Jones on HDG and weight

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by PeteMugg

I didn't say there shouldn't be any weight given, just that it didn't have to make all horses even. Obviously, the amount is up to debate, but fair and even aren't necessarily the same thing.

Why else would you have weight differences?
In a handicap race that is the goal regardless of your interpretation of fairness. Why do you think weight is given under allowance conditions? The same reason, recent winners or older horses usually carry more weight. Why you believe this would be considered unfair for handicap stakes but not allowance races is beyond me.

[PeteMugg]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Why else would you have weight differences?
In a handicap race that is the goal regardless of your interpretation of fairness. Why do you think weight is given under allowance conditions? The same reason, recent winners or older horses usually carry more weight. Why you believe this would be considered unfair for handicap stakes but not allowance races is beyond me.

So if weight is assigned to make all horses even, it should make the morning line simple enough, about 10-1 for each entrant. I guess It's just never been my interpretation that a handicap race seemed so even across the board.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by PeteMugg

So if weight is assigned to make all horses even, it should make the morning line simple enough, about 10-1 for each entrant. I guess It's just never been my interpretation that a handicap race seemed so even across the board.

it's not an exact science, they still have to run the race. theoretically, if weighted correctly, the horses would be in a blanket finish.
surely you've heard of some of the more famous races out there, such as citation and noor? people wouldn't still talk about matches like that had citation not been carrying a lot of weight, giving a lot of weight, and still gutting it out to the finish.
you can bet your behind no one will be talking about HDG in that fashion.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by PeteMugg

So if weight is assigned to make all horses even, it should make the morning line simple enough, about 10-1 for each entrant. I guess It's just never been my interpretation that a handicap race seemed so even across the board.

The problem is that they usually are already underweighting the top horses in order to get them to run. HDG should give some of the lightweights that may run against her 15-18 pounds but they rarely will do it. Plus it is hard to find a jockey that can do 105. So Porter is complaining about a process which probably already skewed in his favor because his horse is probably not being assigned enough weight and the lower weights are being given too much.

[PeteMugg]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The problem is that they usually are already underweighting the top horses in order to get them to run. HDG should give some of the lightweights that may run against her 15-18 pounds but they rarely will do it. Plus it is hard to find a jockey that can do 105. So Porter is complaining about a process which probably already skewed in his favor because his horse is probably not being assigned enough weight and the lower weights are being given too much.

Best explanation I've heard yet. Of course, how much weight is what is up for debate. Clearly HDG connections will fight for all they can get in their favor. Thanks.

[Cannon Shell]

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/stor...ght-ridiculous

[rpncaine]

Great article...really miss Gary West on ATR.

[Danzig]

loved it, glad you posted the link.

what caught my eye most the other day in porters ridiculous rant was his assertion that the racing secretary shouldn't be the one producing the winner...but isn't that exactly what porter is trying to make happen? that his horse not carry enough that would give someone else a chance.
but, as was said the in the article, the few pounds she's giving aren't enough to make a difference between victory and defeat.

maybe steve could get porter on the show, and call him out!