The Cush
 

So I have been stuck at Scareywood for the last week ( I say stuck not because of the track but just the drive and area) and have worked about 5 or 6 horses from 3/8ths up to 3/4 , this stuff feels so diffirent than dirt.
When you are galloping and working you dont feel the hard concusion like on a dirt track yet this stuff is only about 4 inches deep , and horses dont loose their foorting on it either, a couple of the horses I worked had no shoes on and never missed a step.
I am having a little trouble hitting my times right now , first horse I worked went to fast the first part , so the second one I worked I felt like I was going a half in 55 and I went 49 , its very deceiving how easily the horses get across the ground.

Sounds like you haven't made up your mind on this stuff yet. Thanks for the info.

Honu - some of the grumblings I have heard from Jocks in KY is that you cant hear when a horse is coming up on you when you are in the lead. They say when they are on the lead they constantly have to look under the arms or over their shoulders to see where the others are. Also, they say that the horse doesnt hear the horses coming so they dont get the sense to "dig in." What is your opinion on this?

Nope I havent .....I just know it feels softer than dirt and it changes the way the horses feel when they travel over it .

yet another reason why it will be tough to play starting out....which jocks develop the feel for it quicker than others. That is an important angle when cappin.

Ive only worked a couple of horses in company since I have been there and to be honest you really cant hear the sound of the other horses hooves or your own for that matter.

Kev I touched on that issue this past summer on here. An agent I spoke to said his rider had a hard time telling whether or not he had any horse underneath him during the race.

I have wagered on less than 5 races between Keen and Holly...just still no feel for it personally.

Ive watched the races and I dont see any really big form reversals, but I do think that horses that on form that do their best running when going wide and sometimes not getting up will be more inclined to run into the cush than before.

just be interesting to know which jocks have a better feel for it than others.