Curlin a 'go' for Foster
 

Bluff: Called.. Asmussen says he's too ready to leave in the barn.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/95358.html

Assmussen seems to have a valid point about the weights I guess. . . if he really believes that weight matters. There's really no reason to have handicaps anymore now that we have exotic wagering. . .

Poor Curlin has to run with all that weight. I hope the gentle little flower doesn't get hurt.

?????

I can see his point. To me, weight is an issue. Not neccessarily 1lb. or 2lb., but in this case, giving a lot of weight, yeah, I think it's an issue. According to Asmussen, he needs to race the horse. Of course he doesn't want the horse to get beat and this is not ideal, but often racing never is.

If the horse goes out and puts in a very good effort and gets beat a length or on the wire, the critics I am sure will be out in full form. It might be the start he needs, who knows. A first start back, after coming from Dubai, to me is always "not ideal" but he has to start back somewhere.

Eric

Yes the weight is a big deal. Heaven forbid the top horses have to face a little extra adversity. :rolleyes:

Better/more accomplished horses carry more weight to supposedly level the playing field, right? Partly to make wagering more interesting, correct?

i thought they handicapped the race to get horses to enter. not like you'd get many takers vs curlin at level weights.

I believe the owner, trainer and Jockey benefit from where the horse finishes(the purse). And most would like to finish as high as possible, they earn more. That is why they object to high weights. As Danzig stated they add weight to level the playing field, so more people enter, because they think they can win.

I have never heard wagering being a factor in weight assignments.

I read that somewhere reputable. . . If I remember where I'll let you know.

It may have been from something Crist said. . . maybe on his blog.

When they are trying to weigh the horses, they are trying to put an estimate on what makes them ALL even, and then they run the race, but that is the secretary's best guess at making them all hit the line together

Or

I could be completely wrong

nope, you're right. that's how things used to be. now, it's keep the star under 130, and then try to give low weights to the others--but how low can you really go? i'd imagine some with low imposts will end up in the overweight section of the 'late changes' that day.

i just find it a bit funny that a horse can carry 126 when barely three, but a year later someone bitches about 2 more pounds. it's ridiculous.

I understand that. . .

Rather than just adding weight, the course handicapper could make the field more level with the morning line. It seems to me that you would want to do anything you could to get a horse like Curlin to run at your track. Not do something to try to discourage him. If other horses don't want to challenge him, then get off the porch!

What do you mean?

You are dead ass right, it has turned into a joke though on this side of the pond.

I just saying there's more than one way to skin a cat. I understand wanting to add weight to make the race (theoretically) more on an even level, but I just think there should be a reasonable limit. Use the odds to make the playing field more level. I realize that doesn't necessarly help the other horses per se, but when you wash it all down it's fair. IMO

who else is running, anyone with any shot ?

exactly what i want to know.

Still not understanding you.

:eek: Uh oh, I hear the PETA people coming after you...

Sorry, I should have expanded on my comment. First let me remove my comment about the cat. Next really my comment is based soley on the wagering aspect rather than running the actual race itself. I promise to be more global in future posts.:o

no you are completely correct.

The wagering aspect doesn't make any horse in the race more likely to win, though. Curlin could go off at 1,000-1 odds or 1-1,000 odds and it won't make a ticky's worth of difference how he runs his race. The weight assignments are to give each of the horses a better shot at winning. All the odds are is the betting public's opinion of who is going to win.

I bet Albarado is thinking, "Score! I get to eat lunch!" :)

Where is this string of handicap races that Curlin is going to run in? Most major races for older horses are weight for age. The days of Kelso running in a series of handicp races constantly picking up weight are over. Does anyone think if Curlin carried 132 lbs. instead of 126 lbs. his odds would be different?

To me it's not how much weight a horse carries as much as how much he/she is spotting the field, in the TC races for instance they all carry the same weight w/weight allowance for females. But essentially they are all on a level palying field. To me the ultimate test for a horse is spotting large amounts of weight to other horses and being able to overcome the disadvantage. Ie. Forego to mention one horse that comes to mind.