How important are the weights?

I had a nice discussion with a jockey/workrider the other day about the weight a horse has to carry in a race...

In my opinion it does matter if we talk about a 8 kilogram difference between 2 horses. However I always have to smile a little bit if I hear a commentator say "and there is a 1 or 2 kilogram weight turnaround / penalty"...

If a horse is between 500 and 600 kilogram, we talk about 0.2% or 0.4% of the horse his own weight. Does this really make a difference? In my opinion there are more important things to look at when studying the card. Am I wrong and should I pay more attention to the weights studying the card?

I think the same way as you do, but most people I talk to put a lot of value on the weights

Weight stops trains.......

Nick sometimes your horse can lose by the width of a hair.

Very important, ask Mike Azzie watched the replays this morning and sure he would disagree.

It doesn't mmatter what an object weights or doesn't weight.
Science has proven more weight on a movinh object will cause the object to slow down. A 1 ton truck will have more power empty dan if u put a 100kg person in the back even if its only a 1km/h difference. It counts

Weights are placed on a horse where they have a material effect...that's why they make such a difference.

Do you think Bolt with 4 x 2 kilo bags of sugar attached to his back would run the 100 mt a bit slower than he normally does?

You will be a broke punter if you do not consider weights , one of the most important if not most important factor when studying card

FC Wrote:

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> Weights are placed on a horse where they have a
> material effect...that's why they make such a
> difference.


As FC says it is where the weights are placed that have the effect. Put two 5kg ankle weights on Usain Bolt or 10 kg's around his neck will make a massive difference.

shrek Wrote:

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> FC Wrote:
>

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>

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> > Weights are placed on a horse where they have a
> > material effect...that's why they make such a
> > difference.
>
>
> As FC says it is where the weights are placed that
> have the effect. Put two 5kg ankle weights on
> Usain Bolt or 10 kg's around his neck will make a
> massive difference.

However, the effect would be less over 50m than over 200m for an athlete that is.

shrek Wrote:

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> FC Wrote:
>

---

>

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> > Weights are placed on a horse where they have a
> > material effect...that's why they make such a
> > difference.
>
>
> As FC says it is where the weights are placed that
> have the effect. Put two 5kg ankle weights on
> Usain Bolt or 10 kg's around his neck will make a
> massive difference.

Yes you would still run 20 lengths behind him...()

Surely some horses can carry weight better than others, all depends on there physic??