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Windsor Castle Stakes

Ian_Davies

Ian_Davies

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May 7, 2023
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Hampshire
Fields of 23, 27 and 23 the last three years - not a race crying out for a change imo.

It will be 6f, not 5f, from next year, and confined to horses sired by stallions who either won over at least 7f at two or at least a mile at three.

The Chesham used to be 6f, now it's 7f and arguably hasn't improved for the switch.

I remember a time when it was set in stone that 6f 2yo races didn't start until 1st June, 7f on 1st July, Nursery Handicaps on 1st August and 1m+ on 1st September.

It seemed to work perfectly well.
 
Ian_Davies said:
Fields of 23, 27 and 23 the last three years - not a race crying out for a change imo.

It will be 6f, not 5f, from next year, and confined to horses sired by stallions who either won over at least 7f at two or at least a mile at three.

The Chesham used to be 6f, now it's 7f and arguably hasn't improved for the switch.

I remember a time when it was set in stone that 6f 2yo races didn't start until 1st June, 7f on 1st July, Nursery Handicaps on 1st August and 1m+ on 1st September.

It seemed to work perfectly well.
Click to expand...
Agree completely with this. I preferred the old system.

For anyone interested, the BHA General Instructions for Race Programmes now includes the following instructions for 2yo races:

no two year old may run before The Flat Season commences in any year:

• more than five furlongs before the Saturday prior to the York May Meeting,

• more than six furlongs before the Saturday after the York May Meeting,

• more than seven furlongs before August 1st,

• more than nine furlongs before September,

• in a Handicap Race before July 1st,
 
There is a school of thought that racehorses should not run until they are three. Would that improve the breed?

They can fanny about all they want with the 2yo programme and no doubt changes are predicated on and driven by data to support the idea.

But it wouldn't bother me at all if they did away with them altogether. They aren't worth studying.
 
You're SOooooo grumpy, lately, Maurice!

You didn't like Royal Ascot (something to do with average ratings of winners being down on the pre-decimalisation era? 😂) and now you want to abolish 2yo races??!!

Well, I loved Royal Ascot 2025 and I love 2yo races - so there! 😂

I would like the Windsor Castle left alone, though.
 
Kevin Blake looks back at the July Cup and links his findings to the reasons for the changes to the Windsor Castle:

Kevin Blake | At The Races

Kevin salutes Richard Hughes' first Group 1 win at Newmarket, despite it leaving a very unclear picture at the top of Europe's sprinting division.
www.attheraces.com
 
As an aside. My Australian friend that likes the racing here, tells me it's all about fast 2yo's. They breed them with this in mind, the prize money is good and so is the prestige, so it's the main objective. Also, it's a quick turn-around. Flog them as 2yo's, get a good win, don't bother at 3 (or not much) then off to stud.
 


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