Quote:
Originally Posted by menifee
Watch the jockey on the 8. Can take the winner anytime he wants. Keeps him hemmed in behind him the whole time during the stretch run. Looks like he did not want to win the race.
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I see what you saw. But what you saw was IMO not the intent of the rider.
I came to this conclusion based on the two replays views provided by Ralph's link.
When watching the pan version replay look at the inside rein of the 8 horse at the :58 mark through the 1:00 mark, or until you lose the angle that allows you to see the inside rein. You will see the inside rein loose with no pressure on the inside of the horses mouth.
Then wait until 1:05 or as soon as you can see the outside rein and you will see the rein very tight with a lot of pressure on the outside of the horses mouth. This was consistent during the 5 seconds that there was no clear view of the reins but a clear view of the riders hands that did not change other than to draw the stick which he draws left handed so he has a little help getting the horse off the fence and because the rider has all his pressure on the right rein meaning he cannot possibly draw the stick with his right hand .This lasts until about 1:18 when the rider finally gets the horse off the fence.
(I am not sure of this next paragraph as both views make it tough to see for sure but what I think I see and what is very consistent with what riders do as a last resort is that they take the whip and lightly brush the left side of the horses mouth where the bit is. Sometimes that will help to get the horse to unlock their teeth so as to straighten out. Or after a light swipe, they just place the popper end of the stick directly on to the mouth at the bit. Not to hit them but to make them feel it and realize what might come next. I think the rider does that but it is not clear. However, just as that swipe of the stick happens and the stick is seemingly laying on the horses mouth, the horse stops lugging in badly so I assume what I think I see is exactly what I described . (I mean, hey, something got the horse to let off the left part of the rein right?)
Look for this action to occur on the head on view between about :57 thru about 1:05 especially 1:02 and 1:03 and 1:04.
Back to the analysis:
The outside rein becomes less tight . That is the rider finally getting to ride the horse forward. And the inside rein is now the same slightly less tight that places the bit in the back of the horses mouth so the horse will grab it equally and go. And yes, the rider does grab the horse again a jump or two before the wire but the head on replay will show that the horse is lugging in again the gap between has gone from 3 feet to 1 1/2 feet or thereabouts. In actuality the winner is coming over on the 8 more than the other way around but the 8 has reestablished a grip on the inside of the bit with the left part of the horses jaw instead of an even grip .
So, from all that I saw, this was on the horse, not the rider.
Hope this helps.
