Qualified Maiden Handicaps

Qualified Maiden Handicaps

The question we should ask ourselves is: are we going forwards, or flat out in reverse?

Qualified Maidens are races that give horses that are struggling to win at the very bottom level of racing, a chance to participate in a race for a part of the normal stakes.

I don't know if the official motivation is to stage more races for the same stakes, or to allow 2 horses to win a race and share the stakes rather than just one winner of the whole cake.

I also haven't heard the breeding industry comment on the fact that "qualified" winners enter the catalogue and represent "dams of winners". "sires of winners" and "halves to winners". I'm sure no one will really care if a mare is listed as a dam of 2 runners - 2 winners and both won "qualified" races. I'll bet my last cent it hasn't been thought through on our behalf.

But today we hit a new low, handicapping the handicapped.

We take battling tail-enders who are prepared to race for less, and then get the least worse ones to give advantage to the very worst ones. It truly begs belief, that a proud and competitive sport that has been built on the premise of finding who it the best by racing against each other for victory can crumble this low.

I don't want to appear brutal, but racing is like capitalism... it is built on the belief that from competition we will determine who is best and then get better, and that the way forward is to continually cull the weak and promote the strong. Evolution in real time.

No sport in the world is closer to the rules of evolution and survival of the fittest than horseracing. Everything is about pushing for the best and to sweep forward. It's a tough business and no quarter given to riders, trainers or breeders who do not shape up. There is just no reward for failure and it's up to you to get into the money. There are no handouts or comfort funds and as a result South African horseracing has shocked the world with it's relentless supply of horses from Africa who are tough, fast and rise to the occasion on any stage it appears, and the same goes for the jockeys and trainers that emerge from this environment.

The race meeting at the Vaal today is an embarrassment to our racing, and in my opinion a mockery to sportsmanship which would concede that at some point one just does not accept a handicap advantage. This point must be that to "win" something, even a qualified maiden race, you should at least be the 'best' in that race and not an 8kg charity case. If it is about charity or about sharing the gambling income to all purchasers of racehorses, we should rather divide the stakes in qualified races equally to all the runners. We can give the winner a photo and an interview and a "Thanks For Trying" medal to the rest...a well known gimmick at events for kids.

In show jumping the entry level height is 70cm, below which you much accept that you just cannot jump and this is not the sport for you. Even at the pony club the pole is layed down on the ground and no one has ever asked that there be 'no' pole!

I couldn't agree more Jack.Personally I am grateful for todays racing,it allows me a day off from the humdrum of 364 day a year racing.

I await the replays this evening(if I manage to find them of course as know when knows when they will come on) with baited breath.'So where to from here with this one' is going to have new meaning after todays racing.

I am against handicaps for maidens - whether these are qualified maidens or not; as JD points out - horses below a certain level should really not be allowed to race ('this sport is not for you').

However regarding the catalogue entries, I think that winners of a 'qualified maiden plates' should be pointed out as such in the same way that winning a race in Kimberley (or even in PE to a lesser extent) should be. I believe that catalogue entries as a whole should be looked at (and the MR's showed in the Vintage catalogues is a step in the right direction) - surely the venue where a race has been won should be shown - a 5 time winner in Gauteng, KZN or Cape Town certainly has more 'attraction' than a 5 time winner in Kimberley?'

Vintage catalogues no longer carry MR's.
Pressure from sellers.

This is a step backwards imo; from a sellers point of view, they put out the catalogues and of course they would like to highlight only the positives; but aren't buyers being misled by omitting ALL the relevant facts - everybody is shouting for more transparency in racing and in my view this should apply to breeders as well

Thanks for the explanation; yes as more 2 yr olds will start running in open handicaps as the end of the season approaches, it would be nice to have their 'unofficial' MR's published

Frodo i stuck it on the vaal thread,just incase your looking for it again...

Thanks, hibs

Gauteng racing loosing its zest.... not worth playing let alone watching.

FUNNY I ENJOY THESE TYPE OF MEETINGS Aa a punter.,.reminds me of the old bloem meetings

Pirates you obviously made some cash today.... Race 3 and 4><