RIP George Washington

I have friends who are racing on it at Woodbine and I have to say they are not very positive, in fact they feel their horses are more sore after running on it and not holding up as well through the season. From what I've heard and read the reception is not universally positive, to say the least. It certainly does hold up better in the rain, which is useful.

One issue seems to be management and the fact that it reacts very differently in different temperatures. I also know someone who has a version in it in their arena and I really liked riding on it but that's a much more controlled environment, a different base, and a different use.
 
Fantastic race, against a top field!! I loved watching that, as I used to look after Heavenly Prize and also have worked with countless members of Sky Beauty's family, including foaling a daughter of hers this year - she had a Seeking the Gold Filly!!! Hollywood Wild Cat has become quite a broodmare as the dam of Breeder's Cup Mile winner War Chant, as well as very smart performers Ministers Wildcat and Ivan Denisovich.
 
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i looked up the Distaff race that One Dreamer won on youtube, and it's here:

http://youtube.com/results?search_query=one+dreamer+distaff&search=Search

what an amazing race. thankyou so much for mentioning it Cruiser, i'd never seen it. did the winner do much more after that? i don't follow racing.

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Just watched that too - what a fantastic little mare...

Thanks for posting the link up....
 
Brilliant race. I love it when the frontrunners win! Thanks for posting it.

Scarynight, did you work in racing in the Us then?
I love Ivan Denisovitch, he was such a little terrier in his races!
 
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Scarynight, did you work in racing in the Us then?
I love Ivan Denisovitch, he was such a little terrier in his races!

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Yup. Was in Lexington for nearly 4 years. Worked in the Bloodstock side of things. It was FANTASTIC!!!
 
oh gosh, i've just realised that Horatio Nelson was also one of theirs. i'm sorry, but a blind man could have seen that that horse looked totally wrong before the race... i'm sure i wasn't the only one shouting at the televison and dreading every step he took after they sent him off.
i know racing's a hard game, but crikey, some of the people in it are even harder, i think.
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He was the proper job by then, JM07, wasn't he? And you're right inasmuch as it was the best race he ran, and gobsmacking to watch. What I love about the guineas is how he won so impressively even after running about the place.

What a loss..........

SN, how jealous am I??? Were you on a stud??
 
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SN, how jealous am I??? Were you on a stud??

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I was indeed - one of the biggest TB Farms out there tbh. Taylor Made Farm. I went out there as an intern to work on the farm when I finished my degree and left as the Pedigree Research Director, doing all the pedigree/marketing stuff for the sales. I miss it like mad - the scene out there is somehow so much more friendly and open than over here......... esp. to women!
 
Ooohh!!!! Were you there when Tiznow arrived?? Awesome horse, but my bete noir for beating Giant's Causeway.......or should I be blaming MK for that.....
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I'm a huge pedigree junkie.......a big downside of living here is no RP on my lap whilst watching the racing, to give me instant breeding info if I see something I like. Or even just to anorak about. I know I can get it online, but it's not the same.
I love it when the 2yos come out and I can see who's related to who and find horses to prove my idealistic mating theories (if that came out right...
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) from the seasons before.!!
You're right about the attitude as well.........
 
I know Kerelli, that decision must sit badly with them now. I was the same as you. If a jockey like Fallon calls for the horse to be looked at, then that in itself has to be a no-brainer.
BUT, he was favourite......can you imagine the conspiracy betting theories if they'd pulled him? Poor A O'B was between a rock and a hard place on that one.
As an aside to that, I was disgusted at the way the Beeb forced Lydia whatsit to speak to Magnier. You could see neither she, nor he, wanted to. Interesting that she resigned from the job quickly after.
 
i know... but honest to god, i swear i could see the horse was wrong before Fallon said/did anything. i was already sitting there saying "that one's not right. look how it's moving." it was evident to even a semi-trained eye such as mine, on the television, for goodness' sakes.
and wouldn't the bookies have had to refund bets laid on him, if he didn't start? i don't follow racing, obviously...
anyway, poor horses.
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gonetofrance, if you ever get a chance to catch up with sportznight, she is one very interesting and knowledgable young lady
 
I only thought he looked a bit suspect moving to post. TBH, in the paddock, a lot can look 'wrong' because of the way they're being led round.

The trouble with a high profile race like the Derby, withdrawing the favourite will result in a percentage reduction on the winnings of all the other horses. Now while you and I might not give two four stars about that, every Joe with a tenner on will raise merry hell and cause all sorts of mayhem. Investigations into betting patterns, race fixing the works. You only need to see what's happening at the moment to get a clue. If you don't follow racing you wouldn't believe the vitriol expended by punters who've lost a tenner.
On the Betfair forum, GW was called for everything, 'cos some w***er did his cash.......don't start me on punters......
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Thanx, JM07. Will do!

I'm now struggling to get my head around the French breeding, but the racecards are crap at the gaff tracks, and I'm only scratching at the surface of the jumpers at the mo'.

Different ball game entirely........but by christ they breed some stunning gees over here......it's the info that's lacking.......
 
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gonetofrance, if you ever get a chance to catch up with sportznight, she is one very interesting and knowledgable young lady

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WOWSERS!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!! *psst the cheques in the post
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i know... but honest to god, i swear i could see the horse was wrong before Fallon said/did anything. i was already sitting there saying "that one's not right. look how it's moving." it was evident to even a semi-trained eye such as mine, on the television, for goodness' sakes.
and wouldn't the bookies have had to refund bets laid on him, if he didn't start? i don't follow racing, obviously...
anyway, poor horses.
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All those who had backed him ante-post (ie. weeks / months in advance) would lose their money. (Not condonning it at all I hasten to add - just adding info)
 
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That horses are still breaking down at the same rate as before - 2 broke down on Keenelands opening day, and owners, and trainers left Del Mar in droves as it was running so badly! It's a new fad, really has not been proven yet.

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Polytrack has been used in the UK for a great number of years and at many tracks (Wolverhampton and Kempton are just 2) it has significantly reduced the number of injuries. The track at Keeneland is superb, and again, the number of injuries has been reduced greatly. Part of the problem is maintenance, i have a Protrack surface at home (from the same maker as Polytrack, Martin Collins) which is fantastic and 7 years old - but i have to maintain it correctly (poo pick and use a grader, something like an Arena Master, etc). I also used to ride at a nearby friend's yard that had a Cushiontrack surface (not sure who makes it) which was awful, rode deep and i really wasn't comfortable putting my horse on it. So, these types of surfaces are great, and although they are expensive to install and need looking after, the benefits far out weigh the cost! I plan to move next year and will be looking at an ecotrack surface, i rode on at Addington and it is amazing!
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It was a very sad loss to see GW end his life like that
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Not been on here lately as been swatting up on ten fo follow comp as my racing friend and I are determined to win it lol.
Anyway I saw the BBC race and Dylan's race too ( as well as few other's including Discreet Cat, backed to win)
On the dirt the track was bloody awful and anyone could see the horse did not look 'happy' in the race. I didn't see the aftermath afterwards ( glad I didn't really tbh) as my partner and I were watching a film and it's hard enough as it is to try and get to watch racing when you live with a non racing person. It was even harder when I was working in the industry!
GW was not really a horse I followed financially on the flat and the same could be true of most O'Brien horses mainly due to prohibitive odds for a mainly ew backer.
Flat racing is not really my forte to be honest as I am more of a jumps fan although I do like the group races on the flat and the decent handicaps at the major festivals.
I did see a lot of GW's races though mainly because I do like the Group races mainly because the owners are trying with their horses so as to enhance the stud fees.
It would be very interesting to see how this year's Breeders Cup's dirt winners and placed horses fare in the future given the underfoot conditions this year and the potential damage the track's foundations may have caused to their legs.
Still a sad loss of a quirky but very talented individual.
Caz
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