Originally Posted by
Mark Croatto
Hi Kevin
The most likely way to ensure a horse is on its correct handicap mark would be by the drivers wearing an ear piece through which the driver is constantly told how many metres behind the mobile their horse is; think Navman lady. This would continue until the start where it would then switch off.
I accept that not all horses would be suited, but I see it no different to the fact that not all horses are suited by standing starts. I would imagine there would be a need to qualify a horse to start in such races.
Personally I think it would open up quite extensively the options for programming races. I'm not at all a fan of the R/C/M gradings, and whilst I accept it is a straight forward and easy way to grade horses, it does very little to ensure horse of similar ability are racing each other. I would far prefer a rating system which is incorporated with a mobile handicap. NSW has been trialling a conditioned approach and yet we still end up with clearly superior horses dominating races and completely stifling betting. If those same horses however were handicapped to give a 10, 15 or 20 metre start the betting would be completely different.
As I said earlier, it's something being explored at the moment and I personally hope it comes to fruition.
Regards
Mark