G'day Stix,
while I respect your opinion...I ask the question...were the officials advised of the change in tactics of the eventual winner:
SR6 5 WON $9.8w$3.0plNSW
although I was on this runne(saver bet) and made a tidy POT I am still concerned that the betting public were not suitably informed. So, as you can see..I am not talking "through my kick" which is the usual "put-down" to counter such claims.

Cheers.

Can you tell why we have the right to know how a horse is going to be ridden? Why the trainer has to tell all and sundry his instructions to a jockey.
Isn't the fact that the horse, jockey and trainer have all put in their best efforts to win the race enough.

Xanadu,

I'm a bit surprised about your concerns about skulduggery in racing. Anywhere there is money to be made it exists, from land developers, Politicians, inside trading and yes especially the gambling industry including horse racing.

Any reading about horse racing history has plenty of common and sometimes spectacular skulduggery mentioned. There was no date at which it suddenly all stopped that's for sure. Regarding the common gripes you mention they are mostly very hard to prove so that's a big problem. Personally I just take it in my stride as part of the game and know yes, often it's going to cost me money so I don't stress about it. It's just another hurdle among many others in trying to beat the bookie, which long-term I never expect to do.

I bet for pleasure nowadays because I love horse racing. If I wanted to make money I could think of plenty of better ways to do it with better odds of success.

posts152-3,
the reason the betting public has the right is because they contribute $billions every year into this industry and expect/warrant excellent administration and ethics in the operation of this industry.
crash, any alleged wrong-doers should be dealt with in a similar manner as HK deals with their integrity issues...it is a model that I would encourage the Australian administrators to follow.

Cheers.

They get excellent administration and as long as everyone is doing their best this should be sufficient.
What if the trainer of Hurrah said "We will attempt to ride on the speed". Would that have been sufficient or would you have complained that this was not exact enough and he should have said, "We will go out with a massive lead", which they did.
What if they wanted to lead and attempted to and were unable to, would they be criticised. Pandora's box is opening.
You know my position on the skullduggery, I think your overplaying it.
Mistakes, sometimes incompetence yes, illegality rare.

Top Rank,
you must live in a "perfect world" and if only this was the case.
The rest of we "battlers" depend on our daily/weekly earnings to put "food on the table."
Therefore, we have every right to expect the officials to advise we "mortals" of expected/anticipated change of riding tactics.
I heard a commentator state something to the contrary earlier today....but then again...what does he know...?

Cheers.

Mmmm,
C'mon Xanadu I have seen you come up with better than that.
I must say but it is great being an immortal. Punt forever.

I shouldn't complain too much as I secured the trifecta(flexi):
13.9.08-SR9 7, 2, 10 paid: $2349.80NSW
which paid a few expenses.

Cheers.

Xanadu

Hurrah is usually ridden handy/on pace & did lead in a race at canterbury back in feb. If you look at the replay you will see that Bowman was caught 3 wide facing the breeze & did try to ease in behind the leaders but was still going to be 3 wide so he then elected to go to the lead. It was then genius or idiot fortunately for Bowman he came up a genius. The particulaly daring thing he did was rather than give his horse a breather coming to the HT & bring his horse back to the field, he made them all work & chase him to make up the ground. In the end this proved to be to big a task for Red Lord with a hefty 58kg & Bowman made him carry every gram of it.

Circumstances were the cause of the change in tactics & I'm sure Chris Waller was glad he had a jock who wasn't frightened to make an executive decision.

Hugh Bowman is one of the top 2 or 3 riders in the whole country, he's an excellent judge of pace, never panics & often times his run to perfection. More importantly than anything else he's a very balanced rider & horses travel for him.

Pete

SR9,
why wasn't this runner mentioned positively in form evaluations....hmmm..you be the judge.