Talk about a true handicap race

[MisterB]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

It's not so bad. Many horses often carry that kind of weight in the mornings and live to tell about it. Many horses in the past, while not at 147 lbs, have raced with a lot more weight then they do now. I don't know how long u have been watching the game but I'll tell u that u would be surprised at some of the things these horses would be able to do........if asked or allowed to do them.

I don't consider a horse gasping for air, their legs wobbling, walking home the last 1/4 mile, a fun race.

Heck, we can't even get the SO Called higher priced horses to run 6fl under 114.

[King Glorious]

I don't think it would be a fun race to watch but I don't think they are doing any danger to the horses.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I don't think it would be a fun race to watch but I don't think they are doing any danger to the horses.

People are morons. I weigh 175 pounds and when I ride the horse drags me around like a blowup doll. A 147 pound impost is nothing...

[MisterB]

Originally Posted by philcski

People are morons.

Yea, lets start with the racing Sec first.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by MisterB

Yea, lets start with the racing Sec first.

It's Beulah Park, aka the worst racetrack in America. What do you expect?

[MisterB]

Originally Posted by philcski

It's Beulah Park, aka the worst racetrack in America. What do you expect?

I got it now

[ALostTexan]

You guys act like they are taking a bunch of 2YO sprinters and asking them to go 2 miles. This is a normal race for these horses, and of all the times I have watched this race (which is several) I have yet to see a horse break down. Plus, it is actually competitive in the final furlong.

Have any of you critics ever watched this race?

ALostTexan

[ALostTexan]

Originally Posted by MisterB

I don't consider a horse gasping for air, their legs wobbling, walking home the last 1/4 mile, a fun race.

Heck, we can't even get the SO Called higher priced horses to run 6fl under 114.

If you have TVG, watch the race. This is a somewhat common race for these horses, and they condition for it. Well, at least as well as the trainers at Beulah can get them to train for it...

ALostTexan

[MisterB]

Originally Posted by ALostTexan

If you have TVG, watch the race. This is a somewhat common race for these horses, and they condition for it. Well, at least as well as the trainers at Beulah can get them to train for it...

ALostTexan

At least make it interesting, make them pull a Beer Wagon, or something

Hope they have time to set up for the next race

Originally Posted by MisterB

I don't consider a horse gasping for air, their legs wobbling, walking home the last 1/4 mile, a fun race.

Heck, we can't even get the SO Called higher priced horses to run 6fl under 114.

These races run on the turf are much less pounding on the horse. The horse does not hit with near as much impact because they cant run that fast. And you dont think horses dont wobble after a good tough 6f race...?

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by pgardn

These races run on the turf are much less pounding on the horse. The horse does not hit with near as much impact because they cant run that fast. And you dont think horses dont wobble after a good tough 6f race...?

Thank you, pgardn. Don't know about you, but the majority of horses I've seen after a race have been a bit wobbly afterwards... lol.

Case in point... Nobiz. So 'wobbly' that he was resting his right hind in the winners circle.

[MisterB]

Originally Posted by pgardn

These races run on the turf are much less pounding on the horse. The horse does not hit with near as much impact because they cant run that fast. And you dont think horses dont wobble after a good tough 6f race...?

Yea, like I said, can't even make 114 in 6fl, without huffing and puffing, it's a joke. Easy on the horse on the turf? OK, seems 2 miles anyway, is to tough to me.

[SOREHOOF]

The jumpers carry that much and more, and run that far or farther all the time.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by SOREHOOF

The jumpers carry that much and more, and run that far or farther all the time.

I haven't watched a whole lot of jumpers, but based on what I've seen, breakdowns are commonplace.

[SOREHOOF]

More so in Europe where they are running up and down hills on some pretty rough tracks (not to mention 25 horse fields). On the flats at Saratoga and (I think) Colonial it's not really that bad. I gotta believe it's the jumping more than the weight.

[ArlJim78]

Yeah I was speaking of the hilly races in Europe with lots of jumps.
It looks grueling.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by SOREHOOF

More so in Europe where they are running up and down hills on some pretty rough tracks (not to mention 25 horse fields). On the flats at Saratoga and (I think) Colonial it's not really that bad. I gotta believe it's the jumping more than the weight.

I think the phrase is "Speed kills" and a horse carrying more weight just isn't going to run as fast as he would under lighter weight (ergo the whole theory of handicapping, right?). So, actually, in terms of stress, the slower the horse goes, the less stress on the legs. I've actually thought it would be interesting to see if raising the minimum weight horses can carry would reduce breakdowns because they just couldn't go as fast, though I imagine a 5-pound or even 10-pound increase might not be enough to make a difference, though it'd be healthier for a lot of jockeys.