21/2/2003 edition

Racing Victoria's Racetrack Watering Preparation Policy

Flemington Racetrack - rain affected in a drought

Racing Victoria's edict to water, water, water during the summer is sure being taken to the letter by some racetrack managers. For punters it makes doing form and betting that much tougher. As if it isn't tough enough already with betting markets of 120% plus.

Victoria is in the middle of a drought. There had been no rain all week, so surely it was reasonable to expect a true, fair, Good rated track at Flemington last Saturday. But once again, Flemington caught everyone by surprise.

Despite penetrometer readings indicating a Good rated track, the track was actually cutting up. It had the sting out of it and a number of jockeys reported it was on the worse side of Good and closer to Dead.

What is going on when we're served up uneven, rain affected tracks when the weather is fine all week?

But it didn't just stop at Flemington. The day after at Sandown a number of senior jockeys including Brett Prebble complained that the track was slippery and dangerous near the 500 metres. Punters who supported Saints Union can feel justly aggrieved, with jockey Brendan Fenech saying that Saints Union was traveling well and he thought it would win, but his mount slipped and nearly fell at the 500 metres.

Leading trainer Lee Freedman blasted Racing Victoria's track preparation policy and said he would lead a trainer push to have it changed.

We are in the middle of a drought. There are water restrictions in the state. Yet as punters we are unexpectedly facing uneven, "rain" affected racing surfaces.

If this continues then our betting advice is to ignore Victoria's Carnival racing and take your betting dollars elsewhere.

Caulfield, where the 2YOs are going to race in the feature Blue Diamond Stakes next Saturday, was heavily criticized after its last Saturday meeting when an uneven racing surface was produced in the middle of summer.

We are getting oh so close to putting our own boycott in place on betting on Victorian Racing while we have this current track preparation policy in place.

This edition of Punt to Win:
Racing Victoria's horse racing track watering preparation policy
Betting tips - that's how tight markets are
Win betting tote firmers - read this
Handicapping tips - weight and class
Money talks - Rosehill, Flemington betting tips from the track
Money talks - Morphettville, Eagle Farm betting tips from the track
Future winners - unlucky horses
Punt to Win 14/2/2003
Punt to Win index

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