Too bad Gustavian caught that last fence or it would have been his. His chin almost touched the dirt. Great effort! Thanks for posting the replays.
Glimmer – Horses often (well, not often, but it happens regularly) run thru the wings. That’s why about 10 years ago the smarties with NSA adopted strict rules for breakaway wings/Pvc.
There was a famous case of a horse impaling itself on a solid wood and steel wing contructed on the natural brush course at Montpelier (Va) that year.
There was a long argument from my boss Nick Arundel (rest his soul) and NSA re: what TYPE of wings to use - Arundel said the picket style/vertical slats ‘hide the action’ too much from spectators who crave to watch up close and personal, so he had his own style created with horizontal slats.
NSA relented and allows horizontals over timber, requires verticals over hurdles.
Doesn’t help all that much, as you saw.
If a horse is going to duck out, he’s going to duck out, wing or not.
I had a horse try to make the rail with me once in a race. Wasn’t pretty.
They’re designed to fly apart as you saw. There is virtually zero impact.
Glimmer – Horses often (well, not often, but it happens regularly) run thru the wings. That’s why about 10 years ago the smarties with NSA adopted strict rules for breakaway wings/Pvc.
There was a famous case of a horse impaling itself on a solid wood and steel wing contructed on the natural brush course at Montpelier (Va) that year.
There was a long argument from my boss Nick Arundel (rest his soul) and NSA re: what TYPE of wings to use - Arundel said the picket style/vertical slats ‘hide the action’ too much from spectators who crave to watch up close and personal, so he had his own style created with horizontal slats.
NSA relented and allows horizontals over timber, requires verticals over hurdles.
Doesn’t help all that much, as you saw.
If a horse is going to duck out, he’s going to duck out, wing or not.
I had a horse try to make the rail with me once in a race. Wasn’t pretty.
They’re designed to fly apart as you saw. There is virtually zero impact.
CV Peg
Gustavian won!! (What do you mean ‘if he … would have been his.’
It was!
He was sold this week to Maggie Bryant. It was his first start for her. <3
[QUOTE=Hunter’s Rest;7179783]
Glimmer – Horses often (well, not often, but it happens regularly) run thru the wings. That’s why about 10 years ago the smarties with NSA adopted strict rules for breakaway wings/Pvc[/QUOTE]
While I’ve had a mount jump effectively the standard as opposed to the vertical I just had never seen such direct impact without much an attempt to clear it. Agreed that thankfully the pvc is so forgiving.
HR, was or is there any attempt with the Middleburg Fall Races (Oct 6 @ Glenwood Park) to allow for pari-mutual wagering or is that being left to just the VA Gold Cup & International Cup events?
The DRF has the photo of All Together stumbling at that last fence, ruining his chances to win the Lonesome Glory.
“I think we benefitted a little when [All Together] stumbled on landing,” said Leslie Young, trainer of Gustavian. “Gustavian likes a fight at the finish, he likes to aim at something. He dueled throughout the stretch and thank God his nose was longer than [All Together’s].”
Gustavian, a 6-year-old gelding by Giant’s Causeway out of the Grade 1-winning mare Mossflower, ran 2 1/2 miles in 4:35.92 and returned $9.70 to win.
Last year, Gustavian won the $75,000 William Entenmann Memorial here. The renewal of that race, also held Thursday, was won by Staying On, an 8-year-old gelding who had won just once in seven prior steeplechase tries.
Crazy first race. Cognashene and his jock are both fine, saw in Fb that Jody petty is ok too. Great finishes in both!
Instagram pic: Gustavian going to the winner’s circle with trainer Leslie Young and her hubby, Paddy, up. Bummer for Hickory Tree Stable who owned him prior to this race.
Unfortunate bit of news 
As tweeted by David Grening (DRF)
Sulwaan, pulled up during Entenmann Memorial Steeplechase, had to be euthanized.
[QUOTE=Hunter’s Rest;7179787]
CV Peg
Gustavian won!! (What do you mean ‘if he … would have been his.’
It was!
He was sold this week to Maggie Bryant. It was his first start for her. <3[/QUOTE]
Absolutely right - my bad… I meant All Together…:o
Caught it & was about to change it when the phone rang last night.
It really was a thrilling race.
And glad to hear Jody Petty ok. :yes:
Oh, that’s terrible about Sulwaan.
Glimmer
No re: parimutuel at Virginia Fall.
The meet chairman told me in an interview after the Va.Gold Cup this spring that they don’t have enough money to fund it. Great Meadow, he said, is the only meet with enough jingle to do this. Maybe, someday, Montpelier, they figure, but now only VGC and IGC because they have the crowd, and the money to set it up.
[QUOTE=Hunter’s Rest;7184884]
The meet chairman told me in an interview after the Va.Gold Cup this spring that they don’t have enough money to fund it. Great Meadow, he said, is the only meet with enough jingle to do this. Maybe, someday, Montpelier, they figure, but now only VGC and IGC because they have the crowd, and the money to set it up.[/QUOTE]
Thanks HR for that update. A bit disappointing but understandable and perhaps for the best. With the Salamander Resort finally open one would think this year could’ve had deeper pocketed guests at Glenwood looking to wager. Get the kinks out of the best way to cope with wagering (at VGC & IGC meets) then share that plan with M’burg, etc.
Worth dropping this in here - but likely already seen elsewhere: Jonathan Sheppard to be an F. Ambrose Clark Award recipient November 22 at the National Steeplechase Museum in Camden, S.C.
Steeplechasing being a relatively small community - even back in the glory days - it’s worth noting that of the few recipients of this recognition was William Burling`Burley’ Cocks, who rode for Ambrose Clark. It was for Burley Cocks that Jonathan Sheppard (among others) worked for initially when coming to the US.
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;7185547]
Worth dropping this in here - but likely already seen elsewhere: Jonathan Sheppard to be an F. Ambrose Clark Award recipient November 22 at the National Steeplechase Museum in Camden, S.C.
Steeplechasing being a relatively small community - even back in the glory days - it’s worth noting that of the few recipients of this recognition was William Burling`Burley’ Cocks, who rode for Ambrose Clark. It was for Burley Cocks that Jonathan Sheppard (among others) worked for initially when coming to the US.[/QUOTE]
“Among others” includes Billy Turner. 
(Oops - that’s in the linked article…but knew of him from Bill as well.
Oh! And he trained Zaccio? Remember him!)
Tomorrow (SAT 9/28) will be steeplechasing at Shawn Downs (MD) - this was a drone-based camera video shot by someone in advance of the 'chasing - kinda cool and worth a view …
Video (via vimeo): 9/26: Steeplechasers prepare for the races
IMHO this is where the broadcasting of steeplechase races will need to be (with high def) for television. Although less so for races at a horse track and oval circuit. A fixed camera shot alone just fails to capture the action and pace.
Glimmerglass, you’re right, that’s a fabulous way to watch a steeplechase.
[QUOTE=poniesinthenight;7189585]
Glimmerglass, you’re right, that’s a fabulous way to watch a steeplechase.[/QUOTE]
The non-fixed aerial cams (via a drone) are already used in sporting events and are the next evolution past the heavily used skycam. (The NFL has loooooong been using the skycam which requires overhead wires, which the camera moves on for those sweeping shots.) If I’m not mistaken they used it for the great overhead shots of Eventing during the Summer Olympics in Greenwich Park.
This promo video (which is now already dated) gives an idea of how easy it is capturing moving activity below - the drones tend to be rather quiet and aren’t big so they don’t appear to spook horse & rider.
It’s becoming a standard marketing tool for profiling larger sized properties (be sure to click on the quality adjuster - the gear like logo - for 720p HD)
It’s just one of those tools where the NSA really should be looking to partner with a video firm to explore going 21st century with high-quality racing coverage. I personally think this new spin on seeing the action would draw in new fans.
A vehicle mounted camera is much more effective and gets you a lot closer to the action. And cheaper too I imagine.
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;7190237]
A vehicle mounted camera is much more effective and gets you a lot closer to the action. And cheaper too I imagine.[/QUOTE]
The rub is that US steeplechasing venues rarely have been configured to allow for a vehicle, even an ATV, to run in proximity to the act save for small sections. Far Hills (NJ) has a limited section where they NBC Sports did it but only a few hundred yards; however Great Meadow (VA) really cannot.
The sport really needs to take a leap (via partnering with those in possession of the technology) in better using advances to bring the action to would-be fans of fast, thrilling action. I always feel like few are willing to think of the sport in 21st century ways.
Tomorrow - Sat Oct 5th - marks the racing at The Virginia Fall Races held at the Glenwood Park (Middleburg).
The $35,000 National Sporting Library Chronicle Cup is the featured timber race of the 58th annual Virginia Fall Races in Middleburg. First post time is 1:15 p.m. for the eight-race program at the Glenwood Park Course.
Teaser video (aerial, again): “Legacy Chase 2013” aerial footage (Shawan Downs, Hunt Valley, MD - 9/28/13)
Don’t forget TODAY (Sunday) at Glenwood, too!
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;7177694]
DEAD. Governor Christie on Sep 9th killed the wagering at Far Hills but (oddly) allowed for the silly Atlantic City Palio - with wagering - to advance. [/QUOTE]
Exceedingly irksome is that the wagering granted for the ‘American Palio’ cannot even be used for 2013! Per organizers the window was too small to get the racing together so they’ll have the race in 2014.
So Far Hills, NJ and the steeplechase that has been held for 98-years with over 50,000 spectators - meaning it’s highly organized - still requires further review by the State before wagering can be granted … yet some slap-dash wannabe Palio was given the wagering rights yet lacked the organization to use it?
Nix one of the most noted steeplechase events with wagering but by all means give that right to what appears to be a dog-and-pony show:
In the Palio di Siena, there are 10 horses, each representing a different ward of the city.
But Drazin said that it is now more likely that four races would be held with eight horses each, with each horse representing one of the Atlantic City casino operators. A loop course is planned, with the horses going around twice in each race — a layout that would require less beach area, which has to be compacted to make the course conducive to racing.
