SPORT 57 (END OF MAY 2016)
Jun 2nd, 2016 by admin
WHIP
Recently Donec produced a comprehensive account of the Whip Rule Dilemma, which continues to be problematical. It required more than 800 words. The Donec board decided this might send the reader to sleep, so a Japanese poet was commissioned to abridge it. As you know, Japan is the home of the haiku, a poem which conveys a significant message in three lines, the first and third no more than three syllables, the second five syllables. Compression name of game (and infectious).
Here product:
British Whip horse-friendly.
Rules require jockey get best placing.
So jockey use horse-friendly whip as often as required to get best placing. Why not? British Whip horse-friendly.
Numbers rule limits number of hits. If jockey stop at limit and not get best placing, everybody sick.
(Protest): But limit show public we care about horse welfare!
Horse-friendly whip no threat to horse welfare. To show care, bang drum for whip. Don’t blame whip for damage it not doing. Don’t blame jockey for damage he not doing. Whip rule damage racing, suggesting abuse where none exist.
(94 words.)
The stark reality of a good abridgement can be effective in the transfer of ideas. But when it runs into stupidity combined with obstinacy the process inevitably takes longer. Game on, as they say!
However, we know that this is a contentious subject and that the Donec opinion is just an opinion. One of many, no doubt. It will be interesting to see if the Oriental approach wins us any hearts and minds.
AMERICAN TRIPLE CROWN
Nyquist lost his unbeaten record in the Preakness (finished third). He completed the first quarter at a suicidal pace (especially on deep ground) because his jockey wanted to get the lead and an animal called Uncle Lino refused to give way for six of the nine furlongs. Shades of last year when Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was beaten in the Travers in exactly the same way. Interesting: there was a time when Europe envied American jockeys for their judgement of pace. They have a clock in their head, we muttered respectfully and rather bitterly. What’s gone wrong?
In the case of Nyquist another factor is relevant. He came out of the race a sick horse and off his food, so he will not run in the Belmont which happens any time now. Commiserations to his connections and best wishes for the horse’s future.
We can’t resist taking this opportunity to repeat Donec’s appeal to the American racing establishment to do something about the ridiculous arrangements which turn their Triple Crown into a most unpleasant ordeal, to which no horse should be subjected. Two weeks between the first two races, followed by just three weeks before the third, in May/June of their 3-y-o year, is crazy.
Donec told them so in 2014, and they took no notice. We repeat our appeal. We remind them of the great championship they could have if they would only prescribe proper intervals between the three races.
(Copy to BloodHorse)
BIGGAR MACARENA
All sportsmen, pay attention!
Dan Biggar is the full-back and place kicker for Wales. We’re talking Rugby Union. When preparing to take a penalty kick or conversion, he performs a dance. He bounces from foot to foot, arms a-whirl in all directions – touching nose, ears, shoulders, adjusting shirt, shorts, socks, repeatedly wiping his brow. It’s like Nadal preparing to serve under the influence of repeated electrical shocks
Finally Mr Biggar stands very still for a few seconds and then kicks the ball straight between the posts every time. Dead centre. When asked what he is doing and why, the only answer I can remember him giving was, “I’m just trying to get comfortable.”
When Donec’s sporting psychologist heard those words he was much impressed and sank into a coma of contemplation, as is his habit in such circumstances. On his return to life as we know it, he sank his teeth into an egg and bacon sandwich. Given time to empty his mouth he whispered, “If greater comfort do that for kicker, what about golfer?” He a bit Japanese on mother’s side.
The gist of his message is that a golfer may have no idea of how much more comfortable he could be if he “did a Biggar”. And if that extra comfort worked for him, what wonders might it not do for his game? (particularly his putting , so often the generator of fatal tension – discomfort by another name).
In the case of the putt, the dancing feet might have to be restrained (greenkeepers can get quite savage).
Get on the internet and dial up “Dan Biggar does the Macarena” and all will be revealed.
REFERENDUM
Speaking for myself, I am a Brexiter, partly because I rate Cameron as worse than Blair. For a long time “WORSE THAN BLAIR” was an impossibility, but not any more. I want this referendum, if it achieves nothing else, to put an end to Cameron’s political life.
I also think that the EU has been hijacked by a gang of Eurocrats for their own exclusive advantage. Finally, I suspect that a community which embraces every rag-tag-and-bobtail country which it can lure into its net is no more likely to survive and thrive than one of those wretched boats struggling across the Mediterranean (or the Channel) under an intolerable human burden.
I like the possibility that life outside Europe may well be perfectly tolerable – it certainly won’t be so irritating. There is a great big world out there, full of independent nations which appear to find that condition no handicap. Britain used to be one of them, and could be one of them again. Glance eastwards – is subservience to that motley crew really so attractive?
I look upon BREXIT, not just as an opportunity for Britain, but as an opportunity for Europe to gain a good friend and a strong ally in place of a stern critic and a reluctant associate. It is not impossible that Britain, from outside the EU, could provide plenty of good advice to a conglomerate that seems to be top heavy and in some disorder.
POLITICS 9,10, 11 offer more about the Prime Minister.
However I suggest we now turn our attention to matters of infinitely greater importance. Epsom and Ascot will tell us whether the Flat season can match the glories of the sublime jump racing that we have been enjoying throughout the autumn, the winter and the spring.
Best wishes,
DONEC
.