Largo Race Rules

[paintedhorizon]

Okay, I'm going to rework the rules in hopes of getting more interest due to the lack this past year.

What changes would you like to see?

[SandyMM]

I don't think it was the rules.... I think it was the lack of attention/promotion this year. I already knew I wasn't going to be in the race this year, but have 'something' ;) in the works for next year.... We just need more promotion.

I say make next year "The Year of the Largo!"

I have some great largo sayings for printing on t-shirts. Give me a couple of days to rest and recuperate and I will come up with a promo of some sort to help jumpstart the push now for next year...

[pnalley]

I can tell you as a spectator, I liked only 4 horses in the arena. It looked much safer. It looked the the judges did a great job, and it was much easier to keep up with. The lady that won it kicked butt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SandyMM]

As a racer.... the more, the merrier.... ;) However, unsafe, unmanageable horses who interfere or are hazards to other racers should be DQ'd asap. I guess if I were to suggest a change, it would be to DQ any horse who broke more than twice. After all, it's supposed to be a race in gait.....

Maybe a horse who breaks should come in for a big sticker on the leg of the rider (yellow card/red card like in soccer).... Two stickers and you're out... By the end of the race - you'll only reward horses who stay in gait.... and the gait-breakers will be out of the picture...

[paintedhorizon]

I have had a lot of people, including Stella, tell me it was much nicer with just 4. With the heats, maybe we'll do that. But it'll never be more than 6.

I do think the one horse that kept acting up and breaking should have been DQed.

I'm uploading my video from the largo race now and will post it as soon as I can.

Yes, it definitly needs more promotion, and I can definitly do that here in my area, and on forums, etc. But I can't do it all alone.

Sandy, shirts would be a great thing too! Maybe a donation of a shirt to the winner of the largo race? It would say National Largo Race Champion 2009 on it or something?

If we could get donations of things to offer as prizes, maybe that would drum up interest.

I can't guarantee I can get the stalls comped again, but I'm going to try.

[Abejita]

even if you cannot get them comped at least try to make sure they consider racers equal to those in a class..so you only have to pay the normal stall fee..(unlike the extra $70 for any horse not entered in a class they charged this year)

[paintedhorizon]

I'm definitly going to try!

[Serendipity]

what about match racing heats on the days that the show ends early? the horses that win there match race again the next day in the next heat so that it come down to only the 4-6 fastes horses at the show, this way you eliminate the horses that can't keep it together,or stay in gait or the one that get in the way because they are slower.

and it would basicly be like 3 elimination heats on the 3 slow days and the big race would be held still Sat night.

make it to they pay for the stall ($200)but its free to run in the heats or at least the first 2 after that it down to serious business and to race in the final match race heat it costs X those horses that win in the last heats are the ones that go on to the Sat. Night Race

I would also like to see the cones moved as close to the wall as possible if there is 6 horses starting they are no going to stay 6 deep the whole race and if a rider for safty needs to cut the inside of the cone fine if they just do 5sec penalty same for breaking gait 2 penaltys allowed then DQ horse must come to the middle and stay out of the way

these are just some thought ;)