Maintain the Integrity of the Sales Catalogue

re: Maintain the Integrity of the Sales Catalogue

CRob87 — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:50:26 GMT

Just a follow up to my earlier idea of Color Coding.

If 5 different colors seems to be too many you can always shorten it to 3 and seperate them however makes the most sense.

Something like ...

Purple-type for a classic Grade 1 win.

Blue-type for "All" other Graded wins 1-2 and 3.

And still Black-type for all remaining "Non" Graded wins.

A little easier.

re: Maintain the Integrity of the Sales Catalogue

CRob87 — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:28:25 GMT

Bare with me on this, but here's an idea that's kind of an easier fix. Thinking from outside of the box.

If you want to strengthen the integrity of the catalogues then why not start to "Color Code" the names according to their Stakes achievement ???

This "IS" the new millenium now and we do have fancy printers that can do this. And it's not too hard to learn.

Something along these lines...

Purple-type (a Royal color) for a classic Grade 1 winner.

Blue-type (as in Blue Ribbon) for all other Grade 1 winners.

Red-type for Grade 2 winners.

Green-type for Grade 3 winners.

And finally, Black-type for all other Stake wins.

Going this route you now have a more clear way of showing status based on achievement without a possibly confusing point system.

This way as in your example of Hard Spun, he would only end up with Blue-type status for a Grade 1 win. But, not the then ultimate Purple-type status since (I don't believe) the Kings Bishop is considered to be a classic like the Travers is.

Also in Hard Spun's example, Larry Jones might possibly have been more tempted to run him in the Travers instead of choosing the Kings Bishop ???

Just an idea from outside the box.

re: Maintain the Integrity of the Sales Catalogue

handride — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:54:42 GMT

Perplexed? I didn't assert that his race record was deceptive. The point was that the job of the AGSC is to ensure the best take on the best, that didn't happen on Travers Day. The motive behind that race was strictly to get a Gr I in an easier spot, which it was.

re: Maintain the Integrity of the Sales Catalogue

Perplexed — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:15:04 GMT

The assertion that Hard Spun's race record is in someway deceptive by his win in the Gr1 Kings Bishop is nonsensical. Most professionals look at this win as a huge plus in that it shows a horse who had placed in Gr1 races going routes, also had the tactical speed to win a Grade One at Saratoga going 7f. The fact he may have been entered in it to "win his Gr1" in no way changes the fact that he did indeed win a prestigious race.

Secondly, anyone buying horses who can't differentiate the "quality" of black type without being led there by a second level of grading committees probably should be seeking paid professional help in buying horses to begin with.

Call me a maverick, but I believe it is OK that understanding pedigrees requires some work, study

and understanding of the subject.

re: Maintain the Integrity of the Sales Catalogue

handride — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:56:37 GMT

I challenge commentators to either name horses who won watered down Gr I fields, or name horses who followed in the path of Hard Spun, choosing between gr I's to run in an easier spot.