changes in the claiming game?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Dunbar

The "auction" could be held right after the race. It could be a sealed bid auction. There could be something like a claim box, and interested owners would each be able to make a single sealed bid. Highest bid gets the horse. There would need to be a brief period after the race where prospective buyers could look over a horse.

There would probably have to be a minimum bid allowed, so that people do not buy horses for $100. The minimum bid should probably be set close to what the current "claim" price is. It would be posted as part of the conditions of the race.

I don't think this procedure would be any more expensive to implement than the current claim procedure.

A major reason for having claiming races is to offer a fairly level set of horses to the betting public. This "auction" structure would accomplish that goal far better than the current claiming structure. A trainer knows going in that if his/her horse wins the race, it will very likely be bought.

By moving the "claim" to after the race rather than before, you take away any chance of a trainer to unload an injured horse. You also take away the incentive to run the injured horse.

--Dunbar

Unfortunately, this would also remove my favorite angle in claiming races: betting against the overbet fav who does not logically belong in a race at a dropped down level.

Where would all of this take place? Where would you examine the horses? Right on the track? What time frame would there be? Do you really think it will be feasable for tracks that run a majority of claiming races a day to hold an auction after everyone of them? What about maiden claiming races for 2 yo's? Who would run a horse in them? Especially first time starters that run well? No one will take a chance in losing them. What you will create is more problems, litigation, etc.
Hundreds of horses are claimed every week. Most of them aren't so crippled that they cant race again. Most horses that run in cheaper claiming races aren't broke down, they are slow.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Where would all of this take place? Where would you examine the horses? Right on the track? What time frame would there be? Do you really think it will be feasable for tracks that run a majority of claiming races a day to hold an auction after everyone of them? What about maiden claiming races for 2 yo's? Who would run a horse in them? Especially first time starters that run well? No one will take a chance in losing them. What you will create is more problems, litigation, etc.
Hundreds of horses are claimed every week. Most of them aren't so crippled that they cant race again. Most horses that run in cheaper claiming races aren't broke down, they are slow.

You raise some good questions about time and place of the "examination". I'm guessing the length of the "examination" period would be on the order of 15" or 30". I don't see any reason why the whole process would have to be completed before the start of the next race. As far as the "auction" itself, it shouldn't take any more time than what it takes to drop a bid into a claim box.

Whatever shortcomings this process has in terms of lameness that doesn't show up until the following day, it would still be much safer for the buyer than the current procedure.

At any rate, I think it's a good topic for discussion. Maybe a procedure can evolve that satisfies your concerns.

--Dunbar

[The Bid]

Should just run one and send it directly to the auction ring. Dont give it any water, dont cool it out, just auction them off. Sounds almost foolproof.

Originally Posted by The Bid

Should just run one and send it directly to the auction ring. Dont give it any water, dont cool it out, just auction them off. Sounds almost foolproof.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!