October
FebruaryPunters need schooling too
These days, courtesy of stewards, punters seem to be privy to as much pre-race information as possible, but there is a significant exception.
Campeao won a showcase race at Warrnambool on January 30 for Ciaron Maher after failing to beat a runner home at three of his previous four. We were told before the race about the gear change — a tongue tie — but Maher didn’t mention that later as a reason for the gelding’s form reversal.
"I’ve been giving him a bit of jumping," Maher said on TVN. He repeated the information later in the stewards room, which was like releasing information about why the horse has bolted after it has bolted!
Now, I don’t expect to be told about a galloper that has been schooled over jumps in public trials, as Winning Post publishes those results and they are available on the Racing Victoria website. But I think there is a case for punters to be alerted when a horse has had private schooling.
The practice can and does make a hell of a difference to a horse’s performance and to my mind is information more crucial to punters than changes in riding tactics and many of the tiny tinkerings with gear.
Great Western (Vic)