5/28 (BEL): Metropolitan, Phipps, Acorn (G1's), Sands Point (G2)

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

This is particularly problematic, as the spread in the weights has become squeezed on both ends. Trainers don't want their good horses carrying weight, and with the bottom pushed up due to concerns about jockey weight issues, even the least accomplished horses are carrying about 114.

I've have thought for a couple of years that, if we want real handicap racing, then handicap the race with the theoretical highweight at 126 (or more). If that horse runs, no adjustment would be needed. If, however, that horse passed the race, then the weights would be adjusted upward so that the actual starting highweight would carry 126.

Yeah. Look at how they handled weights in the mid 1930's compared to today.

The 1937 Santa Anita Handicap had a field of 18 -- and Seabiscuit (130lbs) got beat by a 3-year-old in March who carried just 100lbs.

In Seabiscuit's race before he met War Admiral in the match race -- he carried 126lbs and some 3yo filly carrying 102lbs broke a track record and beat him handily.

Discovery was forced to give 20 and 30 lbs to top older horses when he was tearing it up at age 4.

Even in the 70's, 80's, and sometimes the 90's the scale looks very wide compared to today. Zenyatta was routinely giving just a few pounds away to unaccomplished females in a lot of her races. The scale has become more and more squeezed at both ends for sure.