Hickstead derby trial- why do people retire?

K

kombikids

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 September 2007
Messages
1,811
Visit site
i was at hickstead yesterday and watched the derby trial - about half of the people i saw retired after the first couple of jumps - why? i dont know much about bsja but it seemed like some people showed their horse the big bank jumped to the devils dyke then walked into the dyke and retired - is that allowed? Or was it that these horses were just not going right? Just interested really as out of the first five or six we only saw one person attempt it. It was a huge course totally took my breath away what these riders and horses can do!
 
I think - but could be wrong - that you have to compete in the derby trial to be eligible for the derby itself. It doesn't matter if you retire or knock up a load of faults as you will still be able to enter the big class so I assume a lot of people will use it as a schooling opportunity to let their horses assess some the big questions for Sunday - some of these horses might not have jumped a bank or dyke before.
 
[ QUOTE ]
in racing its called schooling in public and there is a rule against it for exactly that reason.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is there betting in the hickstead derby trial then?! Schooling in public is against the rules in racing because of the people who might bet on the horse - they don't know that the horse is just out for a run round. However this is not as much of an issue in SJ I would think!
 
perhaps best ask the bookie at hickstead and aslo on the international site that also does it.....And it isnt entirely a betting issue in racing, its also a PR thing. if millions of people tune into watch a race containing a famous horse like for example Desert Orchid, it makes everyone look like muppets if the horse canters round, jumps five fences and pulls up. And that certainly applies in showjumping. the public go to see the best riders who declare their horses and are seen on start lists and there fore should be taking prt competitively otherwise it is taking the mick out of the public and sponsors both of whom have invested time and money going to see them. much of the big shows PR is based upon the appearance of these riders and the public who then pay for tickets to see the same contribute to running cost and prize funds.
 
On the results it says that only 2 people retired in the Derby trial
confused.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
perhaps best ask the bookie at hickstead and aslo on the international site that also does it.....And it isnt entirely a betting issue in racing, its also a PR thing. if millions of people tune into watch a race containing a famous horse like for example Desert Orchid, it makes everyone look like muppets if the horse canters round, jumps five fences and pulls up. And that certainly applies in showjumping. the public go to see the best riders who declare their horses and are seen on start lists and there fore should be taking prt competitively otherwise it is taking the mick out of the public and sponsors both of whom have invested time and money going to see them. much of the big shows PR is based upon the appearance of these riders and the public who then pay for tickets to see the same contribute to running cost and prize funds.

[/ QUOTE ]

Your points about PR are valid but in my opinion SJ & racing just don't compare.
 
this all blew up at hickstead yesterday because one of the ones who did was ben mayer, who doubtless had good reason, but alot of people were there to watch Team GB's newest member....
 
i am sure there were more than 2 retired - we stayed for thefirst 45 minutes and only saw a few jump it. There was blatant horse showing to the dyke and bank - but hey im not brave enough to jump either so dont mind!!! Next time i shall try and go on the main day tho.
 
Only Ben Maher and Joe Whitaker retired. BM was riding the horse that has previously won the Derby so really didn't need to "school" over the bank and JW retired after, I think, a bad start following a refusal at the first fence. The horse stopped on the way out for a sneaky scoff of the famous hickstead turf
grin.gif
 
Well I was stood right by the devils dyke and certainly watched pretty much every rider complete the course! Was it perhaps not the Derby Trial you were watching but another competition?!
 
Oooooh you must have been stood near me then
grin.gif
grin.gif
Only 2 retired and they were 1st and 3rd in the ring I believe so everyone after that certainly jumped round
grin.gif
Was a good class I thought. Some different riders with the "top names" missing.
 
The rule for the derby trial is that the top i think 35 qualify from it for the derby and due to there always being low numbers, basically as long as you start in the trial then you qualify for the main derby and as Allykat said Bens horse didnt really need to go all the way round and Joe was only jumping the horse to qualify it for Micheal as he was jumping on global champions tour till the sat and flew back for derby on sunday.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top