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Northam Cup "Discretionary" Handicapping

Harness & Greyhounds
JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
edited February 13 Harness & Greyhounds
I umm'd and ahh'd about raising this because handicappers always gets pies chucked at them and never chocolates. And discretionary handicapping is always subjective, always winners and losers.  

But the Northam Cup Handicaps tonight seem on the surface to defy logic. Vinita Rose NR 73 off the front along with Dourado seemingly thrown in at NR 77, mixed in with NR 61 and 62 horses. Eclipse Line, an unforeseeable winner last night, was a NR 66 at acceptance time, fair enough, it is trying to beat the handicapper.

Off 10m, the water really gets murky. NR 70 and 72 horses along with the in form  Northview Dance NR 84 and the out of form Don't Goin The Water NR 41. Now, Don't Goin The Water may be there because the front line was fully occupied and his connections were given the option, I don't know.....change of policy if it is now the case but that option was taken off the table for Busselton meetings.....  but it is a huge disparity. If not, it is just plain absurd. 

Last start metro stand winner off 40 metres Maungatahi who accounted for front marker Eclipse Line, avoids penalty for doing so with the difference still being 40 metres to Eclipse Line.

It still looks an interesting race but what is the discretion based on...NR, LTE or recent form...probably all three. I guess that is why it is an interesting race but it goes against proper handicapping. Similar to the Busselton Cup where both I'm The Best and Dawson avoided penalty for winning the week before and both still started of 50m. They ran first and second. Had they started of 60m, they probably still run 1/2 but they seemingly got a nice let up over the field.

In keeping with the shabby treatment the trots get from the supposedly even handed TABtouch, there are no fixed prices up as yet (all other harness meetings today tonight up and running...pathetic, no wonder we are behind the turnover 8 ball) to see how punters have assessed the race.  I'm predicting no fancy offerings for either Dourado, Northview or Maungatahi (or last nights winner Eclipse Line for that matter).

+1 -1

Rocket_Reign, LightningJake likes this post.

Comments

  • Rocket_ReignRocket_Reign    931 posts
    Have been saying for a while that all stands should be conditioned and not discretionary as the handicapper seems to miss the mark quite considerably

    JayJay, LightningJake, TimmyBee, warrenrobinson likes this post.

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  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    Look, it is a rotten job..... but I think it is worth discussing. To have zero guidelines or parameters (conditions)  to work in, and to just have "discretionary handicapping will apply" will always lead to problems, thoughts of too generous versus too harsh. This is a $35,000 race, it needs addressing. There were some odd things at Busselton and I think the Northam Cup situation is worth asking some serious questions about.  
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  • MarkovinaMarkovina    3,348 posts
    Yes once upon time it was nice and simple you won a race you went back 12 yards that was it 

    But Queensland harness have now introduced a new terminology into the system - the word " Band" - i noticed it a few weeks back but maybe its been in for alot longer 

    But Albion Park tonight race 1 - it reads as follows 

    NR 50 or better - 4YO and older -NDC.NMC..-Band penalty event for horses that do not have a Band assessment .

    Goodness me !! - look i will just have an even thousand on the fave thanks 

    JayJay, savethegame, LightningJake, warrenrobinson likes this post.

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  • savethegamesavethegame    3,216 posts
    Imagine  the driving instructor will be discussing a incident with one of his pupils after race 4 
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  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    Umm ....Yep.
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  • MarkovinaMarkovina    3,348 posts
    It was a great race the Northam Cup , just watched a replay , and a Kyle Harper type very patient sit sprint drive 

    And Kyle has also got the correct whip action , no chance of him being fined whatsoever , and also good for the sport re welfare concerns from animal welfare groups 

    He simply uses the wrist only in a tapping method , i backed him when he drove one  of Padbergs sit sprinters a few starts back when it ran 3rd to his fathers horse and he did exactly the same thing in the home straight , wrist taps with the whip 

    Hunter Cup was also a great race for a paltry 250k stake , i know they have to cut costs , but that race/field deserved a stake of 750k  

    LightningJake likes this post.

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  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    It was a good race, stands tend to do that....but it doesn't mask the handicapping distortions.


    LightningJake, VillageKid likes this post.

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  • licklick    367 posts
    They don’t stand anymore- every horse is on the move. The true skill of stands disappeared y ars ago . It’s now about timing.

    savethegame, AbbysAce likes this post.

    +1 -1
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