I am relying on new Racing Minister Martin Pakula to keep me hanging in
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The alien sulky was approved in july 2014 so we are looking at 4 scenarios
1-the person doing the original measurement for HRA measured wrong and alllowed approval
2-Ufo as a compsny got the sulky approved then changed (knowingly or unknowingly) the size
3 - the trainers used a 3rd party to make sulky bigger
or 4- they measured wrong last night
I'd be interested to know what sort of carts are used when fast working the horses that were scratched last night.
In the heat of the moment, some people can overreact, it seems like there has been a bit of that here - with dramatic consequences. There are 42 laws in the cricket rule book - the unofficial 43rd law is common sense - should be in the HRa laws as well.
I was at the track last night and still cant believe how it unfolded. An absolute disgrace, with no winners from this situation.
The boo when the race started was electric.
If its correct that Stewart/Aiken refused to use another sulky and opted to scratch her starters I hope the owners of the horses they scratched last night take their horses and give them to new trainers. If my horse was fav for the Ballarat cup, I would be ****** off if it was scratched so my trainer could make a protest/statement against the industry.
At the end of the day, rules are rules.
[QUOTE=Messenger;39134]If anyone suggested that big races may have been won unfairly - I missed it
Check out #40 (and #41)
There is a lot of bad blood on here in regards to the trainers who scratched their horses. My understanding is that these modified carts were used on these horses so as not to be striking the sulky parts during the race. That is to say the horses had difficulty racing in the standard size sulky. This is not an uncommon occurrence.
From the trainers' perspective the issue is addressed by the use of a modified sulky. They cannot put a standard sulky on the horse and the horse run truly and / or not be injured. (My perspective as a trainer)
From the owners' perspective as per a trainers' perspective as above. Sure, my horse couldn't race in a prestigious race but in knowing why the horse has raced in that cart previously my horse 's safety is paramount. (My perspective as an owner)
From the punters' perspective my investment is scratched as the trainer has deemed the horse can't/ wont race truly I get my investment back. Better than it going down the gurgler even before the race is run.
From the perspective of all three parties, this situation could/ should have been handled in a not too difficult manner without negatively impacting the interests of any of the parties.
Chances are that each of the horses that were scratched had been racing in sulkies that had been adjusted ( or modified?) to suit each horses size, gait ( especially the way they spread their hind hooves when at full speed) for some time. I guess that you can't pick up the details of the sulky Guaranteed used in the Miracle Mile, Swan Hill Cup etc from the videos.