Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Y
Unless one has a Riva Ridge or Cougar II who had a supreme disdain for unstable footing, horses adapt much better than we think. Even Easy Goer, though he did not like unstable footing, ran only slightly less than on a dry surface. FAR TOO MUCH is made of footing. These are animals that evolved in all weathers. It aids the speed horses tremendously with the "clean silk syndrome" winning more than it's share on off days. At Fort Erie, it often becomes such a quagmire that the best first fraction horses hold on very well.
|
I'm going back a few years as I've not purchased a DRF in ages. I remember when they would have an indication as to whether a horse was a "superior mudder." I have no idea if they still do that.
But the criteria for that designation seemed to be if you won one off track race, you got the check mark. Eventually, it appeared that everyone got a check since sooner or later a horse is bound to win on off-going. So, yes, you're right, horses can adapt fairly well.
Back then (long before home PCs) I was compiling all sorts of data daily, and I started making notes on off-track winners and pretty soon I had a select list of superior blood lines for mudders - Dewan and Jaipur stick in my head all these years later. Using that, I was able to get some decent prices in maiden races with first timers that were held in the slop.
I really wish that when Ted gets around to upgrading RDSS that sire and dam info can be added.