TRULY AMAZING IT REALLY IS.
Some things never cease to amaze me! Things like THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, why aeroplanes stay up in the air and how we are able to get a space ship to the moon and back. I am "pleased" to say that I can now add another amazing phenomenon to the list. Why on earth the last race at Belmont wasn't run yesterday?
The race was set down to start at 4.55pm. From my observations and recollection,the rain started at about 4.00pm and got heavier by about 4.10pm, just when the jockeys were mounted up for the second last race. The rain continued to get heavier whilst the horses were being loaded and was very heavy during the running of the race. The rain then began to ease and continued to ease over the next 40 minutes when it finally stopped altogether at 5.05pm
Evidently some riders made mention that visibility was a concern during the running of the race. I can accept that, although many races have been run in worse conditions. The next step is what was really AMAZING!
Just before taking our horses into the mounting yard for the last race, trainers were informed by a steward that there may be a delay as there were some visibility concerns by some jockeys and that the last race was in doubt as the stewards were having a meeting with the jockeys. At this stage there were light showers happening. As the weather continued to clear the horses entered the mounting yard only for the announcement to come over the P.A.system that the last race had been postponed until Saturday.
What transpired in the stewards room between stewards and jockeys is a mystery as there are various and conflicting stories depending upon which jockey you speak to. Even to this moment I am none the wiser in knowing why the last race was postponed, as to my knowledge, no trainer with a runner in the last race was spoken to by the stewards to be given an official reason for the decision. I have heard words like visibility, duty of care, safety, another front approaching etc etc.
I even heard the story that the riders couldn't see because their goggles were fogging up. Unreal! This must be the only place in the world where when it rains, goggles fog up. Welcome to the year 2007 guys. There are now goggles available which are less inclined to fog up under these conditions and even sprays available to apply to goggles to prevent fogging. AMAZING!
Whilst driving my horse home along Great Eastern Hwy at 5.05pm I was forced to put my sunglasses back on as the sun was shining on the wet road and the light was so bright and clear. Clear enough for me to see all the way back to Ascot but not clear enough to run the last race! It certainly ranks as one of the strangest decisions I have ever encountered out at the track.
TRULY AMAZING!!!!
The race was set down to start at 4.55pm. From my observations and recollection,the rain started at about 4.00pm and got heavier by about 4.10pm, just when the jockeys were mounted up for the second last race. The rain continued to get heavier whilst the horses were being loaded and was very heavy during the running of the race. The rain then began to ease and continued to ease over the next 40 minutes when it finally stopped altogether at 5.05pm
Evidently some riders made mention that visibility was a concern during the running of the race. I can accept that, although many races have been run in worse conditions. The next step is what was really AMAZING!
Just before taking our horses into the mounting yard for the last race, trainers were informed by a steward that there may be a delay as there were some visibility concerns by some jockeys and that the last race was in doubt as the stewards were having a meeting with the jockeys. At this stage there were light showers happening. As the weather continued to clear the horses entered the mounting yard only for the announcement to come over the P.A.system that the last race had been postponed until Saturday.
What transpired in the stewards room between stewards and jockeys is a mystery as there are various and conflicting stories depending upon which jockey you speak to. Even to this moment I am none the wiser in knowing why the last race was postponed, as to my knowledge, no trainer with a runner in the last race was spoken to by the stewards to be given an official reason for the decision. I have heard words like visibility, duty of care, safety, another front approaching etc etc.
I even heard the story that the riders couldn't see because their goggles were fogging up. Unreal! This must be the only place in the world where when it rains, goggles fog up. Welcome to the year 2007 guys. There are now goggles available which are less inclined to fog up under these conditions and even sprays available to apply to goggles to prevent fogging. AMAZING!
Whilst driving my horse home along Great Eastern Hwy at 5.05pm I was forced to put my sunglasses back on as the sun was shining on the wet road and the light was so bright and clear. Clear enough for me to see all the way back to Ascot but not clear enough to run the last race! It certainly ranks as one of the strangest decisions I have ever encountered out at the track.
TRULY AMAZING!!!!
posted by Lou Luciani at
9:46 am
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