SAND

I know everyone has their preferences; Some like turf, some sand, some the flat, others the jumps.

But whenever I see VAAL SAND it evokes a groan from me. Is it just me? But, honestly, the Vaal Sand Track has to be about the most boring place in the world on which to follow racing. Those races just seem to go on and on forever as they plough a lonley furrow up that endless straight looking for the most part as if they are running through porridge.

Did nobody mention to the rocket scientists that most tracks of this nature have short run ins? Yet we get a glorified work track.

What do you honestly think?

I think it's great to have an alternative surface, but it's an atrocious design for a sand track. On that we cannot agree more.

Was actually thinking about all the punters attracted by met to then be kicked in the face by Flamingo and the Vaal

Imo, you can't compare the Vaal Sand and Flamingo - the quality of horses are different - take today for instance - we have a Conditions plate where Follow the Piper is rated 104, in the Lightning Stakes we have 3 horses rated 100 or above, we have the Summer Speedsters where Hidden Beauty is rated 101 and also a MR 94 handicap

But I agree that perhaps the sand track's design could be improved on - but on the other hand it suits long striding horses - and comparing to the jumps, these races do not go 'on and on forever'

Just my opinion

Compared to the jumps, continental drift doesn't go on forever.()

Grass or sand, hard to comment, have never tried sand, but must admit not my fav the sand, would be better suited to camels but scared to suggest in case P get any other ideas how to entertain us .

How about this one: start a new sand track in Cape Town with jumps. You can combine sand with 5100 m of jumps with the Cape Crawl. Alternatively you could start a totally new sport, snail racing, where the snails crawl through sand over jumps towards a lettuce leaf.

Mavourneen Wrote:

---

> How about this one: start a new sand track in Cape
> Town with jumps. You can combine sand with 5100 m
> of jumps with the Cape Crawl. Alternatively you
> could start a totally new sport, snail racing,
> where the snails crawl through sand over jumps
> towards a lettuce leaf.

Mav take it easy on that lettuce leaf

Ken, by the time I got to it, all the snails will have beaten me there and munched the lot ... if I was a racehorse I would be nicknamed Soupmeat!

Aye Scotia, careful with those suggestions. You just never know who might overhear you. I wish I could view TT in, say, 50 years time ... what sort of things it will be flighting?

Back to the jumps, what a pleasure watching Ruby over the jumps sure we can manage a Ruby Murray this evening to celebrate

I don't know about jumps racing being so slow. I saw a chase at Taunton this afternoon where they could have taken on SA's best stayers, allowed them to bypass the jumps which they were absolutely flying over, and still probably beaten them home.

As for Durban this evening - this centre is becoming an absolute dumping ground for sub standard horses. I stopped watching long before the stalls issue but only because I have limited soup recipes and I was totally overstocked with 'meat' after about three races.

I won't even mention some of the indifferent ( and that's being polite ) riding on display.