In a message dated 10/13/2004 10:41:43 AM Mountain Standard Time,
tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
Many
factors could have come into play, from hotter than normal weather, a course
that combined with abnormal weather presented a high risk situation to the
horses
"Championship riders" would (should) recognize these "anomalies" and ride
accordingly...
which brings to mind the question, what, in fact, makes "CHAMPIONSHIP
RIDERS" championship riders?
Is it truly as simple as "qualifying"?
Perhaps championship rides have the effect of revealing
the answer to the above question.
In the case of Warner Springs, I'd say "yeah". A
tough venue on a tough day...as it should be.
There will always be "mitigating factors, there will
always be "ambient weather", and as long as there is true "rider
responsibility", i.e., recognition of a mount's limitations,
mechanical/metabolic vunerabilities on given days, the mitigating effects of
weather, management issues, DIMR, etc. shouldn't result in the "same
ol', same ol'".
Championship rides should be the better this
sport has to offer...and the results should reflect that.
