Today's Horse Racing

[ShaunWhite]

Surely it’s because of the lack of watering facilities rather than a problem within racing.

I don't get it, you'd expect a sport run by aristos, the irish and a bunch of gamblers to be so well organised.

[gutuami]

Seven runners in the next at Bath!!!

and only six at Catt 15:40

[spreadbetting]

I'm in the same boat, Dallas

Dallas actually said if anyone else wants to do it it's fine and up to them!

I was agreeing with his surprise the issue was still ongoing, hoped reading the whole sentence should have made that clearer, obviously didn't, my error.

I'm in the same boat, Dallas , I really don't understand why it's so hard to grasp my view on the situation and why we need all these pointless examples of betting at 6's when the true price should be 2.8 etc .....................

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plus I'm unsure what the forum rallying story of a cashback is supposed to imply

This was sparked off by your implication that I might nick someone's wallet down the pub!

Only ones mugs had left unattended, Derek, wasn't suggesting you were about to start mugging old ladies

[Derek27]

Are you seriously suggesting I would nick somebody's wallet if it was left unattended?

[silkysoph]

Let it wash over you mate. I love your posts they make me think about things they make me laugh and sometimes they make me Nash my teeth just like real life.

[spreadbetting]

Are you seriously suggesting I would nick somebody's wallet if it was left unattended?

I'm sure you can make up your own mind if it was a quip or not , Derek, no need for the mock horror.

[Halliday]

Surely it’s because of the lack of watering facilities rather than a problem within racing.

Firm ground never going to attract many horses. Horses welfare first. I certainly wouldn’t run my horses their and even if they liked it quick. Asking for tradegy.

Mark Johnston, Mich Channon running their horses at Bath also confirms my opinion that they have no care for their horses at all.

They can certainly train winners, but are nortious known for over running there horses and running their today just enforces the opinion I have always carried.

Y, I know it's to do with the ground but football matches used to struggle in the winter due to muddy pitches. Racing is a bit behind the times.

Bath is pretty unique as a race course .. Highest flat racecourse in the country .. and only racecourse that cant water the 1m 4f circuit. Think think the soil is chalk based which would apparently cause problems anyway . They have had no rain since May. Hardly racing’s problem, and comparing racing to football is hardly fair given the amount of money in football these days compared to the amount available to racecourses.

Do not forget it’s not cheap to put on a race meeting and most courses have to bid for certain fixtures ... “New for 2018 was an auction whereby racecourses could bid to stage fixtures in certain desirable slots such as 5th Saturday and 3rd Friday evening fixtures. Approximately £1.2m was bid for 27 slots, money that will be added to prize money in a manner yet to be agreed but likely to support the development of the race programme”

Just 1.2 million raised , compare that to some of the Media deals done by Premier league etc.a relegated Premier League club get £65 million plus ..so grossly unfair and simplistic comparison


BHA have put several extra meetings on during the dry spell ( another 2 AW ones next week), so are beng pro active .

Plus as SH says one has to consider the welfare of the horses. Not just racing in this ground, but travelling and racing in these temperatures ( several horses have finished distressed during last few days alone )


Just enjoy the warm weather ...

P.S Bath is a lovely racecourse and have enjoyed many days and evening there over the years

[ShaunWhite]

Are you seriously suggesting I would nick somebody's wallet if it was left unattended?

I'm sure you can make up your own mind if it was a quip or not , Derek, no need for the mock horror.

This is the problem with the written word, so much meaning in normal converstion is unspoken. 99% of people don't come here to be unpleasant or have a barny, everyone likes a laugh or 'bants' as they say these days. I think sb was just playing with you Derek.

Just buy him a drink and move on, that wallet you found should have enough in it for a round

[PDC]

Just buy him a drink and move on, that wallet you found should have enough in it for a round

Yes please move on Derek and SB. Or take it to a dedicated thread or PM each other.

comparing racing to football is hardly fair given the amount of money in football these days compared to the amount available to racecourses.

Also think of the size of the ground that has to be covered on a race course v a football ground. Once you get outside the top tier football grounds you do get issues with muddy pitches.

You would expect Cheltenham or Ascot to be spending a lot more money on the ground than Bath for the simple reason they can afford to spend more.

And as has been said Bath is unique.

Other courses and their staff are working round the clock watering their courses. I read recently thatgroundstaff who are barely sleeping at present due to the hours they are having to put in day and night to just maintain the ground with water.

https://www.racingpost.com/news/living- ... ing/337372

These are rather exceptional times at the moment.

[Halliday]

Just buy him a drink and move on, that wallet you found should have enough in it for a round

Yes please move on Derek and SB. Or take it to a dedicated thread or PM each other.

comparing racing to football is hardly fair given the amount of money in football these days compared to the amount available to racecourses.

Also think of the size of the ground that has to be covered on a race course v a football ground. Once you get outside the top tier football grounds you do get issues with muddy pitches.

You would expect Cheltenham or Ascot to be spending a lot more money on the ground than Bath for the simple reason they can afford to spend more.

And as has been said Bath is unique.

Other courses and their staff are working round the clock watering their courses. I read recently thatgroundstaff who are barely sleeping at present due to the hours they are having to put in day and night to just maintain the ground with water.

https://www.racingpost.com/news/living- ... ing/337372

These are rather exceptional times at the moment.

Agreed and most staff working in stables / racecourses do a sterling job for not a lot of remuneration. The great thing about UK racing is the variety of courses etc .

Weather affects all sports , and re Eulars comparison with football , it would be interesting to know the percentage of matches (especially lower league etc ) postponed due to the weather , compared to % of racing fixtures .

So let’s not start bemoaning the size of fields due to the current weather, and saying racing is losing out to other sports and is behind the times.
There is an awful lot wrong with the way racing is run etc , but in this instance as PDC says , exceptional times weather wise

[Euler]

Fair points, just frustrating.

I think racing should cut the number of races and invest more in what remains. Spread too thin and it's sometimes a bit embarrassing to see the lack of quality out there.

[Euler]

For the other discussion on this thread, I think it really needs its own thread. We need to keep this on racing.

[PDC]

With little sign of let up in the heatwave the Bath fixtures in august may be even worse.

This article is interesting with regards to the impact it is having on field sizes and a bit about Bath deciding not to transfer its fixtures:

https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/ ... ers/339956

BHA have put several extra meetings on during the dry spell ( another 2 AW ones next week), so are beng pro active .

Is there a consistent channel through which such announcements are made? I haven't been able to find one.

[Halliday]

Fair points, just frustrating.

I think racing should cut the number of races and invest more in what remains. Spread too thin and it's sometimes a bit embarrassing to see the lack of quality out there.

Interesting to see the BHA trialing Optional claimers , did anyone notice the first one was run at Yarmouth last week with £30,000 added prize money. Hopefully create opportunities for horses weighted out of handicaps but not good enough for conditions races etc

“Starting on July 18 at Yarmouth, the ten-race trial is pitched at horses rated in the 80s and 90s. These events will be staged over distances from six furlongs to a mile, and each carry a total prize fund of £30,000.

When entering a horse in an optional claiming handicap, trainers can ‘buy’ a handicap rating up to 7lb lower than its published rating but, in doing so, they make that horse available to claim for a pre-determined price which is in line with the reduced rating chosen.”

https://www.racingpost.com/news/optiona ... bha/334150

[Halliday]

With little sign of let up in the heatwave the Bath fixtures in august may be even worse.

This article is interesting with regards to the impact it is having on field sizes and a bit about Bath deciding not to transfer its fixtures:

https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/ ... ers/339956

BHA have put several extra meetings on during the dry spell ( another 2 AW ones next week), so are beng pro active .

Is there a consistent channel through which such announcements are made? I haven't been able to find one.

BHA website .. the data packs are published monthly and contain stats on field sizes etc, the yearly ones contain masses of data

The stewards reports also make interesting reading

https://www.britishhorseracing.com/news-media/

https://www.britishhorseracing.com/regu ... ata-packs/