Nervous energy?
 

I watched Sparsholt stroll into it's barrier, Geelong R2, so relaxed, like it owned the barriers. Looked every bit a winner ($4.10)

I wonder if anyone has toyed with the idea of maybe Laying or Backing a troublesome nervous horse as a system? A horse that's got in it's mind, that it'd prefer to be somewhere else, than in a barrier about to race? Maybe the opposite for relaxed sleepy horses? Dunno?

Never thought about it regarding gallops but I pay attention to dogs that paw at the lids. Problem is so far I could not make up my mind if it's an advantage or not.
Possibly not because they could be drawing back when the lids open??
On the other hand they could be just showing either keenness or anxiety? ************ if I know? Any takers?

PS very strict verboten words here! I thought it was less than mild.

Can't be programmed... so its not important to me.

But it would be an angle few people are taking so there could be an edge in it.

Like to see a stayer not using up energy but a sprinter needs a bit of nervous energy over those shorter distances

Rarely has cost me money so I almost always cancel out back bets if a pick is vetted or reshod at the barriers, hate to see that happen & it happens all the time, game is hard enough as it is.

& if it happens to be a lay bet, all the better:)

I'm the same with races delayed by an overly extended period, no ambulance, barrier repairs, storm or such like. Hate that! Prefer to hedge out and move on.

Took my girl to the races for the first time and we went to check out the horses as she has no idea or form, from all the runners one looked like it was on speed, so happy prancing around on it's toes and looking around, no way it was ever going to lose that race, sometimes not knowing anything but knowing what looks good and happy can be worth while.

As someone who breaks in horses during spring and summer, and work with a lot of troubled horses in conjunction with vets and equine osteopaths, I can tell you for certain that horses that play up in the mounting yard, at the barriers, or pull hard during their races use up so much nervous energy, it clearly has an affect on their results.
Some are so hyped up and fit that they can overcome it, but in the vast majority of cases it's a definite and distinct disadvantage.

It can even be measured by examples.

There is a horse by Commands, which is no longer racing.
She is very very fast and trialled extremely well privately.
On the track she couldn't even place in a midweek meeting.
She used up all her energy in the mounting yard, would spear to the lead in a race and go backwards from the home turn (get swamped). This horse had all the makings of a good horse, but they just couldn't settle her down.

When I was a young lad I used to look for horses "on their toes", now I look for horses that look half asleep. A horse fighting the strapper, forget it - look elsewhere.
Sunline's last race, the crowd spooked her when the course commentator yelled "three cheers for Sunline" She nearly dislodged Childs. From that moment on, she was never going to win her final race.