Before you all just applaud the emperors news cloak maybe think a bit more about it.
Ill start with some cheap shots and then progress to more hard hitting thoughts.
1: Item 1 on the Agenda of the AGM surely should have been the assistance in restoring FORMGRIDS as a matter of urgency so that the industry can benefit from it. Votes would have been 100-0
2: Item 2 on the Agenda should have been the mandatory declaration of AHS administration published so the the public can know when horses have been POISONED (to make them better)
3: Item 3 should have been the monitoring and suspending of in and out running
Now onto these barrier trials
1: The baseline is information for the masses, but like all things if a person wants to be mischievous the 1st run after a barrier trail will still be controlled
2: Powerful stables (owners) will have the power to control perception via multiple entries and clear instructions
3: Some horses will never run 1000m
4: What happens if my horse gets injured during the enforced trial?
5: Why harp on about betting coups ? The last PERFECTLY executed WINNING coup was done at Turfies over 2000m (or 2400) NOT over 1000m and well done to them . There are however daily LOSING coups no one is paying attention to
6: What is the budget for the education of the masses about the "barrier" trials. In other words when Sipho in Gugulethu now sees "barrier trail" what does he do with information he has never had? Not everyone is on ABC
7: 20-1 might now be told...."whew we don't want to run there, that thing won its barrier by 15 lengths. Lets wait another 5 months for a weaker race"
8: NOTHING will change for the punter. For the form studier and clued up person this will have some positive impact. For the riders they must be over the moon.
9: My final thought on this matter is as follows. Would Paul Lafferty like to lose a horse from his yard based on a barrier trial or gain a horse from another yard based on a berried trial. Does the barrier trail potentially enhance or decrease the value of a horse?
mr hawaii wrote: Unfortunately GC are again way ahead of Phumelela - Finally, people are realizing that a clean sport is a strong sport - I wish them all the success they deserve and I will watch religiously when trials air
Correct BUT this is NOT aimed at you. Its been sold as an assistance to the general public.
EASY, that is the whole point. The punter. The form studier. The sooner the industry realises (trainers, owners, the whole lot) that you need transparency and a trustable product and operations, the better for all. Hopefully this will go a long way in getting racing out of it's downward spiral. Do your bit please! do the right thing. We are in the 21st Century, not the 1950's.
Hi Easy, the "we" that Laffs mentioned in the original post was the Natal Trainer's Association that had the AGM and not Gold Circle. Trainers were 100% behind it. He spoke to the CEO after that. Confusing the way it was written.
The trials, if used properly , will assist the trainers as well as the public. Garenteed there will be stories of horses going wrong during trial, just as many will go wrong on a grass gallop so no reason to get ones knickers in a twist. The benefits to the public will depend on how they used and policed. Only works if those below par in the trials are failed and have to prove fit and well to run.. it may also help some of those hundred of entries that actually want to run actually get a run.
This is a fantastic move not just for punters, I have the feeling that owners will benefit from this too. Less hiding of the lame, sick, lazy and useless. Easy you are a dinosaur, the moves along with bookies allowing decent strikes on 1st timers, are long gone. An interesting thought - will bookies now raise the limits on 1st timers if they have completed a barrier trial?
On a side note, I was told that nomination fees will now be implemented for KZN, and 50% refunded if you dont get a run. I believe that this is a step in the right direction.
Im so much of a dinosaur i tweeted all my followers to back my horse when it was fancied , I of all people have zero issue sharing information (well being etc) about horses. Its NOT in my nature.
