With two races at Musselburgh tomorrow I've been analysing I haven't had time to get much further with sorting out the posts by Lee I've copied over the years, but have come to the conclusion that the best way of organising the extracts I post here is by subject. Then, as I work though the nearly 200 pages of material and find something fresh on a subject I'll add it to the existing blog entry.
Below are a couple of Lee's early references to weight:
01. "Weight was certainly talked about by VDW on many occasions. Many subtle hints and nudges were given regarding horses that had a weight issue, Canny Danny is one, and of course Crown Matrimonial, Parkhouse, and Ascencia were others, but were given for a different reason.
It is all there, just not in textbook fashion. But this was how VDW intended it to be, in order that only those who are willing to put in the work would eventually realise the true worth of the methods that he was sharing." (08/03/02.)
02. "As I'm sure you're aware the subject of weight has been discussed previously on the main VDW thread. Some are of the opinion that weight is not an important factor, however, VDW did give us many lessons on weight that prove otherwise and indeed they covered all aspects such as Weight For Age. But alas these lessons, like much that he shared weren't written in an easy convenient format. They were put across in such a way that only those that went looking would find them.
For anyone who cares, a good example that springs to mind is Wing And a Prayer. Coming off the back of 2 wins against horses of his own age and winning with a penalty, he was then sent to contest a race against older horses. A look over the form shows that he had the measure of them class/form wise and so with his weight for age allowance he was all the way a winner. With the other factors that went his way it would have been a major surprise if he blotted the formbook, as VDW stated.
Similar types of bet occur fairly frequently and in these circumstances the strike rate, which VDW suggested was available overall, rises well in to the 90's." (24/03/02.)
