Largo Race Preliminary Poll - heats

[motorgypsy]

choose 1

[ASB.Immortality]

I would have to say the same day as the race. But we run in different associations so whatever you guys decide.

With National, Breeder, and United, there are NO heats. There is one class in which all the participants exhibit. There is no set distance, no cones. Excessive ring cutting is penalized. It is just judge's discretion on how many laps you go both ways. You may go two laps, you may go ten. You must exhibit at a walk (or show walk), slow gait, and fast gait. Excessive breaking gait is penalized and will move you down on the judge's card. Depending on the judges and the number of entries, there maybe a workout called. There is no break in between the class and the workout.

[Candice Burger]

Ya'll are assuming a limit to the number of horses entered. What if the largo race gets so popular there are 50 entrants? What then?

Who is going to tell these people they can't race because you've only scheduled 2 heats with 6 horses a piece? Sorta like telling the first 10 they get their stalls for free.

What is the cutoff number? Who qualifies if time is limited to only a few heats? How many heats and when?

The poll is assuming that largo racers want to race only when they
1. don't have to pay for a stall OR
2 don't have to pay for a stall more than 1 day before the race

What if the 50 entrants are already at the show on the first day?

[motorgypsy]

No we aren't assuming only two heats nor any limit on the number of entrants. Heats could be held both the day before and the day of the race - at least three each day wouldn't take much time. Heats could have more horses in them but six would be nice - much easier on the judges. What we are assuming is that the actual largo race will be held at the same time - the final Sat before fino stallions since it's been there for the last three years.

But considering the owners of the best largo horses are not generally the big show people and considering that people do tend to wait until the last minute to enter the largo race and we would get more entries IF they're able to enter after they get to the show this is why I made the suggestions I made. And since they don't charge stall rent by the day it doesn't really matter when the entrant gets to the show. Unless they enter early and get a comped stall it will cost the same as far as the stall goes. Somehow I don't think the powers that be will comp 50 stalls. It's great that they comped ten. Hopefully we can at least get them up to 15 but 10 is good.

Thanks for the suggestions - they are always appreciated.

[Cindy]

But considering the owners of the best largo horses are not generally the big show peo

Um, that's quite a biased assumption.

[motorgypsy]

It really wan't meant to be. I'd love to see some bigtime winners out there. I should have been more precise here - the big show people that we know simply don't have time and don't want to risk a high dollar horse in the largo race even if they have a smoking largo. A horse that's in championship classes and winning just isn't usually put in the race. Not that they couldn't win it but why risk the race when your horse is already tired and in several classes already that day? We actually went around and asked last year when anyone could enter free. We got I think one taker.

The rest of the entries were those whose horses are in maybe one class or in none at all.

The dedicated trail people on the other hand aren't showing in championship classes and frequently don't even go to nationals so the real speed largo horses that we've seen on the trails aren't in the show either.

The people who enter the race have a real desire to popularize the speed largo and the time and money to bring a horse to nationals, enter the race, pay for motel and food and gas and participate because it's something they believe in.

Would we love to see the big time trainers and show people in the largo race??? Absolutely!! The more in the race, the more fun!!! I personally think it would be a great opportunity for a larger breeder to desensitize a horse that is perhaps not being shown that year or that is for sale and a chance to have fun also!! I think we did have several trainers this year in the race. Hooray for them!!! But it's not a big priority thing - yet. . . . .