Most Impressive in Defeat?

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

If you watch a replay of the Champagne, the horse ducks in and is swishing his tail all around when he was whipped. The final 200 yards or so when he is hand ridden, he was not swishing his tail.

I wonder if this is why Pletcher didn't want him hit. I don't think he would have held on anyway.

For the record, I'm not questioning his instruction one bit, and certainly not saying he would have won. I just think it is something the bettors should know ahead of time, just like the rider did...nothing more.

I think any reasonable handicapper could envision a scenario where Havana was going to get a wide trip and be tiring down the lane. Knowing a whip wasn't going to be used could have made a difference.

[Jay Frederick]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

For the record, I'm not questioning his instruction one bit, and certainly not saying he would have won. I just think it is something the bettors should know ahead of time, just like the rider did...nothing more.

I think any reasonable handicapper could envision a scenario where Havana was going to get a wide trip and be tiring down the lane. Knowing a whip wasn't going to be used could have made a difference.

Would that dissuade you from betting a horse if you knew they were not going to be whipped?

I know we are told when a rider doesn't carry a whip and it's never even crossed my mind to change my opinion on the horse because of this.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

Would that dissuade you from betting a horse if you knew they were not going to be whipped?

I know we are told when a rider doesn't carry a whip and it's never even crossed my mind to change my opinion on the horse because of this.

I guess it depends on the situation. In a huge, competitive field, it very well might. Usually when horses aren't carrying a whip it isn't the first time so there is a history there. I was pretty tough to imagine a scenario where Havana wouldn't have to be ridden hard down the lane from the 13 post or whatever it was, and that generally comes with the expectation of some whipping.

[blackthroatedwind]

OK, I'll weigh in on this whip thing....I couldn't care less and I don't know how we can decide which trainer instructions are relevant and which are not.

I would think about this for a little while before arguing with it.