Rubbish racing

[Euler]

God there is some real dross on at the moment isn't there? Just looked at todays card and can't believe some of the races. 15:30 at Hereford, three runner with the fav priced at 1.13!

[andyfuller]

Yup utter rubbish - I don't get how we have all these owners moaning about the lack of prizemoney and opportunities and we end up with 3 and 4 runner races.

[rhysmr2]

I had a good day today, £315.54 profit.

[Euler]

That's an excellent result. Lots of trending markets today.

[JollyGreen]

Yup utter rubbish - I don't get how we have all these owners moaning about the lack of prizemoney and opportunities and we end up with 3 and 4 runner races.

That's why we have 3-4 runner races, the prize money is so crap there is no point in entering. A good friend of mine has a few horses and in most of the races for which his horses are eligible he would make a loss unless his horse won. He had to withdraw from one race because even if he won he would make a small profit, the handicapper would clobber him and then he would never win another race. He would need to run 3-4 more times to reduce his handicap all of which would incur costs and so he would be further in the negative. It's just a vicious circle and they struggle to escape it. He finds it more profitable to have a bet or simply concentrate on his own business.

You have to remember there are conditions applied to a lot of races so most horses aren't eligible. One of the horses I used to have a share in was constantly balloted out of races and in the end we gave up.

My friends are slowly selling all their horses as there is no point owning them any more.

[Iron]

Is that not brilliant for scalpers though, given the amount that will be matched on a 1.13 horse?

Jeff

God there is some real dross on at the moment isn't there? Just looked at todays card and can't believe some of the races. 15:30 at Hereford, three runner with the fav priced at 1.13!

[andyfuller]

My wording wasn't right I meant to highlight the fact that the racing calendar is a pile of rubbish and we have pointless races that should be dropped - but I still see several examples where owners could run but choose not to.

A good friend of mine has a few horses and in most of the races for which his horses are eligible he would make a loss unless his horse won.....He finds it more profitable to have a bet or simply concentrate on his own business.

Can't say I have any sympathy for your friend, I take part in plenty of hobbies and never get a penny back for taking part despite plenty of people making money off the back of me taking part, I struggle to see why owners expect to get money back, let alone make a profit - it is like they feel they have a right to it.

[Iron]

A good friend of mine has a few horses and in most of the races for which his horses are eligible he would make a loss unless his horse won.....He finds it more profitable to have a bet or simply concentrate on his own business.

I struggle to see why owners expect to get money back, let alone make a profit - it is like they feel they have a right to it.

Whilst no-one owes the owners, trainers, etc, a living, it's a shame that the horseracing industry is struggling. But if I were in the industry, rather than bemoaning that fact, I'd be looking at what I could do to help drum up more public interest in the sport.

Jeff

[andyfuller]

Is that not brilliant for scalpers though, given the amount that will be matched on a 1.13 horse?

I find such markets a waste of time and use them as a chance for a break and a cup of tea. They have huge amounts staked up either side and they tend to be very stagnant and move about when large orders come in - if you are on the wrong side of one of these orders it can be hard to get out without a loss. At least that is my view - I will leave it to those that like these kind of markets and enjoy my tea and biscuit

[JollyGreen]

My wording wasn't right I meant to highlight the fact that the racing calendar is a pile of rubbish and we have pointless races that should be dropped - but I still see several examples where owners could run but choose not to.

A good friend of mine has a few horses and in most of the races for which his horses are eligible he would make a loss unless his horse won.....He finds it more profitable to have a bet or simply concentrate on his own business.

Can't say I have any sympathy for your friend, I take part in plenty of hobbies and never get a penny back for taking part despite plenty of people making money off the back of me taking part, I struggle to see why owners expect to get money back, let alone make a profit - it is like they feel they have a right to it.

Well you clearly are missing the point then because if all owners decided they should quit because as you say "I struggle to see why owners expect to get money back" then there would be no racing at all.

[andyfuller]

Obviously if all owners quit there would be no racing - but if owners who could afford to own race horses didn't decide to quit then we would still have horse racing but a different kind of sport to what we have at present.

Unfortunately not everyone can afford to own a race horse, even if you wish you could. It is a very expensive hobby, if you can't afford it you shouldn't be taking part.

Sport is about just that, sport, it is not about making a profit or at least it shouldn't be - I had the same argument with a friend of mine who had a similar view point as your friend - he says the way racing needs to go is to make it possible for those taking part to make a profit which in my view is utter rubbish, it should be about the sport - it is a leisure activity for owners or should be.

[andyfuller]

The whole sport in my view needs to contract massively, there is too much racing and too many poor horses. For this contraction to happen yes it will mean job losses, trainers going out of business, owners leaving the sport etc etc but it will lead to a leaner and healthier sport that can sustain itself. The sport in its current form is unsustainable and it is only going to get more unsustainable as the Levy continues to fall.

[Iron]

Speaking of the levy, when's the Culture Secretary's decision due?

Jeff

The sport in its current form is unsustainable and it is only going to get more unsustainable as the Levy continues to fall.

[andyfuller]

In the new year. The schedule is laid out here:

http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/public ... letter.pdf

[Euler]

Another three runner today at Exeter 13:50 starting at 1.29