Back Yourself!
Sign-up and start betting with Ladbrokes in 2 minutes!
Back A Winner with Neds!
Sign-up and start betting with Neds in 2 minutes!
Daily Racing Specials!
Sign-up and bet with Australia's best new bookmaker!
#1 Ranked New Bookie
Sign-up and bet with Australia's #1 ranked new bookmaker!
Best Of The Best Odds!
Bet With Palmerbet and get Paid Top Fluc or Top Tote!
Massive Odds on All Races!
Sign-up and start betting with PlayUp in 2 minutes!
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Search
 
Image: Bruno Cannatelli
Victoria Derby winner Ace High

With all the talk of late surrounding improved prizemoney levels, naming new races, and which state has the best racing carnivals, perhaps it might be prudent to take a step back and look at what we already have.

Not the new stuff or the new debates, but at the races we’ve watched for years.

Could some of them do with a makeover?

And, one that comes to mind, certainly has been the subject of chat via Twitter of late, is the Gr 1 VRC Derby.

The prevailing thought is that the gruelling 2500m race comes to soon for 3YOs.

This is complimented by the fact so much inbreeding has occurred over the past 15 years that its cause and effect is to weaken the bone structure of young horses.

Certainly the days of 2YOs having 32 starts before they turn three (Seabiscuit did that) are gone.

And with the recent spate of deaths in the US, perhaps line and inbreeding is now starting to take a real toll all over the world.

Isolating for scrutiny the Gr 1 VRC Derby, which is run on Super Saturday in early November every year, suggests we should perhaps move that race.

Last year’s winner for example, Extra Brut, has not won a race since the Derby and if you look at ALL the runners last year, only Savvy Oak has won a race since the big race and that was a low key bush BM race!

That race was 9 months ago!

In 2017, Ace High won and he has won just one race in the following two years.

In 2016, Prized Icon won and he has not won a race since his big Flemington victory in three years.

Similarly, Tarzino who galloped away in 2015. He won just once following his Derby win.

Stats don’t lie and while some will mount a case for the hardiness of say 2006 winner Efficient who went on to win the Melbourne Cup at the same track and the Turnbull Stakes, they were his only 2 wins post the Derby.

Breeding is changing the thoroughbred horse and his constitution isn’t as tough as the old days of say Tulloch etc.

Race planners need to see this, acknowledge it and adjust accordingly before we start seeing multiple injuries and falls in these type of races.

Moving it to later in the season, say 2 weeks apart from the Gr 1 ATC Derby would be a better option for the welfare of the horse.

The ATC Derby is on in April each year, some 6 months after its VRC counterpart.

 
*Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Gamble responsibly.
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Featured News

FREE BETS – Claim $1000’s in Bonus Bets at the TOP Betting Sites

We take a look at the BIGGEST and BEST Free Daily Racing Offers and Betting Promotions from Australia’s leading online...

Golden Slipper Likely Field – 2024

The biggest two-year-old race of the year will jump this Saturday in arguably one of the best fields in recent...

Former trainer handed a five-year ban for pulling stewards pants down

Former trainer Todd Balfour has been handed a five-year disqualification by Racing SA stewards after a misconduct incident at the...

Melbourne Cup champion Verry Elleegant passes away

Verry Elleegant, one of the great mares in the history of Australian racing, has died while giving birth to her...

Watch 📺 Jockey banned from all racing premises over ride

Jockey Dylan Kitts has been penalised with a disciplinary officer exclusion directive due to non-compliance with an inquiry regarding his...

Group 1 winner returns positive swab

Racing Victoria stewards are investigating a positive swab from Group 1-winning mare Prowess, the racehorse trained by Roger James and...

Alligator Blood injured, career in doubt

Cult galloper Alligator Blood may have run his last race, with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott confirming the star galloper had...

Nikita Beriman returns to the saddle

July 1, 2023 to January 26, 2024 … that period represents the just shy of seven months that Nikita Beriman...

Australia's Best Betting Sites

New Betting Sites Australia + Top List Bookmaker Apps $$$

Betting in Australia has never been more popular thanks to a large increase in new betting Agencies and Apps available...

Top 10 – Funniest Race Horse Names

Horse racing. Known as the ‘Sport Of Kings’, an industry worth billions, a very serious business…but to some, it’s a...

Best Horse Betting Sites in Australia

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps and Betting Sites – March 2024

We take a look at the best online betting apps to bet on horse racing in Australia for the month...

Golden Slipper

The Golden Slipper is one of the biggest and most prestigious horse races in Australia. Taking place each April at...

Australian Bookmaker Reviews – Online Bookie Ratings $$

Which bookmaker should you bet with? We Review each of the leading online Australian Bookmakers and rate them in order...

 
 
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au