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Are they damned if they do, damned if they don't regarding watering ? Loads of small fields at the turf flat fixtures this week , plenty non runners. Or is it the trainers for lack of entries, or is there just too much racing.
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I think too much racing. Surely the going is fine for flat racing - especially when you see the number of runners at Uttoxeter on similar going.
You would have thought so but around 20 flat races today with less than 8 runners.
barely rained anywhere all month...trainers/owners reluctant to risk their Flat horses on the ground right now in case bugger them up for whole season...be very surprised if field sizes dont increase once we get rain next week
Should they then not have watered more Duncan? Made the ground safer, if that's the concern of stables.
Just plating devils advocate.
Seems they are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Just plating devils advocate.
Seems they are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The problem with that is plenty of trainers will tell you that over watered ground is just as risky as firm ground, mainly because it can be inconsistent.
I'd say that the current glut of small fields is a combination of fewer horses in training (down to Covid and the restrictions imposed on owners), and the unusual combination of very dry and very cold weather through March/April. Even if the courses are watered, trainers can't work horses on turf at home (bar the watered gallop at Nmkt) and the cold means they don't do well when put out in a paddock. As Duncan says, many won't take the risk at this stage of the season, and the fact that the owners might enjoy going racing more in midsummer when (IF) restrictions are lifted probably adds to the reasons for patience.
I'd say that the current glut of small fields is a combination of fewer horses in training (down to Covid and the restrictions imposed on owners), and the unusual combination of very dry and very cold weather through March/April. Even if the courses are watered, trainers can't work horses on turf at home (bar the watered gallop at Nmkt) and the cold means they don't do well when put out in a paddock. As Duncan says, many won't take the risk at this stage of the season, and the fact that the owners might enjoy going racing more in midsummer when (IF) restrictions are lifted probably adds to the reasons for patience.
Very fair and valid points TA, especially around watered ground. Maybe it is something we will just need to accept and that smaller fields will be more of a norm on the grass.
Will be interesting going forward, to see how the field sizes pan out this summer.
Will be interesting going forward, to see how the field sizes pan out this summer.
yeah, possible the low night-time temps have played a part, limiting how much water they'd want to put on knowing it was going to freeze....just a guess
If you have a fast ground beast, you dont plan its racing year around being ready to run in April.
Can anyone remember when you didn't know the name of a single clerk of the course? I think the sport survived quite happily. Now everyone uses them as time filler.
often provide useful info re. wind direction, watering etc...prefer to listen to them for 2 mins than Nevo
Oh. Now there's a career move, Dave.
Duncan,
Except in the race where I've got a runner! Only four in the 4:00 Lingfield, just like school sports day, a prize for every contestant!
Except in the race where I've got a runner! Only four in the 4:00 Lingfield, just like school sports day, a prize for every contestant!
Excellent, TheAnorak. Hope you get a medal rather than the wooden spoon
ps are you Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum?
ps are you Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum?
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