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Celtic warrior
04 Aug 24 12:36
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Date Joined: 18 Jul 02
| Topic/replies: 2,811 | Blogger: Celtic warrior's blog
Following this week’s incident, is it pointless for a jockey to slow down a winning horse near the line? We all know that jockeys are mandated to try for the best possible positional finish. However, by pulling up a horse to reduce the winning margin does this actually help the horse?

Having handicapped all 2yo UK races this year it clear to see that Raceform RPRs are adjusted/tweaked to add in extra pounds for such occurrences to the winning horse’s rating. Now if you look at the adjusted RPRS (which are calculated using Official handicap ratings) for say a top flight handicap then these RPR’s are within a very tight range. This therefore logically suggests that the official handicapper makes the same adjustments as do Raceform.

In conclusion therefore jockeys will make no benefit to a horses next time out handicap mark by stopping near the line. So why do they all still do it?
Pause Switch to Standard View Is there any point to jockeys pulling...
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Report skiptoomaloumacari August 6, 2024 11:27 AM BST
It all goes back to the pre video days when only the people at the course saw the race... and all the handicapper had to go on was the result in the form book...totally pointless . now and indeed probably counter productive
Report Sica Dan August 6, 2024 1:00 PM BST
Surely they want to leave the handicaper guessing just how much the horse had in hand?
Report the old nanny ;-) August 6, 2024 1:53 PM BST
If anything it makes it look more impressive when a horse is eased , on another point people bet on Distances surely easing or pulling up horses should not be allowed , all horses should at least be ridden hands and heels to the line
Report penzance August 6, 2024 1:57 PM BST
The distance backers won't be moaning when a horse is eased up & their
bet cops.
Report Somerset Sam August 6, 2024 2:10 PM BST
If they time their rides correctly the horses will hit the front in the last half furlong for example. You hear about jockeys having to time their effort, count to 10 and then go on. Too many go on too far out.

Hitting the front say 2 and a half out and win by x lengths pushed out to the max can almost ruin a horses chance of winning in a handicap next time out. It certainly can't help.
Report dave1357 August 6, 2024 2:24 PM BST
doubt it is that much in their control. A pace horse that wins is either going to win relatively easily or weaken and just hold on. A finisher/stayer is dependent on a fast pace and a pace collapse can see it winning easily. There are of course horses that are redic well handicapped from time to time where the jockey is well in control of when to hit the front and your point is very valid.
Report Somerset Sam August 6, 2024 2:59 PM BST
Dave, your point would be perfectly valid if horses that are held up off a slow pace weren't so far behind. The ground some of them are asked to make up in an everyday race is patently not good enough and down to jockey error, if indeed the horse is trying in the first place or being saved for another day. That's another argument altogether.

It's not a vintage era for jockeyship on the whole, flat or jumps.
Report stu August 6, 2024 3:05 PM BST
Deliberately slowing your horse before the finish line should be banned, aside from well beaten horses during the race.

There may be some debate between what is 'slowing' and 'pushing out hands and heels' I suppose though. To me, slowing is where you see the jockey actually pull back on the horse, causing it to slow it's stride pattern. That should be banned on horses still in contention in the race, until after the finish line.
Report stu August 6, 2024 3:08 PM BST
The above should go for all horses either able to win or place still during the races, at the very least.
Report the old nanny ;-) August 6, 2024 4:09 PM BST
Where Money is changing hands there needs to be strict rules

Stu is spot on
Report in hell August 6, 2024 4:20 PM BST
I've always wondered if this has a negative impact on horses and could result in small injuries. Some of them pull the horses mouth with some force, usually after going 8 lengths clear and then try and win by 2 l

Pointless these days
Report formoftheace August 7, 2024 9:58 AM BST
The Risen used to strangle close home….
Report sageform August 7, 2024 11:05 AM BST
A horse that can win either on the bridle or with gentle pushing will have a much better experience than one that has the whip applied but pulling hard on the mouth to slow one down near the line is not a good idea.
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