Did look back for a thread for last night but couldn't find one.
Part of the problem is clearly that his views go completely unchallenged so it appears he can say what he likes. Nobody with any sense is going to email RUK and contradict him because he will always get the final say.
Like most of his thoughts last nights comments about somehow the breed being enhanced because horses are hit by the whip appears to have no foundation in fact whatsoever.
I would suspect that 99% or more of the horses that historically we consider stars of the turf were hardly if ever hit eight times with a whip during a race. The two horses who have produced the most exciting performances this season are probably Frankel and Camelot. If we accept the unchecked ramblings of Willo they presumably will be duds as sires because the jock hasn't needed to get the whip out. Crazy.
IMO some of these horses are not lazy. They are just so genuine they will go through the pain barrier for you. If BI and PP had been stallion prospects Willo could be right. Hawk Wing wouldnt have dug deep with the whip and neither do plenty of his offspring.
IMO some of these horses are not lazy. They are just so genuine they will go through the pain barrier for you. If BI and PP had been stallion prospects Willo could be right. Hawk Wing wouldnt have dug deep with the whip and neither do plenty of his o
George i take it you mean they were poor stallions. I imagine Willo was talking about will to win IN ADDITION to everything else. Horses like Galileo and especially High Chapperal were battlers AND had the genes.
George i take it you mean they were poor stallions. I imagine Willo was talking about will to win IN ADDITION to everything else. Horses like Galileo and especially High Chapperal were battlers AND had the genes.
You can only improve a breed if there is genetic variation, one Mendels (sp?) basic principles of genetic theory. The whip is thus utterly irrelevant unless James could argue that "gene expression" in the Thoroughbred (where there is virtually no genetic variation due to the same foundation stallions and a closed Stud Book) is inheritable through RNA (ribonucleic acid) as is the case in humans. For example in humans if you are born into a disadvantaged family this leads to certain negative social conditioning and this is passed on via RNA rather than DNA. So his only argument would be this works in the Thoroughbred, the whip improving the bred via some kind of influence on RNA, if indeed a horse does possess RNA and if indeed it works as in humans.
Over to you James!
You can only improve a breed if there is genetic variation, one Mendels (sp?) basic principles of genetic theory. The whip is thus utterly irrelevant unless James could argue that "gene expression" in the Thoroughbred (where there is virtually no gen
I think James is arguing the pro cushion can, in some cases where a horse is lazy or needs to be "told" to race, ensure a horse runs to the full extent of its ability. I do not think he is saying the whip directly improves the breed.
Some people should listen!
"Horses do not come pre-programmed to race"I think James is arguing the pro cushion can, in some cases where a horse is lazy or needs to be "told" to race, ensure a horse runs to the full extent of its ability. I do not think he is saying the whip di