You can only laugh

The sport of kings.
Post Reply
andyfuller
Posts: 4619
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:23 pm

This sport makes itself look more and more stupid as each day goes by!

WTF was going on at Newton Abbot?

WTF happened earlier this afternoon with the starter letting them go when two jockies were on the floor?

All you can do is :lol:
andyfuller
Posts: 4619
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:23 pm

I just hope they don't void the race - had a cracking result on it!
andyfuller
Posts: 4619
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:23 pm

I wouldn't fancy betting on the stewards for the race - god knows what the deal is :?:
User avatar
to75ne
Posts: 2439
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:37 pm

so much for racing for change
Bet Angel
Bet Angel
Bet Angel
Posts: 4031
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:47 pm

I only saw that after it had finished so missed it in-running. Saw the 'false start' earlier though and had already told every body it was a false start only to eat my words when they continued to run. It looked to me as though the jockey's had clearly fallen before the start line!??!?
andyfuller
Posts: 4619
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:23 pm

I didn't see a replay but I could have sworn both jockies were on the floor before the tape went back.

I really think they need to introduce a marker for both flat and jumps x amount in front of the tapes and if they don't cross that they are declared non runners. So if they don't jump off in a jump race or don't leave the stalls they are not runners.

In an American race the other night the horse left the stalls but was only a short amount behind the others but the stewards still said it didn't get a fair start and classed it as a non runner.

So it shows something can be done and should be done.

There will be occasions where it reduces the place betting and the odds are reduced on the winner but I think that is much better than the current situation.

With Twist Magic they had to do an announcement on course as once a year race goers assumed it didn't count as a runner and wanted their money back.

Something needs doing about it!
Bet Angel
Bet Angel
Bet Angel
Posts: 4031
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:47 pm

andyfuller wrote:With Twist Magic they had to do an announcement on course as once a year race goers assumed it didn't count as a runner and wanted their money back.
That's why I posted up about Twist Magic, it was a stupid scenario, at such a big meeting as well. I see King John's Castle refused to race again today, but at least they declared him a non runner today.

On the flip side one of my favourites horses is Fromsong. You can practically hear this 12 year old veteran talking at the start. He paws the ground and frisks around at the start, eager to race. A tap of the jockey's heels and he goes forwards and puts himself in the stalls. A complete contrast to some of the others who look like they have never seen a set of stalls in their life!
User avatar
JollyGreen
Posts: 2047
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:06 am

Nothing will be done about it. The stewards are a law unto themselves and it's all a nice cosy little club. This has been happening for as long as I can remember and I have been following racing for 40 years.

The problem is it is a closed shop, cosy little club, old school tie brigade...call it what you want. They don't have to answer to anyone there are no reports for punters, the general public to read etc so it will continue unabated. You occasionally get a statement but it generally adds to the confusion.

I think it was two weeks ago that there was a furore at Chepstow because a horse was waved around a fence yet the fenced was not dolled off. He kept the race!! This week they are taking the opposite stance because the flag man was there but no signs on the hurdle. They get it both ways and will always have an excuse no matter what.

The worst ones are where an inquiry is held by Mr and Mrs Tally-Ho-Jolly-Goode and they decide over a Gin and Tonic to change a result. The connections then appeal and in a meeting over lunch at Portman Square (or wherever they live these days) the winner is reinstated. The punters don't get paid....but then....errrr....they don't count do they!!!

While I am on my soapbox...do the starters, stewards etc have a special watch? They wander around down at the start with their fingers up their **** and look at the old watch. IT IS ALWAYS LATE and they are still not on the rostrum! I think it is the same time zone as run by the NHS, Network Rail etc. Where do you get a watch like that as I want one!
andyfuller
Posts: 4619
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:23 pm

Bet Angel wrote:I see King John's Castle refused to race again today, but at least they declared him a non runner today.

I was gutted I had laid him as he didnt want to line up and with the National in the back of my mind.

Would have been nice but oh well :(
andyfuller
Posts: 4619
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:23 pm

Jolly Green - couldn't agree more. It will change I think, but it is going to be too late.

People in racing on the whole from my experience think they can go on as they are as what matters is them and to F&%k to everyone else.

The sport is in serious decline and that trend will just continue with the current set in charge.

As for the watches - I wouldn't mind one. I sit here every afternoon shouting at my TV telling them to get a move on as the next is off in 5 mins!
User avatar
JollyGreen
Posts: 2047
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:06 am

Trust me it will not change, this has gone through the wash cycle many times and nothing is happening.

Just look at the TV pundits, McCririck, Thommo etc. They are dinosaurs and most people are sick of listening to them. McCririck makes good points occasionally but they are ignored more often than not because of all the other crazy rants he comes out with. Did you see the farce recently at Folkestone? A horse was stuck in the stalls and Big Mac was talking to Barry Dennis at the time. Barry described it as farcical because there was no announcement about what was wrong. All anyone wants is to be kept informed. Big Mac was then interviewed later at the conclusion of the meeting and he had a right pop at some who emailed At the Adverts describing the trapped horse as farcical. He called them an idiot etc and had a right rant about it. So why didn't he do the same with Barry Dennis then?

On Radio 5 he said "Merseysiders" were to blame for the problems at Aintree because of their "gissa" attitude - how on earth can he be allowed to say things like that?

There must be someone in authority with a warped view who believes this is helping racing - I don't see it myself!
User avatar
LeTiss
Posts: 5485
Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 6:04 pm

In the early 90's I was a betting shop manager for Ladbrokes

We had a new shop and John McCririck opened it. All he did was eat minature sausage rolls, fart and try to shag the cashier

An arrogant fat lump
Predicton
Posts: 281
Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2009 3:41 pm

Lol, they'd love him at our place, where a recent buzzword amongst the gullible was "multi-tasking
Iron
Posts: 6793
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:51 pm

Playing Devil's advocate, are the stewards not accountable to the British Horseracing Board?

I can understand your frustration. But, as with football referees, there is something to be said for the powers that be simply respecting their decisions, even when they disagree with them.

When a tough call has to be made, you want the steward to think 'What's the right decision here?', not 'Will I lose my job if I make a controversial call?'.

Jeff
JollyGreen wrote:
The stewards are a law unto themselves and it's all a nice cosy little club.

[..]

They don't have to answer to anyone there are no reports for punters, the general public to read etc so it will continue unabated.
Iron
Posts: 6793
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:51 pm

He didn't really try to get off with the cashier, did he? :)

Jeff
LeTiss 4pm wrote:In the early 90's I was a betting shop manager for Ladbrokes

We had a new shop and John McCririck opened it. All he did was eat minature sausage rolls, fart and try to shag the cashier

An arrogant fat lump
Post Reply

Return to “Trading Horse racing”