curious

Might have just taken Colin a couple of centuries to catch on?

When Were Blinkers First Used? The use of blinkers or blinders on horses is believed to date back to ancient Greece, where chariot racers used them to keep their horses focused and prevent them from being distracted by the other horses, the crowd, or the surrounding environment. The use of blinkers gradually spread to other cultures and became a common practice in horse racing. In the early days of horse racing, blinkers were not yet widely used. However, as horse racing became more organised and competitive, trainers and jockeys began experimenting with various equipment and techniques to help their horses perform better. In the late 19th century, the use of blinkers became more popular, and they were eventually adopted as standard equipment for many racehorses. One of the earliest documented uses of blinkers in modern horse racing dates back to the late 1800s in France, where a trainer named Henry Jennings began using them on his horses. The practice quickly caught on, and many other trainers and jockeys soon adopted blinkers. Today, blinkers are commonly used in horse racing and other equestrian sports, and they are considered an essential piece of equipment for many horses. They can be customised to fit each horse’s individual needs, and different types of blinkers are used for different purposes, such as reducing distractions, improving peripheral vision, or providing additional eye protection.

How many have to die for a track to be deemed unsafe and in blatant breach of the venue preparation guidelines?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/racing/mick-on-monday-savaglee-owners-turn-down-big-australian-offer/WVWGTFQA7ZCHXLMCGP7LFS62K4/ Mick on Monday: Savaglee owners turn down big Australian offer By Michael Guerin NZ Herald· 25 Nov, 2024 06:00 AM4 mins to read Save Savaglee winning the 2000 Guineas. Savaglee is now New Zealand’s most valuable racehorse after his connections turned down a huge offer from Australia for the 2000 Guineas winner. But while the 3-year-old colt isn’t going anywhere just yet, that doesn’t mean he is going to start either of our two richest races this summer. Elite thoroughbred colts become mini-businesses in their own right these days, as major studs attempt to buy them, with the ultimate goal of a Group 1 win in Australia to thrust them into the A$15 million-plus value bracket. Savaglee isn’t there yet, but a major Australian stud made his owners The Oaks Stud a multi-million dollar offer for Savaglee after his Guineas win at Riccarton but it was turned down. “We are going to roll the dice on him at least through until the autumn,” says Oaks Stud general manager Rick Williams. “It was a lot of money but our ultimate goal is to try and win an Australian Group 1, the most likely target being the Australian Guineas. “The form and ratings guys we’ve spoken to suggest he is up to winning a race like that, and if he was able to pull that off, we think he’d double in value from the offer we just had. “So that’s our plan, if of course he comes back as well as we hope, so we’ll start planning backwards from the [Australian] Guineas and go from there.” The Australian Guineas is at Flemington on March 1, and if Savaglee heads there, it will rule him out of the inaugural running of the $3.5m NZB Kiwi slot race at Ellerslie on March 8. “We love the NZB Kiwi concept and what Entain are doing for New Zealand racing, and if he was a gelding, he’d be heading there for sure,” says Williams. “But being a colt, an Australian Group 1 has to be the major aim for his future stallion value, so we’ve already turned down a couple of NZB Kiwi slot holders who were keen to negotiate. We wanted to be fair and tell them upfront what our aim was.” Williams says if Savaglee suffered a minor setback, even one missed race, that caused him to miss the Australian Guineas, they could re-route to the NZB Kiwi a week later. “If something like that happened, then of course the Kiwi could become an option, if there was a slot that hadn’t be filled, as I imagine we would still be in demand.” While racing plans are rarely set in stone, Williams’ transparency is likely to see Savaglee drop out of his $6 equal favouritism for the NZB Kiwi and punters should also avoid backing him in New Zealand’s second richest race, the $1.5m Karaka Million Three-Year-old at Ellerslie on January 25. It is possible to race over 1600m in the Karaka Million in January and win the Australian Guineas five weeks later, as Legarto proved last year, but Williams says that is almost certainly not the path Savaglee will take. “Obviously everything will depend on how he comes back, but so far, he looks great. “He was 481kg when we put him in the paddock after Riccarton but has come back in weighing 500kg and is only getting stronger. “So one target could be the Telegraph [Trentham, January 4] because it’s weight-for-age but more likely would be a race like the Almanzor Trophy on Karaka Millions night, then into possibly a BCD Sprint at Te Rapa [February 8].” That would give Savaglee races at 1200m, then 1400m into the 1600m of the Guineas, which most trainers favour as a natural progression, so while he is not being ruled out of the Karaka Million Three-Year-Old, it looks unlikely and punters should steer clear until they hear otherwise. Whether Savaglee eventually joins an Australian stud or stays in New Zealand could depend not only on whether he wins that Australian Group 1 but also on whether The Oaks Stud is sold. The 200ha property on the outskirts of Cambridge has been placed on the market, as Australian-based owner Dick Karreman looks to free up some cash, and Williams says they would love to see the land stay in the racing industry. But if The Oaks property is not sold, they would have the option of retaining Savaglee to stand at stud there when his career ends.

Might have been interesting to ask her what it was like riding in Norway where use of the whip is essentially banned. She clearly coped with that successfully.

The very strong Keeneland November Sale boasted "The clearance rate was nearly 80%" Going by reports from vendors it was more like an unmitigated success.

Pretty good for any sale, let alone a RTR. If I'd taken 5 there and only had to bring one home, I'd be a happy camper I think.

Looks like Dick on the other channel has finally realised the clearance rate was 78%+ not 50%.

I'd regard it as probably reckless, so would have got 6 weeks. That he escaped with low range careless is extremely generous imo. Should have been at least mid to high range 7-10 days. From my view Justadude gave ground from being chopped off in the incident and was a winning chance at that stage, not that that has anything to do with it.

My only criticism of Oatham here is that the stewards should have gone for a greater penalty given the egregious nature of the incident.

Very to mine.

Sure, but the jailing was immediate for the possession charge. No doubt those other factors will be taken into account on penalty if he is convicted.

https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/53160/2/Race-Detail.aspx

WHIP RULE BREACHES There is limited scope or discretion for an Adjudicative Committee to depart from the Penalty Guide when imposing a penalty for a breach of the whip rules. Any departure would need to be carefully evaluated on the basis of exceptional circumstances.

Clear interference to me. Cut under its neck and took the other horse's line. I agree with the adjudicator and the stewards bringing the charge. Should happen more often to put a stop to this shit.

That is for possession and he was straight to jail.

https://paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/louisiana-state-police-say-jockey-possessed-five-shocking-devices

And why is it not in Britain, the UK, France, Germany, Nth America, etc.? If jockeys can't count up to 10, they should be sent back to school before they get their licence renewed. Australasia are so out of line with international best practice, it's a joke, and a great shame on our industry for both welfare and integrity. Disgusting stuff.

How and where?

So is that not true then?

Only place in the world I think. We are probably second to only them on animal welfare matters.

Don't think they must carry one now must they? So, if connections offer the ride on the basis they not carry one, no need for a new rule.

What's the fiction?

Long since banned. 611 A Rider must not wear spurs in a Flat Race or flat Trial (including a flat jump-out or flat test for certification purposes)

Yep. The US HISA rules would be ok too. Similar but different and DQ for 4 strikes over and complete ban on use on 2yos the first 3 months of the season. (b) A rider may: (1) Use the crop on the hindquarters to activate and focus the Horse a maximum of 6 times during a race. The 6 permitted uses shall be in increments of 2 or fewer strikes. The rider must allow at least 2 strides for the Horse to respond before using the crop again. (2) Tap the Horse on the shoulder with the crop while both hands are holding on to the reins and both hands are touching the neck of the Horse. It beggars belief that Australasia are so far behind international standards, despite the Australian Veterinary Association review recommending that whip use for encouragement be phased out in all equestrian events.