Interesting EQUIPMENT change today's 9th GP
 

CANT STOP ME gets blinkers on for the race; and I really have to wonder why. The horse didn't lose last out because it was outrun early (after a poor break), which it was, but rather because it didn't have a clear run in the stretch while making a HUGE late move. In other words, the horse wins with racing luck. Today, it switches to the dirt and goes an extra furlong. For some reason, the trainer wants this horse CLOSER to the pace. Why? Why ADDITIONALLY kill this horse's late run --- the added distance will do it for you?

No wonder she's ZERO for her last 12 when adding blinkers for the 1st time.

Blinkers have more than one purpose. They aren't always used to increase early speed.

Agreed. They are used for any number of reasons. Over here, blinkers are usually used for horses who lack concentration in a race.

They can also be used for horses who easily get 'worried' out of a race in the closing stages. Blinkers will usually help a horse run straight, therefore trying to stop them hanging in behind other horses if they don't want to get their head in front.

Blinkers can sometimes sharpen horses up, but I wouldn't have said that was the main purpose of using them.

No kidding.

But, in this case, they didn't really do much of anything else but PROBABLY have him closer to the pace --- which dulled his kick; though he ran reasonably well.

There was NO REASON to add blinkers to this horse.

Being closer up on dirt is usually an advantage, so maybe that was the thought. I don't agree was right, just maybe what the connections were thinking.