Saturday’s Epsom Handicap is officially a disaster. The compressed weights system and a 56kg minimum has ensured the race is anything but a handicap.
After boosting prizemoney to $1 million and providing the winner with a free ticket to next year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes, this year’s Epsom field is the most disappointing in a long time. There is just 2kg separating the field.
So how can we ensure this incident never occurs again?
1. Allow handicappers to re-handicap races when an uneven weight spread occurs
In last week’s Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality, there was a 56.5kg minimum and just a 1.5kg-spread between top weight and the eventual winner Amelie’s Star, despite a 23-point difference in ratings.
When nominations were taken on Monday, many of the higher rated horses did not accept on Wednesday, similar to this week’s Epsom. When acceptances are taken on Wednesday, officials should check the field and re-handicap if necessary before releasing the field later that day or on Thursday (when acceptances were originally taken).
Yes, it may be unpopular with the top weights, but it will ensure stables like Lloyd Williams and Chris Waller don’t nominate high rating horses in an effort to decrease the spread in weights for their lower weighted stablemates.
2. Increase the ‘minimum’ top weight
Governing body Racing Australia has incrementally increased the minimum weight in races for welfare reasons over recent years, however in the process have not raised the minimum topweight of 58kg.
This is causing more and more ‘handicaps’ to look more like set weights and penalty races. There is a perpetuated myth surrounding the magical ‘60kg’ figure.
Is it really too heavy a weight for a horse to overcome? European horses have no issues nor do the lesser class horses running in the city midweek, so I cannot see why this is an issue for our best horses.
Additionally, our weight-for-age scale has increased in recent times, so there is no reason the same cannot be done for handicaps.
3. Create more ballot free races and boost incentives for our lesser handicaps
The Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup have plenty of races for home-grown stayers to earn ballot exemption into our famous spring classics. This often creates places for lower weighted horses and increases the spread between the first and last saddlecloths.
For races like the Epsom and Metropolitan, have your five or six ballot free races and turn it into a series, with the winners of each race earning free entry along with the ‘overall’ winner of the series.
This will increase interest in the lead-up races and spark betting interest.
4. Take nominations on the Monday before the race for lesser handicaps
Treat races like the Epsom, Metropolitan and Newmarket Handicaps like normal Saturday races. Have a look at the nominations and then set the weights.
With the rating system, there won’t be too many shocks and it means we can avoid a farce like this week’s Epsom.
While you may not generate the same betting interest in the future markets, the lead-up series will help build this and a bigger weight spread will create bigger turnover on the day.
5. Have a ‘maximum’ weight for three-year-olds
The three-year-olds add extra intrigue to autumn handicaps, but few ever accept the challenge in the spring. Providing them with a ‘maximum’ weight might spark interest and again has the potential to increase the weight spread.
Imagine Exosphere running the Epsom or Press Statement in a Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes up against the older horses. Yes, the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Caulfield Guineas are marketed as ‘stallion-making races’ but Exceed and Excel and Snitzel’s only Group 1 wins were as three-year-olds in handicaps and they are both flying at stud.
6. Embrace handicaps
Handicap racing is what makes Australia unique in the racing world. A few years ago the then AJC changed the name of the Doncaster Handicap to the Doncaster Mile.
It was only a subtle change, but it highlighted the lacked of respect given the term ‘handicap’. Rather than be seen as a true test of quality, it was seen by the club and major sponsor as a term unfit for Sydney’s greatest race.
Let’s enjoy the spectacle and thrilling finishes handicaps provide us with, like last week’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. If these worrying trends persist, we may see the running of the Epsom Stakes and Newmarket Stakes and our beloved ‘handicap’ may disappear from the Australian racing vernacular.
Joshua Kayll
Roar Rookie
The Turnbull is an intriguing race - it is one of the only races where I look at the weight differentials closely, as many of the horses running have competed against each other previously in WFA contests throughout the spring. Even a 1 or 2kg difference can influence the finish of the race. Royal Descent was absolutely parceled in with 53.5kg this year; Preferment must be some colt!
Bondy
Guest
Interesting I wouldn't dispute most of that, Entirely Platinum has the solid form " drooping in grade really " ,Swaynesse should run the mile easily, Sadlers Lake is on an upward spiral and hopefully Winx gets blocked for a run .....
Razzar
Guest
I see Entirely Platenum leading Hooked with Equador just behind with Swaynesse in toe. Messene follows with Sadlers lake taking a sit. Lucia and Winx settle well back. With strong form lines Entirely Platenum can steal this race but, the in-form Sadlers Lake and Winx should wind up hard to the line.
Bondy
Guest
Razzar What's the map suggesting ? ...
Razzar
Guest
Anyone here want to stand up and say they're not going to bet in this years Epsom? I will, the race-map begs a bet,
Haradasun
Roar Rookie
http://www.racing.com/news/2015-09-29/comment-epsom-weights-shambles-a-warning Just found this. interesting article too.
Haradasun
Roar Rookie
Once again its the breeders that win out of a compressed weight scale. What a farce. The fact is Messara has a massive conflict of interest that is ruining the sport as a spectacle. Our top handicap races have been completely compromised of late. I agree completely with the thrust of this article. Following up on Mark Reid's excellent article it would be nice to see 2nd tier racing with exemption ballot to our g1 handicaps. But sadly it's not the race clubs that control racing any more.
kv joef
Roar Guru
i find small fields quite valuable. Often representing top returns. Favs are often false and when they aren't, provide wonderful value. EG a non false fav was Press Statement last Sat. no indicators except extreme bad luck or a complete lapse in form could have spelled defeat. Where did the value lie (as it nearly always does in 'closed' fields = Q. There were only two that could Q with PS - Shards, Ragesse --- Average Q-payout $3.40 that's a 35% loading anchoring PS in the Q. PS runs 2nd and you make 35% ... PStatement win odds were $1.40, a 40% loading. even if the above doesn't suit - cool. and you had another 'good bet' or two, why not parlay (multi) the PStatement profit. But to make full use of the above tactics one must be good at small fields.
kv joef
Roar Guru
Again Sam, your point is valid and i agree. i would have no prob returning the $1m. epsom to a sliding scale, meaning horses are handicapped initially between an older horses wfa scale (58kg+) and 47kg limit so if the final field weights are released and the remaining top-weight, like hooked is 54kg, he slides up to 58 and the limit horses go to 51kg. if a legit G1 horse like Boban, weighted on 58kgs accepts there is a good chance those at the bottom of the scale will be forced out, particularly if they limit the race to 16 runners with reserves. the sliding scale is the way they used to do it.
peeeko
Guest
good read Sam especially with regards to the 60kg myth
Bondy
Guest
Sam I backed SS in the Carbine every possible chance for mine I concluded he was an average beast ...
Sam James
Roar Guru
A bit harsh on Stratum Star. He ran Kermadec to a nose in the Carbine Club after sitting three wide and giving weight before being narrowly beaten by Wandjina and Alpine Eagle in the Australian Guineas. While I question his quality there is no doubting his consiatency.
Sam James
Roar Guru
Handicaps by their nature aren't always won by genuine Group 1 horses however its nice to have a quality performer at the top of the weights to provide it with some respectablity.
Sam James
Roar Guru
Hooked ended up top weight as all the other higher rated geldings did not accept. The weight scale will mean a few mares will be carrying weight-for-age which is a big disadvantage particularly considering only one mare has won the Epsom in 30 years.
Sam James
Roar Guru
Good point. While some like small fields and $1.50 favourites, I just love big fields with a big weight spread and plenty of value.
Sam James
Roar Guru
Funny you mention that as this week's Turnbull Stakes is a set weights and penalties. I would like to see more of them as the unusual weight scale adds a different dimension to the race.
Razzar
Guest
Hooked may have been made top weight on his tramway' win. The other problem with a shallow weight spread is the Epsom comes at the wrong time for 3yos. Most of them focus on same age races. Still cramped weights don't stop this punter from trying to find the winner. Even with tight weights there's genuine speed here to make it a great betting race.
Bondy
Guest
Interesting Kv I stayed out of the R Clrk on the weekend and wasn't burnt by Stratum Star "winning strike rate of 18%" and he couldnt run a mile as a 3 yr old .
kv joef
Roar Guru
Excellent article sam. and don't disagree with your comments but there is a reason to their 'madness'. one of the reasons they 'weight' Group Hcps this way and particularly the G1s with an 'early' limit (epsom 52kg) is to add authority to the quality of the race. So regardless of the winner (and allowing for track conditions) the horse is usually of good quality. EG Saddlers Lake rated 92 going into the race would have been originally weighted 52kgs with Hooked at top-weight of 58kgs in an open handicap. If Saddlers Lake were to win Saturday's race he would officially jump at least 15pts in the ratings to do so but only with a weight advantage of 4pts (2kgs). winning would prove him a high-class horse as Kermadec did in the doncaster. Waller tactically used his stable strength in pulling the weight spread tight around Winks. Smart move. Initially Boban was handicapped on 58kg (116) and Hooked on 54kg (108) and the weight limit at 52kgs. Dragging Hooked to 58kg (min top-weight) meant dragging the limit to 56kg. Doing this should ensure high class horses are not disadvantaged at the handicap and the race gains some international respect. on a quick look the Epsom seems to have a few G1 horses and a couple of wannabes. still mystified how a G2 horse liked hooked has ended up on top of the weights. technically correct but seems he is to be the bunny. the Rupert Clarke was labelled a G1 last week but in reality was a good-class G2. concerning the quality of the epsom ... would you back the good horse Stratum Star carrying 56kgs to win Saturday's mile? it's going to be a most interesting race.
Bondy
Guest
I agree with the article when you stop and reflect there is 2 kilos between top and bottom that's going to look bad, there are some horses being beaten a long way at the end of this race.With as an instance a 7 kilo spread between weights it delivers intrigue and drives betting turnover nearly all horses should get their chance to win though that wont occur,its not cheating just not thought through correctly .. ...