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The Official Constitution Hill Thread 2025/26

Slim said:
Analogies are always a bad idea, but with hindsight neither Gloria Victus nor Beef Or Salmon should have run in a Gold Cup. Others will point to the novice that won the race in the meantime.
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I would have said that Gloria Victus should never have run in the Gold Cup due to the fact he jumped markedly right (?) and was therefore jumping away from where there was almost certainly a problem brewing.

Anyway, Slim - I have tried to answer your question about horses being asked to jump and can you change it. I think it partly lies with Nico as he will be feeling apprehensive however much schooling he and the horse do at home. It doesn't get away from the fact that on the big stage, it's normal for nerves to kick in - human and equine. And those nerves will be transmitted down the reins. Horses are incredibly perceptive as to the rider on top and will react accordingly. There was a horse running at Badbury yesterday which doddled it's way around the back of the field with a novice rider. His trainer said to me "you should see the difference in the horse when an experienced rider gets on - suddenly wakes up!" But this horse was being used as a schoolmaster and was jumping safely around at the back, giving them much needed experience.
 
jinnyj said:
I would have said that Gloria Victus should never have run in the Gold Cup due to the fact he jumped markedly right (?) and was therefore jumping away from where there was almost certainly a problem brewing.

Anyway, Slim - I have tried to answer your question about horses being asked to jump and can you change it. I think it partly lies with Nico as he will be feeling apprehensive however much schooling he and the horse do at home. It doesn't get away from the fact that on the big stage, it's normal for nerves to kick in - human and equine. And those nerves will be transmitted down the reins. Horses are incredibly perceptive as to the rider on top and will react accordingly. There was a horse running at Badbury yesterday which doddled it's way around the back of the field with a novice rider. His trainer said to me "you should see the difference in the horse when an experienced rider gets on - suddenly wakes up!" But this horse was being used as a schoolmaster and was jumping safely around at the back, giving them much needed experience.
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Superb reply and exactly whose opinion I was looking for.
 
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Slim said:
I think racing is actually creating the hysteria itself
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I was just making this point to a friend. The public (excl. racing fans) really don't give a shit about what is going on with Constitution Hill, and if he did fall and die it would not be "the final nail in the coffin" or the gigantic PR disaster that people are acting like it would be. It would be in the news for a day or two, and then the world would move on because they simply just don't care.

Annoyingly, it would give animal rights lunatics another drum to bang
 
I think it’s more that people who understand and follow racing would be totally horrified and hugely fvcked off, if the worst happened to CH. A few would turn their back and never return again.

This should be a job for the BHA. Why are they taking no responsibility?
 
Len Madeiros said:
I think it’s more that people who understand and follow racing would be totally horrified and hugely fvcked off, if the worst happened to CH. A few would turn their back and never return again.

This should be a job for the BHA. Why are they taking no responsibility?
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Because ultimately there is nothing in the rules that they have the powers to stop him running.

A few years ago I tried to get a horse at a point to point stopped from running. It was 17 and looked like a hairy pony. But there was nothing in the rules that could stop him running. He did a circuit and promptly dropped dead as he was ridden back to the lorry park. It was during Covid so it was "behind closed doors" but had there been a crowd there, people would have been asking why he was allowed to run. I did manage to get a ruling through that ALL horses running in points over the age of 15 must have a full veterinary health certificate before an entry is made. James Given, the BHA chief vet wants it brought down to 13 (as so I) but it's very difficult as trainers have objected. James says there seems to be a magic age deterioration at 13 and they are more prone to heart issues from that age.
 
jinnyj said:
Because ultimately there is nothing in the rules that they have the powers to stop him running.

A few years ago I tried to get a horse at a point to point stopped from running. It was 17 and looked like a hairy pony. But there was nothing in the rules that could stop him running. He did a circuit and promptly dropped dead as he was ridden back to the lorry park. It was during Covid so it was "behind closed doors" but had there been a crowd there, people would have been asking why he was allowed to run. I did manage to get a ruling through that ALL horses running in points over the age of 15 must have a full veterinary health certificate before an entry is made. James Given, the BHA chief vet wants it brought down to 13 (as so I) but it's very difficult as trainers have objected. James says there seems to be a magic age deterioration at 13 and they are more prone to heart issues from that age.
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Thanks Jinny.

The rules need changing.
 
Hi Jinny, there is a catchall rule they can invoke:
The BHA may refuse to allow or prevent any horse from running in a race.”
The Authority may also accept or refuse to accept any submitted, amended or withdrawn entry (“Transaction Notice”), impose such conditions or restrictions as it considers appropriate on any entry, and, in the case of refusing an entry, direct that entry fees be refunded to the owner."
 

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