• REGISTER NOW!! Why? Because you can't do much without having been registered!

    At the moment you have limited access to view all discussions - and most importantly, you haven't joined our community. What are you waiting for? Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join Join Talking Horses here!

Henrietta Talking Sense

Does she mean trainers like Hughie Morrison who sent Not So Sleepy 125/1 for the Champion Hurdle and then sent the owner a whopping big bill.

Not all owners can afford to do that and that's why good trainers look after their owners and don't overface their horses.......silly woman
 
I think she was talking more about the system which puts British trainers at a disadvantage, rather than their innate ability.
 
That is the way it seems to me barjon.
Another Festival winning trainer gave me his opinion that there is a shortage of capable staff in UK to handle NH horses, thus severely uphill gallops are de rigeur to enable riders pull horses up more than anything else !
Another former trainer was at a demonstration of horses scoped while at exercise; trotting over a little hill the horse "flipped "it's soft palate more often than not.
Imagine the effect of taking on some of the severe gallops, and the perhaps excessive wind ops on horse that managed to win p2ps and pass through sales rings without failing any wind examination.
Swings and roundabouts made worse by the difference in prizemoney UK versus Ireland or France, coupled with the demise of the Lord Vestey /Anne Duchess of Westminster type owner of no benefit either methinks.
 
I'd be wanting her to talk about 4 day decs, nr's, pathetic prizemoney and tiny fields in chase races, tbh.

NH racing , especially chasing, is in a parlous state with all the above issues.

It seems to me that the bookies are shaping racing. They'd prefer 8-race cards, with short races in order to squeeze them all in.

On the flat it's mostly 5f - 10f (even then mostly 5f-7f) races. Loads of races, over really quickly, on to the next race.

The BHA has no cahones when it comes to selling their product with confidence.
 
Henrietta did bring her good horses to Ireland from time to time, for which I was grateful. The first time when Best Mate came to Leopardstown she sat on the sloping ground at the base of the tree that dominates the bottom end of the parade ring there. Her horse came into the ring, looking magnificent, and slotted in behind Beef Or Salmon. Whether it was the sight of Beefy’s chewed up tail, or a superstition that this could turn out to be the finishing order in the race, she jumped up to instruct Best Mate’s lass to take a turn and keep him well away from his main rival. Beefy did finish in front of Best Mate the second time he came over, but on this particular day Best Mate was dominant both in the ring and on the track.
 
Last edited:
Alas, you're correct Yorick. Interesting to see the long term startegy to breed stamina into the national stock beginning to pay dividends for Japan racing. Opposite over here. 300 covers for Sioux Nation??
 
It seems to me that the bookies are shaping racing. They'd prefer 8-race cards, with short races in order to squeeze them all in.

On the flat it's mostly 5f - 10f (even then mostly 5f-7f) races. Loads of races, over really quickly, on to the next race.
That would suit me down to the ground.
 

Recent Blog Posts

Back
Top