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westie

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Original Post 2007-Jun-11, 08:55 PM

The Jockey's Room

Ode To The Jockeys, our sometimes Forgotten Heroes, risking their lives on a daily basis
to make this Sport Of Kings go around.
We hit the turn a runnin’, but a funny day for me,
In the last, at last, no trouble as we fought on doggedly,
We were not aboard the favourite, for the fave it went to Bill,
And the first and second winners too, for Bill he ain't no dill,
But we mighta had him here ‘n now, this race just might have been,
The one to put our name in lights, the one to set the scene,
To have us at the forefront, when the whips are cracking sweet,
With the horseflesh striding boldly, and the jocks in pretty seat.

But at the furlong pole he joined us quick, oh Bill ya’ here again,
With your showy silks and your polished boots,
And your horse with flashing mane,
But then my little mare sees Bill as well,
And she digs it in real fine,
And she leaves ‘ol Bill to watch our seat,
As we lengthen for the line,
And when the presentation’s done at last,
We all depart with Bill our friend,
And we’ll see ‘ol Bill at next weeks meet, and do it all again.

("Horse and Rider", the Winning Combination)

and this from A.B. Patterson

"A racehorse, it should be said, is not a thing that can be whirled round like a top. A horse at full stretch covers some eighteen feet of ground: he weighs three-quarters of a ton and his velocity is fifty-three feet per second. The rider has not only to make up his mind in the eight part of an instant but he has to try to convert the horse to the same way of thinking. Imagine, then, a big field, say twenty horses, in a short distance race, each horse requiring eighteen feet of ground to act in and each frantically determined to get to the front. They cannot all get off well even if the start is perfect, as some jump into their stride quicker than others. Imagine, then, what are the calls on a jockey's judgement when he finds himself wedged in among this flying mass of horseflesh, horses all around him, hoofs thundering, leather steaming, the white rails flying past. Crouched on his horse's neck, he sees nothing but the waving mane of his own mount and the heels and tails of the horses just in front of him. Some animal in front drops back a little, leaving a slight opening, and the rider has to decide in the twinkling of an eye whether he will go for the opening. He must not pull his horse out of his stride, just the lightest touch on the rein and the least possible change of direction is all he can allow himself. If he misses the chance, something else will be into the gap. If he goes for it and gets blocked, he may be worse off than ever."

Have you something good, bad or indifferent to say this is the place.


« Last Edit: 2008-Nov-30, 08:32 PM by westie »	Logged

Big Wheel

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2010-Jul-26, 09:43 AM

Mate i do have a clue, and Jocks ride that short now days that they don't even kick
when riding a horse out, Watch the close ups, they ride with there toe in the iron
and DON'T kick even when riding hands and heels


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richo

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2010-Jul-26, 09:51 AM

don't worry about bw i just realized i've spent 26 years training horses and according to j pike i know nothing.


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Big Wheel

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2010-Jul-26, 10:45 AM

Tell me about it,


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MagiC~*

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2010-Jul-26, 11:05 AM

JP,

I think BW, probably does know, I think he may have been quite an accomplished jockey in his day, not so long ago wink

If a jockey is going to wear spurs, he will drop his lengths, and ride longer, so he can ride the horse out hands and heals, something that is almost a lost art with jockeys riding so short these days chin


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Eelsman

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2010-Jul-26, 12:05 PM

Neville Voight use to kick the s**t out of them years ago, with spurs!


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Jim Pike

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2010-Jul-26, 03:53 PM

You people are totally missing the point, it is not about what I think or what you think! If Nash and Damian etc, think they work I want to know! the leading Jockey in both Sydney (Nash)and Melbourne (Luke Nolen) think they work, or do you think they are stupid? Of course Richo you would know better!! I think not!!
Racing is about information! You cannot have to much information, you obviously have very little!
if they are going to give us all the gear changes most of which make very little difference to a result of a race it is about what we want to read into it that will entice you to have a bet,
Richo maybe you are one that has an ulterior motive, you actually use them on your horses but don't want to tell anyone, what other possible reason could you have for not wanting us to know? if they don't work why would you care if we know about them??


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richo

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2010-Jul-26, 04:10 PM

do you wear a clown suit jp and if i want use spurs on a horse for whatever reason i wouldn't use a jock with his heels up his arse because it won't work . Jp what do you do in the industry you must be pretty high profile with all your knowledge or are you just another grandstand jockey or trainer, experts in this game are a dime a dozen.


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kicker

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2010-Jul-26, 04:35 PM

Interesting discussion Thumb Up

.

How do you determine their effectiveness what

Has someone kept stats on jockeys riding with or without spurs?

If they are as effective as some suggest, apart from some trainers not allowing them, why do these jockeys only wear them on certain rides & not all?

In the miriad of factors that determine the result of a horse race, how can we determine if the wearing of spurs was the difference between winning & losing?


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Steward
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2010-Jul-26, 04:39 PM

I don't imagine that Spurs tickle.

There is absolutely no good reason ever given as to why they are not apart of the gear changes.

They probably should be banned.


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richo

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2010-Jul-26, 05:50 PM

spurs are good for a lot of reasons and not for ripping the ribs out of horses. young horses who want to hang a spur will help straighten the horse without the jock having to let go with one hand to use the whip . Ive had lots of horses race with spurs never had one come back with a mark on them lets face it they are only dummy spurs there's no rollers on them.


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Steward
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2010-Jul-26, 10:14 PM

What is it about Spurs that keeps a young horse running straight ?

Surely your very reasoning there richo is enought of a reason for them to be part of the gear changes ?


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el zoro

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2010-Jul-27, 09:57 AM

Well I've never really taken notice if a jockey is riding with spurs or not.
I would think a trainer would have to tell the jockey to wear them to assist a certain type of horse. Obviously they must do something or they wouldn't get used.

I would be suprised if a jockey can just decide to wear them one day without anyone knowing & then just decide to not wear them next day OR to wear them without trainers consent.


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MagiC~*

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2010-Jul-27, 10:19 AM

el zoro writes ... 2010-Jul-27, 09:57 AM

I would be suprised if a jockey can just decide to wear them one day without anyone knowing & then just decide to not wear them next day OR to wear them without trainers consent.

This is, how it is I think EZ, probably not ideal, but as i have said before, the jockey can wear spurs, with out the trainers consent if he wants, and with out stewards permission, as far as I know.

Maybe something does need to change.

Maybe one of the few jocks we have on this forum, could clarify for us what


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richo

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2010-Jul-27, 10:46 AM

some jocks wear them all the time some rarely it's the trainers option really.one day i legged a jock up on one of my good horses and asked why have you got spurs on, he said i allways wear them, i said ok but if you touch him before you get in the gates they'll be picking you up off the turf and he can buck lol

. he took them off .


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Steward
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2010-Jul-27, 01:42 PM

Your last two posts indicate that Spurs do do something, Richo.


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