FEB 14: We Escape Soccer

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by DGIB

Well said. There are some great over seas racing most of us have not seen. I still would like to know why the weights in the states are what they are? Can't a sport evolve and change to make it fair to everyone involved. Because a jocks life is a very important aspect to racing. Higher weights, big deal the horses will still run the same. The better horse that day will win. Sad the records would change, big deal. The records should change in baseball now that the truth is out. The jocks are the ones to suffer in my opinion. 10 percent for the way I live? Tough call. For most it is better than where they came from. When you have nothing and live the dream, then hell life is great.

I have been racing in both europe and asia and while I enjoyed it, one of the biggest things for me was how different things are done in different places. Doing things differently is part of the appeal of various racing venues. The cry of "well the rest of the world does it this way" is such a singular argument that rarely takes into consideration the inate differences in both the style and structure of racing and its venues.
The jockeys weight thing is not valid to me over here because #1. we have raised the weights in the last few years and #2 the style of racing here makes it harder to carry signifigantly higher weights (i.e.- dirt races, sprints, much more cheap racing,etc)

First point is what?? Second point is the ??? I asked. Why can we not change?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by DGIB

First point is what?? Second point is the ??? I asked. Why can we not change?

The minimum weights in overnight races (maidens, claiming, allowance) are 117 lbs now up from under 110 in some cases.
If you dont understand why you cant stack weight on cheap claimers in sprint races then you dont understand american style racing.
Why put the onus on the horse? If you are a jockey that cant make weight or have to do extreme thing to make it then maybe you are not physically cut out to be a jockey. What is to stop 150 lb guys from reducing to 130 if you raise the weights?

I totally disagree with you. When was the last time you were that weight? I'm telling you things could change for the better of the sport. Not why they are what they are. But what it could be... Goodluck finding an American to hold that weight, theres a Wendys around the corner, their drug of choice.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by DGIB

I totally disagree with you. When was the last time you were that weight? I'm telling you things could change for the better of the sport. Not why they are what they are. But what it could be... Goodluck finding an American to hold that weight, theres a Wendys around the corner, their drug of choice.

I am not a jockey. When was the last time you were a NFL lineman? Is the NFL suffering because of the health problems associated with the extreme high weights that linemen must carry to be able to do thier jobs? Why do jockeys have to be of a certain nationality?
Problems that jockeys have with their weight is an individual jockey problem. The sport has made some moves to alleviate the really low weights. If this is not enough for you then I would love to hear your recommendations other than to say that we should subject horses to more weight because jockeys are eating at Wendy's.
I assure you that there is NOT a shortage of jockeys.

No, you will always find someone that wants the "American dream". Do you know what sacrafices they make? Wouldn't a higher jocks weight here in the states lessen a lot of problems? Wonder why the jocks are on drugs? Sad, but true. Not to say they do drugs to ride, but drugs to lose the weight...?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by DGIB

No, you will always find someone that wants the "American dream". Do you know what sacrafices they make? Wouldn't a higher jocks weight here in the states lessen a lot of problems? Wonder why the jocks are on drugs? Sad, but true. Not to say they do drugs to ride, but drugs to lose the weight...?

Jockeys make no more sacrifice than anyone else who works with horses. A higher weight scale would not change anything. Jockeys are also tested regularly for drugs so using them to lose weight is not going to last for long.
BTW-married to a jockey.