Barbaro

[ranger5830]

I have always felt that any time a horse breaks through the gate, it should be an automatic scratch. Not only does it protect the horse, it also protects the people who bet on it as horses that break through the gate almost universally run poorly. I know nobody likes to see their horse scratched but it would be the right thing to do. I remember watching that preakness on tv and I knew at the very least that Barbaro wouldn't run well or might DNF.

[ElPrado]

I pretty much agree with you. It's just right now that doesn't happen.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by ranger5830

I have always felt that any time a horse breaks through the gate, it should be an automatic scratch. Not only does it protect the horse, it also protects the people who bet on it as horses that break through the gate almost universally run poorly. I know nobody likes to see their horse scratched but it would be the right thing to do. I remember watching that preakness on tv and I knew at the very least that Barbaro wouldn't run well or might DNF.

I've seen horses break thru the gate and then win the race. barbaro is the exception, not the rule.
this is a depressing thread.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Danzig

I've seen horses break thru the gate and then win the race. barbaro is the exception, not the rule.
this is a depressing thread.

It's pretty unusual to win after doing that. I'd say the horse you saw win was the exception.

Unless you mean the breakdown is the exception.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

It's pretty unusual to win after doing that. I'd say the horse you saw win was the exception.

Unless you mean the breakdown is the exception.

the breakdown is the exception.
I'd imagine most people would be hard pressed to name a horse other than barbaro who broke thru a gate, and then broke down. I don't think it was connected at all.
we have people griping about ramsey scratching horses and it affecting tickets, and now some think that if a horse runs thru a gate, it should be automatically scratched?
I will probably never forget cesario and her running off in the warm up. I wonder how many cancelled their bets on her? and then she won that race.

[ranger5830]

I wonder if anyone has ever calculated the ROI of horses that break through the gate. I don't know it offhand but I am guessing it is very low, because I would be surprised if 2 out of 100 win. I think people would rather get all their money back rather than risk it all on a horse with a drastically reduced chance of winning plus you don't risk running a possibly injured horse.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by ranger5830

I wonder if anyone has ever calculated the ROI of horses that break through the gate. I don't know it offhand but I am guessing it is very low, because I would be surprised if 2 out of 100 win. I think people would rather get all their money back rather than risk it all on a horse with a drastically reduced chance of winning plus you don't risk running a possibly injured horse.

http://speedhorse-to-win.com/at-the-starting-gate/

Someone did a sample, and yes, it's low. Mind you, it's really an impossible correlation to make, as there is only one winner of a race so most horses that do not break through are also going to lose any given race. But it seems like it'd be a rule that few bettors would object to: break through a gate= automatic scratch.

[Frost King]

Just out of curiosity, what great horses did Barbaro beat in his Kentucky Derby? To me it looked like, the typical bad field of Derby starters.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

http://speedhorse-to-win.com/at-the-starting-gate/

Someone did a sample, and yes, it's low. Mind you, it's really an impossible correlation to make, as there is only one winner of a race so most horses that do not break through are also going to lose any given race. But it seems like it'd be a rule that few bettors would object to: break through a gate= automatic scratch.

Hyper just ran third in the man o war after breaking thru the gate.

[RollerDoc]

Originally Posted by Danzig

I've seen horses break thru the gate and then win the race. barbaro is the exception, not the rule.
this is a depressing thread.

I apologize and did not mean to make a depressing thread but rather remember Barbaro. I think we all feel terrible about his demise. The only thing that makes me feel good about him is to watch the 2006 Derby all over again. He dominated some pretty talented horses. I don't tink there were better horses as a group in that Derby since.