I would be interested to hear the views of the knowledgeable people on here regarding this issue. It was prompted by listening to a discussion after a race at Chepstow today where Take a Shoc was allowed to get away but is an issue I notice mostly on the flat. I am a great appreciator of jockeys on the flat and love to see a great ride and feel the general calibre of horsemanship to be superb, tactically however I see obvious mistakes made time and time again. One aspect of riding that keeps me thinking I must be missing something is holding a horse up at the back intentionally. I am aware that someone has to be at the back and even if a start is ridden you may well end up at the back and thems the breaks as they say. However to see a horse popped out in his own time and the horse dropped out with there being 10 lengths from first to last after the first furlong is surely crazy. Commentators talk of being held up as if the horse is saving energy by being at the back but surely if the horse is not losing further ground he is working just as hard to maintain the pace set by the leader who now has ten lengths head start and no traffic in front. I appreciate some like cover but surely this must be sought just behind the pace. The thing I find most surprising in race riding is how few jockeys will ride a start, yet all will be giving it everything in the last couple of furlongs. On the all weather tracks some Jockeys are useless because they will not ride a start and some such as Kirby and Crowley have worked out that it's every bit as important as the finish. I think I would just like the commentators to decide where they sit as when a horse gets left at the start accidently they come out with the old saying of ' you can give weight but not start' and yet when a jockey intentionally drops a horse out they say he is saving his horse when physically it does not add up as the horse is saving no energy if not losing further ground, but the jockey is giving head start and hoping for a clear run. What do you think? should a horse be allowed to give a start to all without some kind of effort to avoid such a thing? Should stewards watch effort at the start as much as they do a finish? I personally feel they would pick up more non triers by reviewing a start than a finish sometimes? What tactics drive you mad?
I think jockeys underestimate the effect of slip streaming. As a keen cyclist it's much easier to whizz along at 30mph if you've got someone just in front of you and you're in his slipstream.
I agree oddy, I am interested in the physics of the thing with regard the head start business in as much as the horse is not working less unless losing further ground. It's the same with your point sitting just behind the lead must be the optimal position as physics would surely tell a story with regard advantage gained.
BTW ..................... Richard Hills Rode every horse as if he were on Shergar in a class 6 maiden
Oddy at last years Olympics when GB won the Team Time Trail event im almost sure that they said the drag effect on the 2nd rider was 40% less in resistance to the lead rider. This increased to the 3rd rider and the 4th, if they all kept tight when in formation.. They thought that the 4th rider could gain up to 70% less per lap than the front rider, but obviously they alternate every 1.5 or 2 laps so they all have a go on the front in the end... It must be the same for a horse who gets cover before pulling out to pass them... But they still have to have a horse under them that can push past...!!!
2 or 3 years ago Moore seemed to ride every horse at the back and try to come through the whole field in the straight. Drove me mad. He now only does it 80% of the time, but nearly always on animals first time out. His riding of Bohemian Dance in her first race at Newbury could not have taught the horse much. She jumped well but he then put her in a headlock to drag her to the rear of the field. what would she learn from that? That she's not to go fast? I think all you've said is correct, and to 'slipstream' must be of some advantage. It obviously suits some horses to lead and some to come late, but being too far back can be tricky. Moore obviously believes in one long sustained run, I have no idea if that suits a horse or not.
Bluesky, this is quite a big subject and there's many factors involved ie.jockey; particular racecourse; going; size of field; etc. Historically some trainers always preferred their horses to be ridden from the front. Walter Nightingall from the Flat and Michael Dickinson over jumps are two that spring to mind. The advantages of dictating pace and keeping out of trouble are obvious, but the jockey becomes crucial. Lester Piggott was a pastmaster at doing it and could steal a race by waiting in front( his Royal Avenue beating 2000 Guineas winner, Only For Life, was the greatest example of all. Jimmy Lindley was sick with despair after the race). Steve Cauthen was pretty good at it, too. Apart from the obvious Chester course, Ascot and Sandown can suit a front runner/resolute galloper. Their uphill finish can cause the horses coming from behind to run out of steam. Like Oddy says, coming from behind has the advantage of "slipstream" but the jockey must be good at seizing openings and weaving his way through. Old Scobie Breasley was the best I ever saw at doing this. He was likewise fantastic in sprints-invariably first away from the tapes but always gave his horse a "breather" before challenging late. Some jockeys just seem to find trouble all the time- even in small fields and surprisingly at Newbury ; at Ascot, also. Spencer is a rider I particularly dislike. He'd find trouble in a walkover! As I see it, you need a good start, whatever you do. I love to see a horse "run them ragged" but you need a rider with good hands and a good judge of pace to maximise the horse's chances. "Commentators talk of being held up as if the horse is saving energy by being at the back but surely if the horse is not losing further ground he is working just as hard to maintain the pace set by the leader who now has ten lengths head start and no traffic in front. I appreciate some like cover but surely this must be sought just behind the pace. The thing I find most surprising in race riding is how few jockeys will ride a start, yet all will be giving it everything in the last couple of furlongs. On the all weather tracks some Jockeys are useless because they will not ride a start and some such as Kirby and Crowley have worked out that it's every bit as important as the finish. " Bluesky, I agree 100%. Furthermore, any horse only has a certain "length of run." Some horses can maintain an all-out gallop for longer than others. A wise jockey/trainer will use that to their advantage. Thinking of The Arc on Sunday, it's why I believe Novellist will win. He maintained a tremendous, sustained gallop all the way to the line at Ascot and, given a favourable draw, I expect Murtagh to be at the front three furlongs out and gallop on. Dettori will cover Treve up, but he's not the best at doing that.
The rides by Ruby Walsh on Kauto Star to win the Betfair Chase and King George in 2011 were supreme examples of dictating the pace from the front. Ruby's ability to judge the pace of a race from the front is absolutely unrivalled in the NH sphere. Watch his ride on Big Buck's to win the 2012 World Hurdle - absolutely sublime. Slowly would up the pace coming down the hill causing everything but Voler La Vedette to come off the bridal round the final bend and had everything bar the mare beaten when coming to the last. Big Buck's courage and refusal to be beaten took over from there but it was a superbly judged race from Walsh.
Oddy, agreed-and they're good examples; likewise Ruby's ride on Kauto when the horse won his second Gold Cup. Yet Ruby has good hands and can settle a horse- big pluses.
Please watch the Warwick 4.40 Theodore Gericault Everything this post seeks to point out is demonstrated by the ride Pat Dobbs gives this horse. He rides horses every day yet could not understand the detriment of intentional tactics readily spotted by all observers. It was a very basic tactical error not expected from a 7lb claimer. He did not ride a start, pulled the horse back intentionally. Sat too far back providing the leaders with 10 lengths. Asked his horse to make up the ground way to late.
