The Weight - by Evan Hammonds

re: The Weight - by Evan Hammonds

C Bea — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:01:40 GMT

Our horses are less durable because our trainers and owners are cowards in comparison to days gone by. When was the last time you saw one of our contemporary horses race (much less win) carrying more than 124lbs. We run like scared little rabbits the minute the race/weights get any higher.

Bold Ruler, Round Table, etc. who all carried high weights to victory and formed the foundation of our pedigrees. No wonder our horse snap like twigs, they're rarely asked for true iron horse performance.

re: The Weight - by Evan Hammonds

Busanda — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:24:29 GMT

I'm also reading the "Archjockey," and loving returning to the past. It's a great read. Ranks up there with "Tales of the Turf," by Horace Wade.

re: The Weight - by Evan Hammonds

EHammonds — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:22:58 GMT

John: Thanks for the kind words.

Dale B:I appreciate your response and you make a very valid point. Both Smarty Jones and Funny Cide were state-bred stakes winners on the rise, but I believe it would be hard for the handicappers working on the Experimental to assess their talent levels fairly against open company, and the same could be said for maiden and allowance winners. How would a Belmont or Saratoga maiden winner stack up against a Keeneland maiden winner and/or how would they measure up against a horse that had run second in a grade II? The standard in racing is open stakes company, with the gold standard being graded competition. The three-man committee working on the Experimental needs some sort of guideline to set the bar. Also, it should be remembered that the Experimental Free Handicap is a historical reference, so the horses considered should be of the same level as horses weighted in 2008, 1998, 1988, and even 1938.

re: The Weight - by Evan Hammonds

steve alper — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:48:41 GMT

good to see a note from my old DRF boss, John McEvoy, and know he's still in the game

re: The Weight - by Evan Hammonds

Ranagulzion — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:16:02 GMT

Great article. I fully agree with the views expressed by Dale B.

Steve Haskins Derby Dozen is now out but there are about five glaring ommissions. One of the fascinations of the Derby Dozen is to be able to spot the Kentucky Derby winner and his main rivals before the band wagon gets rolling and all the assorted "wagonists" jump on board.

Steve's Derby Dozen is the gold standard but for now he and I are NOTONTHESAMEPAGE especially about the GODOLPHIN duo but I suppose there is plenty of time for him to adjust as the BIG DRAMA unfolds leading up to the first Saturday in May. It is also surprising how quickly he dumped Breakwater Edison based upon a race(the Hutchenson) in which he seemed woefully short of work though his talent is undeniable. Anyway interesting race days are ahead.

re: The Weight - by Evan Hammonds

Dale B — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:44:42 GMT

I would question the way the Experimental is compiled rather than the 2-year-old racing ability of the horses mentioned. Years ago, the Experimental ranked horses who displayed excellence at two, even in maiden or allowance races. Such an example off the top of my head is Zen, who was highly weighted off two impressive wins in two starts. Unfortunately, the horses now have to run 1-2-3 in Graded or listed races to make the cut. Smarty Jones, an undefeated stakes winner with the year's highest 2yo Beyer, would have been weighted in past years. Funny Cide, another unbeaten SW, would have been weighted. Big Brown, who broke his maiden in his only start by 12 3/4 at Saratoga, would have been weighted. War Emblem, with 2 wins in 3 starts for a well-regarded stable, might well have been weighted.

re: The Weight - by Evan Hammonds

Karen in Indiana — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:21:14 GMT

I see a possible tie-in here with the blog from Steve Haskins in which he talked about the length of races horses are running before the Derby and the lack of a Triple Crown winner. Is it possible that the horses in question are being light-weighted because they are running light 2 yr. old campaigns and then making up for that by running longer, tougher races at the start of their 3 yr. old season to qualify for the Derby? Then they are burning out before the Belmont. Like Steve pointed out in his blog, the horses of yesteryear raced more often, which would result in a higher weight handicap, but started the 3 yr. old season with more sprinting-type races.

re: The Weight - by Evan Hammonds

John McEvoy — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:40:00 GMT

Your ice stormm provided at least one benefit--good colum.