Across the pond

[BaroqueAgain1]

Idaho, Highland Reel's full brother, takes the G2 Hardwicke with a Highland Reel-like kick in the stretch. Nice, brave win for the little brother.
I know that British yards tend not to clip their horses faces smooth like we do, but....damn! Idaho has a beard on him that a Gypsy Horse would envy. When the sun caught Idaho's face, all I could see was his chin's thicket of whiskers sprouting everywhere.

[ThreeMustangs]

I thought Acapulco was being pointed towards Royal Ascot? Anybody know why she wasn't entered?

[Treve]

Idaho, Highland Reel's full brother, takes the G2 Hardwicke with a Highland Reel-like kick in the stretch. Nice, brave win for the little brother.
I know that British yards tend not to clip their horses faces smooth like we do, but....damn! Idaho has a beard on him that a Gypsy Horse would envy. When the sun caught Idaho's face, all I could see was his chin's thicket of whiskers sprouting everywhere.

Are you talking about the Vibrissae?

[bare it all]

The Tin Man wins the Diamond Jubilee.

In my mind, that name was already taken. How dare they name him that. Lol

Inquiry, though.

[bare it all]

Oh this is wonderful. I can't believe we get to watch the stewards inquiry!!

[ThreeMustangs]

Oh this is wonderful. I can't believe we get to watch the stewards inquiry!!

That was really cool.

No BS from Ryan Moore (Limato's rider): "He was going to finish third anyway."

[Treve]

A field of 29

[BaroqueAgain1]

Are you talking about the Vibrissae?

Had to look that one up on Google.
Judging from the photos shown with the definition, vibrissae seem to be the whiskers that grow on the sides of mammal muzzles. What Idaho was sporting was a beard. Growing like a thicket from his chin.
Yeah, maybe the chin whiskers are technically vibrissae, but I'm gonna stick with beard.

[MySaladDays]

I played the last race 6----22 furlongs, gosh that was a beautiful race, watching all those horses just galloping along in what seemed like forever.

I had 16 and 5, they were on the lead most of the race, and was hoping one of those would win at long odds........nope.

The OLDEST horse in the race, 9 year old Oriental Fox, won it! #4 Yay

boy, this is racing

[barbaro111]

The Tin Man wins the Diamond Jubilee.

In my mind, that name was already taken. How dare they name him that. Lol

Inquiry, though.

I was thinking the same thing

[barbaro111]

Oh this is wonderful. I can't believe we get to watch the stewards inquiry!!

I couldn't believe it either: what a treat

[Treve]

Are you talking about the Vibrissae?

Had to look that one up on Google.
Judging from the photos shown with the definition, vibrissae seem to be the whiskers that grow on the sides of mammal muzzles. What Idaho was sporting was a beard. Growing like a thicket from his chin.
Yeah, maybe the chin whiskers are technically vibrissae, but I'm gonna stick with beard.

Since you used whiskers, I wasn't sure if you were being poetic in referring to a winter coat type growth or if you meant vibrissae, and the reason I asked is because it is illegal to shave those off in Germany, it's considered cruel. Horses actually need them and each individual whisker has a part of the brain reserved for it.
It helps them compensate for their blind zone in front and beneath them, they also need them for determining what kind of objects they're contending with, as well as helps them sort food, tell good plants from bad ones etc. It's up for debate though whether they're necessary for balance and orientation in the way a cat uses them or not. I could understand a little trim but it shouldn't ever be too short.

Also I am bummed for US Army Ranger, but I was cheering like mad for Oriental Fox when he came out of the fray!

[Northport]

I thought Acapulco was being pointed towards Royal Ascot? Anybody know why she wasn't entered?

As an Acapulco fan I am disappointed that it took me 5 days of Royal Ascot to notice that she wasn't there, whoops

[BaroqueAgain1]

IIRC, she was moved from Wesley Ward's care to Aiden O'Brien's.
Maybe she misses her old crew?

[ThreeMustangs]

IIRC, she was moved from Wesley Ward's care to Aiden O'Brien's.
Maybe she misses her old crew?

She won for O'Brien last month at the Curragh. She has been confirmed in foal to Galileo--maybe that played into the decision not to run her this week, although she does hold an entry for the July Cup.

[Northport]

Yeah, she has already raced once, and won, for O'Brien - she was entered in another race a few weeks ago but was scratched due to the ground I believe

[canvasjockey]

Well that was fun! I watched the whole week (dvr'd but watched each the day of). Now my husband's worried I'm going to make him wear a top hat and fly me across the pond.

As this is my first time watching (not just the race itself in replay) UK racing, I have so many questions. But thankfully being 50 I can only remember 2 right now. Or 3.
#1 - Is the middle of the straightaway worse than the edges? Either fields split to either side or stuck to the inside (far? that took some getting used to) rail.

#2 - What are Classes? On the entries it had the Group # (which I basically understand) and a Class #.

#3 - Was it me or did they seem to have a delay showing horses in the paddock, it seemed that they'd jump from horses walking riderless to practically behind the gate ready to load.

Interesting to see the differences and similarities, and I was strangely entranced by the Royal Procession every day!

[arkle]

There are seven Classes.
Class 1 - Group Races (called Graded Stakes stateside), Listed races etc.
Class 2 - for horses rated 86-110
Class 3 - for horses rated 76-95
Class 4 - for horses rated 66-75
Class 5 - for horses rated 56-65
Class 6 - for horses rated 46-55
Class 7 - for horses rated 0-45

Don't think I've ever seen a Class 7 race.

Every horse that races in GB has an "Official Rating", when is given by the "Official Handicapper" after every race.
Horses race against horses of their own Class to keep races fair and competitive.

[Apollo]

The center isn't necessarily worse. The jockeys instinctively separate as a block so that all horses will have the natural advantage of side by side competition. Otherwise the theory is that some of them would lose interest if isolated.

There was one jockey with a winning lead coming home who intentionally moved a couple of paths to his right just so the horse could sense other runners bearing down on him.

Overall an enjoyable week. Every day I watched on severe delay and was tempted to zap through the commentary, but did not. The British announcers are always top notch. There was a flawless interview with Justin Rose with the commentator fully aware of his history at forthcoming venues.

It was amusing every time the Queen's horse was briefly in contention late, and the race caller got amped up.

I hope the 2017 results don't discourage American participation in the short term.

[peeptoad]

Lady Aurelia going to the G1 Nunthorpe stakes on Aug. 25, likely followed by a tilt in the turf sprint at DMR:
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... erformance