In-foal runners: should they be declared or is it a waste of time?
Is the process as straightforward as it seems? Julian Muscat reports
It always happens at this time of the year. As punters contemplate the outcome of a race, connections sometimes divulge the fact that their winning mare or filly is in foal. It will be the first time anyone else is aware of it, and the perception that pregnancy may have improved the performance of the winner promotes understandable ire.
Information is king. The absence of it, especially when punters place their bets, has become an increasingly contentious issue. Racecards devoid of information relating to first-time blinkers, visors, hoods, cheekpieces and tongue-straps would be an insult to the committed punter. The lobbying for wind operations to be similarly declared has got stronger in recent years. For information to be made available about in-foal runners is not far behind.
Recent examples
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