Mtoto

Have been thinking about your contention that the horse is trying to win Every race.

Wouldn't it make more sense then, to use the American "Earnings per Start" rather than the Average ability Rating ??

Didn't he say somewhere that "The majority of horses are not put into a race to win - but to prepare them to win" ??

Whether VDW sais it or not, Tuppeny Cat, your statement that most horses are put int races to prepare for others is about right, imo.

In fact, I don't believe horses know anything about winning races; the main reasons they run is for sex, hunger and fear.

For these reasons they'll want to get somewhere before the others.

I've got a feeling that the bastards I pick don't sleep standing up in the normal way.
That's why the fkers run as fast as they can to the stables or horsebox, so they can choose the best bed to lie on!

quote:

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the main reasons they run is for sex, hunger and fear.

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dunno about that - horses like "Attraction" - realy look as if they are enjoying it

TC,

I fear I haven't explained myself very well if you think I'm saying all horse are trying to win all races. I stick to the better races because I think at the time of entry that horse is being entered to win. Why pay a large entry fee if the race is only a prep race? I do also look at the class of the horse because what is a top race for one horse may not be a top race for another. The lesser class horse would have a much lower main target than the real top class horse.

There are many races I just don't believe the entry would be for prep purposes. Ok, the draw may go against it, or things happen in running that don't go to plan. The entry was to win the race. It is the slightly lower class races that give the problems, in these some are entered as a prep race. Some are trying to win, it's their target race.

Sorry if I have mislead you. The trick with the lower class races is to sort out who are the triers. I still don't think if the horse that is there for the prep, will turn down a good/fair prize if things go well for that horse in the race. Bird in the hand, etc.

I don't think prize money in any shape or form is a reliable guide to class. The only reliable guide is the class of the competition. Ok. a question has to be asked was this good horse running to it's very best in a lower class race?

Be Lucky

Thanks Mtoto

I think that clears it up a bit

Horses are herd animals, some want to lead/win, others dont.

Yes, I agree, Epi, they are herd animals with the majority being followers and the minority as leader(s).

Strangely, TC, horses' expressions stay much the same in reality.

For years, I had a picture, cut out of the RP, which showed a jumper, just as he fell to his death; you never saw a nicer, happier looking face on a horse!

In my experience, most horses are horrible bastards who are never done kicking and biting. There is a definite "pecking order" in every yard, and it's rarely the "class" horse that's topdog.

A relation of mine is a Monty Robert's trained horse whisperer. I use to think this was bollocks, till I saw him sit on the ground near a mad fkin bucking bronco, that had been sent to him for training.
D'you know, with not a word said, the brute came up to him and licked his face!

Hors De Combat II

Sorry to have been away for a while but since getting malaria last month, I had been steadily slipping down the field. A week last monday I took a second blood test for malaria as the fevers etc had returned but it came out negative, conclusion: Dengue fever, which has no treatment but burns itself out unless it turns haemorraghic.

I spent last week coming down at a few fences, getting my breath back and carrying on, but by the weekend I was tailing off and on Monday morning pulled-up distressed. In the afternoon the stable girl had to send for the vet as my legs from hoof to knee were cherry red from sub-cutaneous bleeding.

The vets opinion mentioned the knackers yard and I was obliged to go into hospital for treatment, which I acceeded to after recieving sworn assurances that gelding would not be involved.

Not only had I been carrying an untreated malaria for over a week but I had also contracted haemorrhagic dengue fever which had got to work on the swollen liver and spleen povided by the malaria.

However 48hrs later I am back home once again, the situation is now under control, though I will be unlikely to take up my stud duties for a month (severe anaemia) but should be able to take part again on the forum .

Glad to hear the galloping Dung fever is under control

The Handicappers Reply

Greg,

You were right.

Dear John



I have just received the following response from our Senior Handicapper Nigel Gray.



Any performance by a British-trained horse, whether in Britain or overseas, will be evaluated by the handicapper, who will then decide what adjustment, if any, should be made to the rating of the horse concerned. Where the horse ran makes no difference.



If the horse was trained in Britain, but has subsequently been trained abroad, 10 days' notice is required from the trainer of his intention to make an entry for the horse in a Flat race handicap or rating related Flat race, except in the case of early closing handicaps - which is covered by Order 113 of the Orders and Rules of Racing.



Further information on the work of the handicappers can be found on our website at http://www.britishhorseracing.com/inside_horseracing/about/whatwedo/handicapping.asp.



I hope this is of assistance.



Kind regards



Will Lambe

Communications Executive

British Horseracing Board

JiB: are the lasses putting your locks in plaits and stretching your tail?

EpiG,

My 'locks are rather small and fragile at the moment and my tail has been dragging for some years now!

sounds like - "A lot of Fun" !!

Keep smiling

JiB: sure, send 'em here if you dont need 'em.
TC: perhaps you missed my request to stick the "Roushayed article" on the new info page(?)

epi - willdo - cept it appears more than once - - just looking thro to see which version includes most data

Thursday, October 14.

Thew VDW Race :

400 Newmarket, £20.3K, Listed Stakes A1, for fillies???, 6f.

Not the most valuable race of the day, but I think it's the best for our purposes; the other ones for 2yo ( definite no-no) and this ones for fillies, which Charlie Anderson told us to avoid too.

Anyway, it's plenty hard enough. I make it between Paradise Isle and Ruby Rocket.

I'll go for PARADISE ISLE as the VDW selection.

Ruby Rocket, Ringmoor Down and Pearl Grey were on the shortlist.

epi - I have put up 3 postings on the "Extra Information fo Newcomers thread - All Parts of articles relating to Roushayd - which I hope will help those "without the books" - Including a"Jock Bingham piece"

Cheers, TC.

Good on yer, mate, that's fkin beauty!

She'll be right.

Thanks.

14 Oct.

Result, VDW race.

My selection, Paradise Isle, came third at 6/1.

The winner was Ruby Rocket,6/1. She was top best RPR and joint 2nd top OR ( 105) with PI.

Although PI had won a £22K race, RR had been 4th in a £98K race.
Perhaps it's significant.

Third home was the actual top OR, Ringmoor Down. She carried a big weight and is really a 5f mare.