changes in the claiming game?

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

I certainly can't speak for anyone else but I think this is the exact type of thing that this idea is trying to get away from...the idea that you 'never want to be the last one to claim a horse' is obviously true...but this idea would put pressure on the current owner to maintain the horse and not run it, if unsound to the point where it wouldn't get looked at post race...it's a fantasy sure...but imagine if it worked?
and also to pressure owners to retire horses that perhaps shouldn't be running...the last line about having more homes available for sound retirees than there are sound retirees is telling.

don't get me wrong, i'm hardly an advocate of running unsound horses looking for money or the sort of dishonesty that goes on in the claiming game as far as trying to get a broken horse off your hands before its too late.

i was mostly just sort of playing it out in regards to how it would affect the owners too -- and not just the greedy ones trying to run for a check, but maybe an owner who has a horse with some physical infirmities but who legitimately wants to get unload it...and allowing everyone to get a really close look before decided they don't want it -- when without an inspection, they may take a stab at it. it could go both ways it seems.

but i don't know a damn thing about the reality of it outside of some Portland conversations with the trainer and exercise rider, so I'm hardly saying I know what I'm talking about here, just sort of talking out the reality vs. the ideal.