429 nom but only 68 run?

why we left with only 68 runners today at greyville from an original entry of 429?thats just less than 9 runners per race over an 8 race program..month end stand alone meeting this certainly wont help turnovers especially with the most popular bet per race that being the quartet.. :blush:

I agree wholeheartedly with you here Pirates. I cannot understand why it happens. Probably because you are originally drawn 37/110 say so you scratch but so does everyone else and you could have been say 9/12 which is not too bad. Maybe trainers must watch sratchings more closely. FFC was 39/41 and came in to 7/7.

Craig Eudey wrote: I agree wholeheartedly with you here Pirates. I cannot understand why it happens. Probably because you are originally drawn 37/110 say so you scratch but so does everyone else and you could have been say 9/12 which is not too bad. Maybe trainers must watch sratchings more closely. FFC was 39/41 and came in to 7/7.

I think that, that is the most likely reason.
The other is , possibly, trainers nominate early and then after the workouts on a Tuesday morning feel that certain horses would not be ready for the race.

Also, there might be stronger horses in the race and trainers feel that their horse/s don't stand a realistic chance so they scratch.

Craig has the unfair track got anything to do with it ?

Not from my interaction with trainers. The basic thread through most trainers and jockeys is that it is the fairest track around and horses if good enough can win from anywhere. Anton won on Colins horse down the inside. It will be interesting today after the bit of rain we have had to see how the track runs. Most did feel that the track was a bit too hard on Friday and that has been addressed.

Craig Eudey wrote: Not from my interaction with trainers. The basic thread through most trainers and jockeys is that it is the fairest track around and horses if good enough can win from anywhere. Anton won on Colins horse down the inside. It will be interesting today after the bit of rain we have had to see how the track runs. Most did feel that the track was a bit too hard on Friday and that has been addressed.

if that's the case why does every single trainer including yourself put in draw provisos when accepting to run?

Because you might have him drawn almost the same in another set on weights so you could take your chances there. You also take into account how the horse like to run. A front runner you would not want to be drawn 12/12 but if you run on from behind you would be ok.

Craig Eudey wrote: Not from my interaction with trainers. The basic thread through most trainers and jockeys is that it is the fairest track around and horses if good enough can win from anywhere. Anton won on Colins horse down the inside. It will be interesting today after the bit of rain we have had to see how the track runs. Most did feel that the track was a bit too hard on Friday and that has been addressed.

This is my gripe. How difficult is it to keep the track consistent in a rain free period ? They raced on Wednesday and Friday. Surely the conditions shouls have been identical ? So today we have had some rain and things will change. We must now guess how the track will run today ! Its not worthy betting on.

so glad Anton went to the ootside

Im pulling my hair (not much left) out. Waiting for the right race and draw in three centres for almost two months now. Right race drawn 40 odd every frikkin time. Enough ! Maybe move to diffirent centres ? You look at the end fields +- 8 runners WTF ? Poly and sand, poly and sand, poly and sand frikkin enough ! Durbanville enough !

Pirates
Surely the fact that noms are free plays a role ? I would just nominate all eligible or my whole string if possible and then look at scratchings. The amount of scratchings to noms in KZN is far higher than anywhere else.
This begs the question - are the Trainers nominating at a race which is being targeted or not ?
I understand that between noms and acceptances, a horse's work is assessed. But surely we nominate horses that are well and ready and very few should change or "go flat" during that short time. The ratio of noms to acceptances refers overall.

Your opinion would be appreciated.

I agree that free noms is part of it but the main reason for me is that the race program doesn't meet the majority of the horse population in natal when it comes to class and also distance..put on maiden plates up to 1400 or 1600 and very low merit rated races from mr 64 to around mr 75 over distances up to 1600m and you will get full fields...once you go further in distance and also up in class from mr 80 and also plate races then you wont get more than 6 to 8 accepting with trainers having to accept with stablemates in order to keep the race alive also a few that accept are racing under huge sufferance so don't have a chance... not every horse is suited to race on the polytrack surface as well plus I watch every meeting when trainers accept and many stipulate draw provisos and who can blame them as when you race at greyville you are always on the turn ...hope that helps