I have just finished looking through the weekends racecards and yet again the plate races put on countrywide are very poorly supported..we continue to hear moans and groans from trainers and owners about the mr system but when plate races are put on for their so called better horses which the hcapper has stuffed their career they don't get support in fact most trainers have to accept with numerous runners then scratch in order to keep the race alive or you have a novice plate on sunday at greyville where the average merit rating of the field IS 66....considering you cannot be penalised for running a place in these plate races where are these so called good horses hiding?the cape tomorrow has 5 horses in one plate race and 7 in another :blush:
Why don't they fill?
Because most trainers rightly or wrongly feel the Handicappers remember the GOOD run
when your horse runs and places in a MR race next time
They thump horses you run 3rd 4th and even 5th in a listed or graded race
Why do you think races like the Langerman Sophomore don't ever fill
I ran Finding Neverland last week in a conditions race and picked up a cheque for the owners. On straight form she could not beat the top 3 but due to GC now paying the stakes out that are advertised you have a chance of earning down to 5th place. In the past I would not have accepted as in a small race with 4/5/6 runners, the stakes would have only been paid to the 1st 2/3 and so why run when you cannot beat the top 2/3 runners as you are so far out on handicap terms. You are just wasting your time. Are stakes paid out the same way in Phumelela country?
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