Royal Ascot

[Maythehorsebewithme]

He is gone according to the commentators. C***.

[Willesdon]

Ascot has “sponsors”, “partners” and “suppliers” (and all high-end, luxury brands) but anything royal can’t be associated with crass commercialism so you won’t see “The Andrex Toilet Paper Prince of Wales Stakes” even as the names of sponsors, partners and suppliers are discreetly placed around the stands and course. The air of exclusivity and refinement is very effective at bringing in extra funds for prize money.

Sorry that a horse was injured. It is actually unusual in flat races. The current UK racing fatality rate is 0.2% of about 90,000 runs, including the jumps.

[Mohan]

My OH said “did you see the Queen had a winner at ascot!” Good on him giving credit where credit is due

[On_the_Farm]

Certainly enjoy the elegance and sporting aspect of Royal Ascot, but the European jockeys are simply painful to watch in the final furlong. I guess they, with all of the up/down/back/forth, want to give everyone the impression that they’re doing something.

[Equibrit]

@Mara

Something I’ve noticed about Royal Ascot is that none of the races have associated corporate sponsorships.
For example, there’s the Qipco 2000 Guineas, the Betfred Derby & Oaks.

Scratching head

https://qipco.com.qa/

Betfred Sports

[Equibrit]

@On_the_Farm

Certainly enjoy the elegance and sporting aspect of Royal Ascot, but the European jockeys are simply painful to watch in the final furlong. I guess they, with all of the up/down/back/forth, want to give everyone the impression that they’re doing something.

It probably has more to do with whip usage rules. If you can’t use it again you use what you can !

[LaurieB]

@On_the_Farm

Certainly enjoy the elegance and sporting aspect of Royal Ascot, but the European jockeys are simply painful to watch in the final furlong. I guess they, with all of the up/down/back/forth, want to give everyone the impression that they’re doing something.

They are doing something. They’re urging with their hands and bodies rather than whipping.

I wish that was the norm in U.S racing.

[Willesdon]

The jockeys in a flat race are only allowed to use their whip six times in total. Often they are waving the whip beside the horse rather than striking it, which can give an impression of a lot of flapping about. There are also correct ways to apply a whip: why, when, where and not only how often. The new rules are causing a lot of unhappiness with jockeys this season.

[On_the_Farm]

@LaurieB

@On_the_Farm

Certainly enjoy the elegance and sporting aspect of Royal Ascot, but the European jockeys are simply painful to watch in the final furlong. I guess they, with all of the up/down/back/forth, want to give everyone the impression that they’re doing something.

They are doing something. They’re urging with their hands and bodies rather than whipping.

I wish that was the norm in U.S racing.

I’ll take Johnny V’s ride on Crimson Advocate over anything the European riders displayed. Rock solid and centered balance.

[LaurieB]

@On_the_Farm

I’ll take Johnny V’s ride on Crimson Advocate over anything the European riders displayed. Rock solid and centered balance.

John Velasquez is one of my favorite jockeys, I love the way he rides a horse. But you could really see him thinking about the British whip rule during that last furlong. ‘How many more strikes do I have?’ He used every single one allowed and got the job done. But that doesn’t stop me from wishing that American jockeys had other tools in their toolbox and weren’t so whip-dependent.

[hoopoe]

watched the Crimson Advocate finish and immediately called to mind the expression "Win on the Nod " taught to me by Dick Francis in one of his books.

[Maythehorsebewithme]

I think Relief Rally had his nose in front of Crimson Advocate just before and just after the finish. Luck of the nod.

[On_the_Farm]

@LaurieB

@On_the_Farm

I’ll take Johnny V’s ride on Crimson Advocate over anything the European riders displayed. Rock solid and centered balance.

John Velasquez is one of my favorite jockeys, I love the way he rides a horse. But you could really see him thinking about the British whip rule during that last furlong. ‘How many more strikes do I have?’ He used every single one allowed and got the job done. But that doesn’t stop me from wishing that American jockeys had other tools in their toolbox and weren’t so whip-dependent.

You can correct me, but under HISA the US jocks are allowed six strokes with the stick. That’s the same as what’s allowed in Great Britain (flat races) so I’m not sure of your claim that US jocks are “whip-dependent.”

[LaurieB]

@On_the_Farm

You can correct me, but under HISA the US jocks are allowed six strokes with the stick. That’s the same as what’s allowed in Great Britain (flat races) so I’m not sure of your claim that US jocks are “whip-dependent.”

The HISA whip rule is relatively new (1 year this month, during which time there’ve been more than a hundred infractions). The whip is still the first tool US jockeys reach for. It’s only when they run out of strikes that they begin to hand ride. British jockeys make much more use of their hands and bodies–as you pointed out in your post above.

[On_the_Farm]

@LaurieB

@On_the_Farm

You can correct me, but under HISA the US jocks are allowed six strokes with the stick. That’s the same as what’s allowed in Great Britain (flat races) so I’m not sure of your claim that US jocks are “whip-dependent.”

The HISA whip rule is relatively new (1 year this month, during which time there’ve been more than a hundred infractions). The whip is still the first tool US jockeys reach for. It’s only when they run out of strikes that they begin to hand ride. British jockeys make much more use of their hands and bodies–as you pointed out in your post above.

Actually the HISA rule was adopted before the British rule. On the homefront, Dylan Davis’ ride aboard New Ginya in Sunday’s 7th at Belmont is a great contrast to the Euros. Again, rock solid position, judicious use of the stick, and driving home the last 150 yards. I can only imagine the break dancing on New Ginya’s back that would have occurred if a Euro jock had been aboard.

[CuriosoJorge]

@Equibrit

If there is a place you go when you die, I’ll bet QEII is jumping up and down with joy

My idea of heaven looks very much like a day in the Royal Enclosure followed by staying at Claridge’s. Just need to add some dogs.

[Rackonteur]