Quote:
Originally Posted by v j stauffer
I'm not suggesting it's something that happens commonly.
I am saying extremely talented jocks are capable of gaining tactical edges in scenarios where less talented riders cannot.
Stewards have a saying they tell jocks. " first jump yours 2nd jump ours"
If a horse is going to break inward or outward dramatically there's not much a jock can do. Stewards watch for how quickly they correct.
Another fine line that great riders toe is setting traps for less experienced jocks.
They can make it "appear" there's a hole or a way through that will in fact never work.
Jocks will sometimes take the bait and move into a spot they shouldn't. One of a myriad of ways a great rider can exploit the weaknesses of guys with less talent or experience.
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I think there's truth to this, and honestly, I wouldn't want a sport that tried so minutely to adjudicate fouls that it took the strategic element of race-riding away. Some of the race-riding things Vic is talking about are a fascinating part of the sport, in the same way that ball fakes in basketball and zone blitzes in football are. I wouldn't want to see them go or all have to be adjudicated by the stewards.
