject why can't each horse be given a bloodcount on the morning of the race or the previous day and the results made available to the racing public. This may stop trainers from being in a quandry when their horse puts in an inexplicably bad run, although there was no stable support for the runner-it makes you wonder. I am not asking for any special treatment, all I am asking is for an even playing field so that the punter can bet confidently on horses which are allowed to run on their merits. With the feature races coming up there will undoubtedly be numerous instances where top-line runners perform well below their best early in their campaign as the trainer has ambitions of getting them fit to contest a group race later in the year.
I would like to hear comments from my learned fellow forum contributors on this subject. Do you agree or do you think that the punter should be kept in the dark as to the fitness level of runners and stable intentions.
Due to all the variables in racing it is hard enough now to stay in front in this tough game without the extra burden of your selection being unfit and having no realistic chance of winning. The stewards have tolerated this form of hoodwinking the public for too long. After all, we are the ones who keep this TAB monolith operating therefore we are entitled to some protection from these practices. When stewards do enquire about a horse'e inglorious run, under no circumstance should they accept the explanation that the horse was "underdone" as it has a long campaign ahead. The stewards should adopt the Japanese standard whereby horses are weighed and if they are presented well above their optimum racing weight they are scratched and connections queried as to the reasons. Trainers will argue that the only way to get a horse fit(be it a champion or a hack)is to get it race fit. Isn't this a cop-out, aren't they professionals and are they treating the racing public as "mugs?" While on this subject why can't each horse be given a bloodcount on the morning of the race or the previous day and the results made available to the racing public. This may stop trainers from being in a quandry when their horse puts in an inexplicably bad run, although there was no stable support for the runner-it makes you wonder. I am not asking for any special treatment, all I am asking is for an even playing field so that the punter can bet confidently on horses which are allowed to run on their merits. With the feature races coming up there will undoubtedly be numerous instances where top-line runners perform well below their best early in their campaign as the trainer has ambitions of getting them fit to contest a group race later in the year.
I would like to hear comments from my learned fellow forum contributors on this subject. Do you agree or do you think that the punter should be kept in the dark as to the fitness level of runners and stable intentions.