It's amazing how people look for horse racing winners in the racing program or on the track but seldom look for them in the paddock. Before the race begins you'll see people poring over their racing forms and watching the post parade, but you'll see many fewer people actually standing at the paddock rail watching the horses as they are saddled and prepared to race.
Horses are an open book when it comes to showing you how they feel and whether they are sharp as a tack or dull. Just look in their eyes and you'll learn a lot. You can't see their eyes when they're on the track, but as they circle in the paddock, just a few feet from the rail, you can see them very well.
Dull eyes mean a dull effort. Dull coat means a horse that is probably not very healthy. Shiny eyes and alert means a horse that is ready to run. No, you can't always pick a winner in the paddock, but you can tell a lot about a horse by looking at it. I like to see them sweating a little before the race, but not excessively. That means the motor is running, but the horse isn't melting down.
No comments:
Post a Comment