Fitness’ factor must be enforced in barrier trials

– The imminent introduction of barrier trials in KwaZulu-Natal has been hailed as a welcome move towards greater transparency in South African racing.

For some time the sport has not enjoyed the full trust of the racing public and, together with the dissatisfaction with the handicap system, left all but the die-hards of the sport disheartened to the extent of calling it quits.

Top marks to Paul Lafferty in spearheading the drive to introduce barrier trials which will be introduced by Gold Circle early in November under the supervision of the National Horseracing Authority and will be applicable to all unraced horses and horses who have been off the track for extended periods.

It is a good step in the right direction. However, a lot is going to depend on how the information from the trials is disseminated relevant to a horse’s appearance in a race thereafter in a way that it can be equated to that race and the opposition he faces.

For the first-timers it will be an important factor and could do away with the ridiculous oncourse trainer comments such as “he’s a nice sort” which tells one nothing and “he’ll need the run” which, according to my “oldish” rule book, is tantamount to admitting that the trainer is breaking the rules.

Rule 62.1 reads: “Every horse shall be run and shall be allowed to run to the best of its ability and on its merits.” To me that means it should be presented to race in a racing fit condition and be given every chance to perform to the best of its ability.

The barrier trials will only be worth the time and effort put into running them if the “fitness” factor is enforced. They will be of little value if treated merely as “educational” runs and while pushing a runner out with hands and heels or even with the encouragement of a tap on the rear end may be impressive, it will not enable the animal to do better than its current fitness level will allow.

It requires more stringent implementation of the racing rules and they should encompass all levels of racing. That would eliminate the situation where an oddson favourite with the ability and form to win as it likes, struggles home out of the money and the trainer comments that it needed the run and that everyone knew it was a prep run for another race.

Punters have got to have the confidence that the horse they are backing will give them an honest run for their money and if beaten, it was a better horse that beat them. The industry cannot afford to turn the people that keep the sport alive against it, particularly as there are many avenues these days for the gamblers to satisfy their craving.

The National Horseracing Authority is undergoing a re-organisational programme if reports I have seen are correct and one can only hope that the policing side of their duties can be more vigorously addressed in a way that will give everyone in the sport, and most importantly the punter, greater trust and confidence in the sport and the beautiful creatures so many of us love. – Richard McMillan, Gold Circle.