To water or not to water

[Desert Orchid]

It's no secret that I am against watering other than to maintain going and promote grass cover and am a regular critic of the Ascot officials for their zeal in altering the ground via the H2o.

We go through virtually the whole winter with naturally easy ground and when we have dry spell we water the buggery out of everything (including the beer).

So thumbs up to Ascot for this Sunday's meeting. The Turftrax map is showing proper good ground with good to firm in places. They are watering and some showers are expected but at least good-ground horses should have a chance of getting their conditions.

 

[Ian_Davies]

Of all the (many) things British racing has got wrong in the last 20 to 30 years, overwatering is one of the very worst.

And it's done irreconcilable damage to the breed because infirm horses with poor conformation have been winning Group 1s on overwatered slop and won places at stud to breed more of the same.

This and inbreeding closer than to the fourth remove is slowly but surely delivering a racehorse population of cripples who need more and more manufactured racing surfaces in order to be able to perform.

Meanwhile, in other jurisdictions (USA, Japan), they happily race on Firm and the old-fashioned, robust, top-of-the-ground horse with legs like iron can still have opportunities.

Horses like that seldom get their ground here, hence hardly ever have the chance to shine at Group 1 level and earn the opportunity to pass on their resilient genes to future stock.

 

[Mr Whatoxo]

Meanwhile, in other jurisdictions (USA, Japan), they happily race on Firm and the old-fashioned, robust, top-of-the-ground horse with legs like iron can still have opportunities

I agree with your sentiments about watering at British Tracks, but wouldn’t want to use the US as a sporting jurisdiction to follow. If we had some of their recent publicity here, on racetrack deaths and drug use (which is another factor in horses breaking down) that would possibly put the sport in jeopardy here.

If it is a welfare issue, perhaps we need to consider occasionally abandoning meetings here as the solution if the ground is too firm/dangerous, rather than always turning the taps on beforehand, as the default response. Though I don’t think too many participants would go for that!

 

[trudij]

You don’t want me to join in here, do you….