Jones on HDG and weight

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by PeteMugg

Curious what the purpose of a handicap is for racing. Is it to make all things even? Or is it like other sports, such as golf or bowling, only meant to make things more competitve? I've never given it much thought but I think the deck should still be stacked in favor of the better horses. They've earned it.

i disagree. handicaps are to try to get fuller fields; as a way to encourage those with horses that are at a disadvantage to run in races-otherwise we'd have more walk-overs and smaller fields. everyone one in a while you get folks who throw little temper tantrums like porter yesterday. it's an attempt to sway the racing secretaries to concern themselves more with getting a star horse than they are in weighting a race correctly. it's not a slap at porter, but to give a lesser gap would be a slap in the face to every other owner who might enter a horse. porter is completely in the wrong here. he wants the best of both worlds, to win awards and accolades but not necessarily earn them.
what they should have said is based on hds's work, they're going to give her a little more time. it's far more plausible, and would make him appear less a petty tyrant and moron.
the 118 she'd have gotten to face boys also proves it wasn't the weight. he wants to win trophies this year based on last years' body of work. wonder where he got that idea from?