17th September 2004, 9:59 PM
#13
I have no doubts that this is the way forward.A triple crown of 3 races between a mile and 12 furlongs would be winnable and prestigious.I would say that the first of the major European racing countries to do it will see an upsurge of interest in its classic races.
17th September 2004, 11:51 PM
#14
I don't see why incompetence and fashion amongst breeders should dictate that the distances of some of the top races should be reduced. Or is this yet another example of mindless, president Tone-inspired America-worship? (Nearly all American pattern races are run at distances between 8 and 10 furlongs, so we must do the same, so that the Americans will like us).
If you're going to mess around with classic race distances, here's a much better idea: leave the Derby and St Leger as they are, but increase the distance of the 2000 Guineas to 10f. Better value for racing fans, and better for the breed. Don't forget - you heard it here first.
17th September 2004, 11:57 PM
#15
Super Moderator
Think the whole thoroughbred breeding industry needs a few more lesser distance races.
Flat breeding whether we like it or not is heavily inbred, more so IMO than the jumps racing. With inbreeding comes certain genetic traits such as low red blood cell count and smaller trachea (windpipe) which enables the horse to run faster but over a shorter period of time.
Eventually if the pattern race system stays as it is the best horse's will be contesting the 6-10f races whilst the 12f races will primarily be won by 10f horses going the extra 2f because they are forced to not because they stay - such horses will run fewer races etc.
Martin
Hurricane Fly - whatever he runs in he wins
Twitter: @Quevega
18th September 2004, 12:28 AM
#16
Irish Stamp, there is probably less inbreeding practised by thoroughbred breeders today than in the past. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that if you go back over the last 200 years, the further you go back, the more inbreeding there seems to have been.
The breeder who most recently dabbled in close inbreeding was Marcel Boussac during the 40s and 50s, who was keen on close-up duplications of Tourbillon, France's best-ever stallion. His horses seemed to stay all right!
You say "With inbreeding comes certain genetic traits such as low red blood cell count and smaller trachea...". Do you have any evidence to support this? And, in any case, I don't see how these defects, however caused, can enable a horse to run faster over shorter distances. I'd have thought it would result in a horse running slower over shorter distances!
18th September 2004, 12:32 AM
#17
Super Moderator
Venusian most of what i have put is from reading up on the subject and of articles in various horse magazines - H+H, Pacemaker, Blood Horse, TT etc. and books (most of which are pretty old - pre 1990) so indeed it could all be outdated information.
I used the wrong language - what i meant to say was that they couldn't run over such distances as 12-14f when immature - eg. less than 4 or 5 years old.
Some would argue that the St. Leger is an example of a race losing prestige due to breeding, not just due to its location in relation to the Arc which has always been the premier 12f race on the continent.
Martin
Hurricane Fly - whatever he runs in he wins
Twitter: @Quevega
18th September 2004, 12:53 AM
#18
Fair enough IS, I misread/understood your wording.
But I still think you're wrong!
One aspect I do agree with, up to a point, is that it can be more difficult for young stayers these days inasmuch as races tend to be run at a much truer pace than in the past. For example, I'm pretty certain that, in its prime, the old Grand Prix de Paris (run over 3000m) was run with a more sedate early pace than would be the case today.
18th September 2004, 12:58 AM
#19
Super Moderator
Think my wording was way out.
Fair enough about thinking i'm wrong but in the same way as we have altered the GP De Paris the US have changed the distance of the Jockey Club Gold Cup from 2m to 10f, which IMO has been a huge success. Their is now to the best of my knowledge only one 13f+ Graded stakes event in the USA (San Juan Capistrano Invitational at around 14f). Such a bias in terms of scheduling resulted from breeders wanting to breed Secretariat again but the Belmont remains at 12f - i'm pretty sure there'd have been at least 2 Triple Crown winners (Charismatic and Smarty Jones) had the race been shortened to 10f.
All in all its swings and roundabouts and the race schedule meets demand for races, if the race isn't attracting a high enough class of horse it is either altered a bit or is downgraded.
Martin
Hurricane Fly - whatever he runs in he wins
Twitter: @Quevega
5th March 2007, 9:53 PM
#20
The Italian Oaks has now been reduced in distance from 11 furlongs to 10 and has also dropped from a Group 1 to a Group 2. Not as significant a move as reducing the French Derby distance but yet another step along that same path.
An eye for an eye, and the whole world would be blind. -
Kahlil Gibran
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