Bustino, I work with a lady whose father was a small-time NH trainer who got caught up in a doping ring in the 50s/early 60s. I'm not sure if this link will work as it won't open on my iPad, but have a read of this article if you can. Edit to add - when I say "got caught up" I don't mean he was part of the ring, but that his horses were got at by the crooks.
Cyc: Bet that old jumper of Robert Alner's, Lance Armstrong (foaled May, 1990), would be really p***ed off with his name had he still been around. Am assuming, of course, that at a possible 22-years-of-age, the old boy has long departed this planet?
Swanny, Lance is probably relieved at being able to stand in the shadow of a noble creature that shares his name. He need all the cred he can muster.
PN: Interesting article by Chris Pitt; thanks for clip. Had to blow it up to 400% to read it, but it came out fine! Remember the Noel Murless case, turned out to be a trusted stable hand who was the main culprit?
The handicapping system doesn't help either. How many times have we witnessed horses pulling up or running like a pig in Jan / Feb only to hose up at decent odds at Cheltenham in March. This isn't aimed at any one particular trainer as we know that there's a few who are adept at it but some people will say it's clever and others will call it cheating. I believe Sir Mark Prescot refers to the practice of running a horse bred for the Derby in a seller at Carlisle as "an intellectual challenge" - I'm not so sure about that............
Bustino, good morning- hope you are keeping well! I like the bit about the red flag, even though I'm not really a socialist- just a cynical, bolshy sod. Re. corruption, I'm not saying there's a direct link to the wealthy, but I do think racing is still an anachronistic members' club in many ways. I accept there are many rich sporting owners, but there have been too many incidents over the years where higher officials' horses have been favoured. I was personally party to one of the most ridiculous disqualifications ever - when a Northern steward's horse was awarded a big race at his own course, costing me a lot of money. To make matters worse, the same steward benefitted again later from another ridiculous big race disqualification. It's ironic that you mention the Holidays. Do you remember the ridiculous disqualification of Anne Biddle's Scissors in the 1963 Timeform Gold Cup? Who owned the horse,Pushful, that was awarded the race? I agree with your term "inertia" but I also think that many of the racing establishment's attitudes and practices belong 'in the Ark.' Look at the awful lay-out for the starts at our premier NH venue, Cheltenham. The way the horses circle off-course and then have to turn twice sharply left to come onto the course- right on top of the tape. A ****** could have planned it better. Not to mention many starters don't care if there's 20 lengths between first and last when they release the tapes. The recent 'whip issue' is another crazy saga, likewise the recent 14 days ban for young Brendan Powell- for taking the wrong course at Fakenham. How to you take away a man's livelihood for that, when the course lay-out is confusing in the first place? Re. the Cartmel coup, I agree that was rather brilliant, but I still prefer the '64 Dagenham Dog Coup- and that was perfectly legal. A pity the bookies referred to the old law of 'gambling having no enforceability in English Law,' even though the High Court ordered them to pay out.
Tam I was astounded when I first laid eyes on how the starter lets them go in hunt races. It's not unusual to see those at the back of the circle, miss the start by ten lengths. Sure the races are long, but why give that star away? My horse might not have any natural early speed, but if he begins with the leaders and then drifts back, he's still better off than being 10 behind then drifting off. And how many times do you see some horse at the tail of the circle at the start, being ridden a little to get a closer position as they settle? All jump racing in Australia (and there isn't much of it) is done from the starting stalls. Why not there?
When starting stalls came in for Flat Racing a lot of people felt it was a backward step. Being able to line up properly was seen as part of the skill of the jockey. In the '80s a very fancied horse went to Cheltenham and lined up like a mule, didn't jump off and was soon tailed off. The aformentioned Dermot Browne was in the saddle and everyone said it must have developed this mulish attitude. Years later the betting public knew why!
Bustino, I can't think why on earth anyone would want to come to Nuneaton- it's quite a hole! I came down here to a friend's party in the late seventies- and met my wife. When we married, I took one look at the place and said we'd stay here for a year- and settled on two. Thirty years later and I'm still here! I must admit, though, I do wonder why and wince a bit when I go back to the areas I grew up in- the Pendle Forest & Trough of Bowland. If you ever come this way again, let me know and I'll buy you a pie and a pint.
Tamerlo, thanks for the invite and I'm sure we'll find a pint of Pedigree somewhere. Had an Aunt who lived there. I won't argue with you about what you've said!!!!! Last there 2005.
"A lot of trainers and vets are saying that the milk-shaking with sodium bicarbonate is being mixed with undetectable variants of oxygen-boosting hormones." I could do with taking a bit of that, Cyc! It might perk me up a bit! Good morning, by the way!
Does this mean that you have finally figured out that National Hunt racing is as crooked as a nine bob note? I stopped betting on NH racing twenty plus years ago because they are all crooked. Just look at how the top horses all avoid each other all season until Cheltenham. A couple of weeks ago there was a meeting across the Irish Sea where most of the races were won by odds-on favourites (like Hurricane Run) beating trees. If the authorities actually reviewed every novice hurdle and novice chase and penalised the trainers of non-triers most of the trainers would not be able to afford to train.
Spot on Princess. The exchanges are the worst thing that have ever happened for racing. I am confident they will be banned one day.
