October
SeptemberLeast worst option
Matthew Stewart wrote one of his more reasonable articles in the Herald Sun (16/9) regarding the riding tactics rule.
He concludes with the statement that, to the stewards’ credit, they "are hardly heavy-handed in penalising trainers who depart from the script" [in relation to failing to notify of a change of riding tactics].
Earlier in the article he makes reference to social media and its immediate negative reaction to the non-notified change of tactics of Adjuster in the first at the Valley on September 15.
One of the main grandstanders in relation to this issue is Ralph Horowitz. After a run like Adjuster’s, more certain than the sun rising each day, he will be berating either the stewards for not enforcing the riding tactics rule, or the rule itself. He is blockheadedly legalistic on this issue, trumpeting this view at every opportunity on Twitter and on Radio Sport National.
The best option would be for the rule to be scrapped; it is silly, and was brought in for completely misguided integrity concerns. The next best option is for the rule to stay, but not be fully enforced; this is the present situation. It is reasonable, applies common sense, and implicitly acknowledges that the rule is at best somewhat unwieldy.
The worst option is for the rule to be fully enforced. This would be legalistic, draconian, and completely against the natural tactical rights that arguably should be a part of every sport.
It follows from this that if one concludes (as I do) that the rule is most unlikely to be scrapped, then it is absolutely silly to jump up and down about its lack of full enforcement, for this can only push the authorities towards adopting the worst option.
Parkville (Vic)