It's just a summer where every turnaround the news is about another jockey retiring. First we had the one who Barney speaks so fondly of as 'that man'. Now as a 20 time champ I doubt anyone could begrudge the fanfare for him. Then there was Richard Hughes, who I must admit watching parts of Channel 4 Racing wondered what was their about this jockey I'd missed through the years? Was the sport really losing someone of huge significance as the coverage was screaming at me I must be? Mmmmm, big style overkill more likely. Now Hayley Turner... I guess it's telling you something that the jockeys retiring is now bigger news than what's happening this Flat season!
[QUOTE="beeforsalmon, post: 8333380, member: 1008189"Now as a 20 time champ I doubt anyone could begrudge the fanfare for him.[/QUOTE] I would! Biggest farce I’ve ever seen on a racecourse. In contrast I actually thought Richard Hughes, and his wife, handled the whole ‘packing it in’ thing, with class and dignity. My respect for both increased dramatically as a result. They could certainly teach one pair a thing or two about how to bow out in style. Incidentally, one thing that does annoy me a bit about all this is the use of the word ‘retirement’ over and over again in the media. Neither Richard Hughes, THAT man or Ms Turner have actually ‘retired’ instead they have switched careers / started a new job / are doing other things else to earn a living / registered down the ‘labour exchange’ (delete as appropriate). It’s fundamentally, to use a Corrie analogy, no different from someone leaving ‘The Kabin’ to go and work in ‘The Rovers’.
Fair enough, SBC, points well taken. I hope she does well whatever she does, a nice lass and was always a pretty fair jockey IMO. As for accents, mine is 'regional' too, if you can call a suburban London dialect 'regional', cut it with a breadknife. A working life abroad including a long time in Canada just could not shift it; the Canucks gave up on me! The Germans have never even tried. They sometimes think I'm a Yank, which is bloody ridiculous!
Neither had I, Cyc, being abroad for so long I have obviously missed so much. Thanks guys, I have been crying laughing at Cholmondley Warner. Did you look at the one on Hitler, and Association Football, oh hell, bloody hilarious.
I deffo wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s hate, that’s a very strong word, more like I shake my head every time his name is mentioned. A lot of it isn’t actually his fault it’s the media obsession with him and this putting him on a plinth as some sort of saddle monkey without equal. I have never, for one second, bought into this and have always thought that both Ruby and the Gerraghty boy must wonder whether to laugh or cry everytime they are told, by presenters or journalists, ‘oooooooooooooooooooooooh, there will never be another one like A.P.’ Don’t get me wrong I think he was a competent rider but also think those two mentioned above are superior and too be frank, as I’ve said before, when it comes to NH racing providing my steed is ridden by one of the top 50 in the business then I really have no complaints. Then we have the fact that since 2009 he has seriously stuffed up in the Champion Hurdle, for Mr Henderson, not once, not twice, but three times! The latter, of course, would never complain as (i) he is a total gentleman and (ii) if he did so the McManus horse box would have been at Seven Barrows quicker than you can say,‘oooooooooooooooooooooooh, there will never be another one like A.P.’ to remove all his string! Plus, all A.P. fans always conveniently forget or brush under the table the fact that he was never Champion rider at the Cheltenham Festival again after 1998. Even Graham Lee, Robert Thornton and Mick Fitzgerald achieved this but hey ‘oooooooooooooooooooooooh, there will never be another one like A.P.’ I firmly believe his ‘final day’ was the most dappiest thing that I’ve ever seen, on a racecourse, surely anyone with an ounce of dignity would just make an announcement after that last ride or at the very most a fortnight before it, a la Richard Hughes. Not put the whole world (whether they like it or not) through enduring ‘the longest goodbye’ on record so that he can milk it beyond belief and earn a few more quid in the process. In conclusion a highly capable rider but I just groan everytime I hear people going overboard about him as I never felt he was 'all that'.
To be honest, I've always preferred the stylish NH jockeys too. Started with Josh Gifford, then John Francome (the most smooth-as-silk jumps jockey I ever saw in my life), and, lately, Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty. The problem is, SBC, it is always difficult to argue with blunt statistics, A.P. owns them in NH racing.
Does it gall you Barn that in a 100 years, people will look at AP's record and acclaim him one of the greatest riders of all time?
Not in the big races, he doesn’t. Ruby and the Gerraghty lad have far, far superior records in the big Grade 1 races.
I hope they use the American parlance for it Cyc as I would happily call him a GOAT and suspect Barney wouldn't disagree...
Nicky Henderson believes Anthony is the greatest ever Barney, I say old boy, I say, does that dampen your enthusiasm for Mr.Henderson In the slightest ??? No doubt Walsh and Geraghty are more stylish and have great big race records, but you have to factor in the ammunition they are/were supplied with, what McCoy did during his career was phenomenal and his records will not be touched in our lifetime anyway I very much doubt.
I wonder what you would consider a fitting send off (when the sad day eventually arrives) for ole magic hands himself, one of Lambourn's finest and undoubtedly one of the Forum's top 50 favourite National Hunt trainers of all time, Mr Nicholas Henderson?! The mind boggles at what you'd consider suitable for the great man's retirement Barney
Run for cover everybody. Would have to rent the gardens of Buckingham Palace, or maybe the Vatican even?
I doubt Nicky the Needle has any time for Papists. They'd have to start doing beatifications at the Abbey again!
Politics, old boy, politics. He’s got to say this publicly otherwise his principal owner will pull up with a string of horseboxes outside of Seven Barrows and remove his entire string. I’ll tell you what though. When in ’14 A.P. chose My Tent over Jezki in the ‘Champion Hurdle’ they had a 2 day party at Mrs Harrington’s and 2 days of mourning at Seven Barrows. Barry Gerraghty was always going to ride the ‘neglected’ and if anyone thinks both handlers didn’t really want him aboard, their hope, then they should seek medical attention!
Beefy, Mr Henderson may be in his 65th year but he has the appearance and drive of a man in his late 30’s so hopefully that day is a long way off yet. When it does happen it will, of course, be very, very sad but also it will enable us to reflect on the achievements of the greatest chap ever to look at a horse. A man loved by everyone in the game. Whose brilliant brain and ‘magic hands’ have never, or will ever, be surpassed. I’m sure Mr Cameron (or maybe Giddy or Boris if it is after Mr Cameron’s time in office) will also give the day over as a ‘National Holiday’ so we can all enjoy and savour the day to its maximum effect. Mr Henderson’s popularity, of course, was never more evident than after he trained his 2,000th winner (Punchestowns at Newbury). On that occasion the horse had to remain in the winner’s enclosure for a record amount of time to wait for Mr Henderson who was mobbed as cheering racegoers flocked to kiss, hug, shake his hand and pat him on the back. Expect similar scenes when he does pack it in.
Two points, Sir Barney, the first being that Australians would indeed dispute this claim, and with some justification. The "greatest chap ever to look at a horse" to them was a gentleman who sadly passed away a few days ago, namely, the great Bart Cummings. Just take a look at his record! Secondly, I'm not sure PrincessNewmarket (PNkt) would agree with you here, and she is one of the very few forum members who really is a horseracing professional. Just ask her. To conclude, please do be more careful with your superlatives, they really are a bit much sometimes, wouldn't you say, old chap?
Nice winner today for Hayley in the pale blue of Ballymacoll. The gelding was sales bound in June but witdrawn, I couldn't have tipped him. Well done Hayley.
Dominating flat racing in Australia, does not make you the greatest man to look at a horse. In terms of flat trainers he isn't even in the top 10, as he's only won races in 1 country. And let's be honest Australian flat racing is hardly the pinnacle of flat racing, European Group races are of a far higher quality
