Taken from the ATR website...
Walsh ponders Flat training career
27 Feb 2014
Ruby Walsh would consider training Flat horses when he retires from the saddle.
The star Irish National Hunt jockey believes it would make more economic sense to snub jumps racing when he eventually calls time on a distinguished riding career.
Walsh, 34, is, however, adamant retirement is not yet even a consideration.
"The lifespan of a jockey has definitely increased in the last 10 years," he said at the Irish Examiner sports breakfast in Cork.
"Whereas 34, 35 used to be the norm, it now seems to be 40 so hopefully I've a few more years in me, but if I was to go training horses I would train Flat horses.
"Flat racing is a business, it's where the money is.
"Jump racing, unfortunately, is the poor relation. Flat racing is global, worldwide.
"Jump racing is confined between ourselves, England, a small bit in France, a tiny bit in Australia and a little bit in America.
"We were in Japan (for Blackstairmountain's victory in the Nakayama Grand Jump last April), there's big prize-money there, but there's very few races.
"Flat racing is global."
This article both surprises me and dosnt if am honest with you...(sorry if that sounds funny...)
Surprised at the total frankness that a man associated with the 'National Hunt' scene would be so bold in his admission that there is no money in the jumps game. And that he would not hesitate to go straight into Flat racing after he retires from riding and into his time as a trainer. Ruby turning his back on the jumps scene, that is an amazing admission for me...
I will make no bones about it a much prefer the Nation Hunt scene to the Flat and I can appreciate both, but im a winter man when it comes to racing in either code. The fact that Ruby is saying that there is no money in the jumps scene makes me wonder what the lesser stables and yards are doing when they don't get anywhere near the publicity or prize money that he has won over his years as a jump jockey. I don't want to pick any individual yard out, as there are quiet a few, but the top yards of Mullins, Henderson and Nicholls dominate in such a way that the little boys will always struggle. These small yards are trying to get by on meagre winnings, and can only dream of winning a top prize at the festivals, and we all know they don't make the money they should. But we are eternally grateful for what they do so that we can enjoy a sport that we love so much...
Over the water in Ireland we have the monster that is Ballydoyle and all their power in strength, money and horses. Its not quiet as one sided over here for the flat trainers but the Stoutes, Cecils and Hannons are very much on top of things in the English flat scene. But there is still a disparity between the top trainers and the smaller outfits, but the money on the whole is better. I get that, even without Ruby confirming it, but we need a healthy National Hunt scene, if only to prolong the racing careers of some the flat horses.
The other point that sort of vexes me from what Ruby is saying is that one of our leading jump jocks isn't really pushing the jumps scene even if the facts are right in what he says. The money IS in the flat code, and he is also right that the flat scene IS global in a very big way from what the National Hunt can ever dream of getting close to. But we need both and we need them to compliment each other in making the whole racing scene better. You only have to look at what the charge is for Frankel covering a mare just the once, you don't get that sort of prize money on a full card at Huntingdon for example. Yes that's where the money is at, in the breeding, but there has to more to horse racing than just the money. Or am I missing point, and it is all about the money...?!?!
So it begs a question as to what future dos the National Hunt scene have...?? We have the biggest and best four days of jumps racing coming up at Cheltenham soon and one of the leading players in those 4 days is sort of putting it down a wee bit...???
If I am missing the point a bit then please let me know. I am no great thinker in the world of horse racing, my own selections will testify to that, but I am an avid fan of it and take a lot of joy out of watching it...
Please let me know what your thoughts are...
Walsh ponders Flat training career
27 Feb 2014
Ruby Walsh would consider training Flat horses when he retires from the saddle.
The star Irish National Hunt jockey believes it would make more economic sense to snub jumps racing when he eventually calls time on a distinguished riding career.
Walsh, 34, is, however, adamant retirement is not yet even a consideration.
"The lifespan of a jockey has definitely increased in the last 10 years," he said at the Irish Examiner sports breakfast in Cork.
"Whereas 34, 35 used to be the norm, it now seems to be 40 so hopefully I've a few more years in me, but if I was to go training horses I would train Flat horses.
"Flat racing is a business, it's where the money is.
"Jump racing, unfortunately, is the poor relation. Flat racing is global, worldwide.
"Jump racing is confined between ourselves, England, a small bit in France, a tiny bit in Australia and a little bit in America.
"We were in Japan (for Blackstairmountain's victory in the Nakayama Grand Jump last April), there's big prize-money there, but there's very few races.
"Flat racing is global."
This article both surprises me and dosnt if am honest with you...(sorry if that sounds funny...)
Surprised at the total frankness that a man associated with the 'National Hunt' scene would be so bold in his admission that there is no money in the jumps game. And that he would not hesitate to go straight into Flat racing after he retires from riding and into his time as a trainer. Ruby turning his back on the jumps scene, that is an amazing admission for me...
I will make no bones about it a much prefer the Nation Hunt scene to the Flat and I can appreciate both, but im a winter man when it comes to racing in either code. The fact that Ruby is saying that there is no money in the jumps scene makes me wonder what the lesser stables and yards are doing when they don't get anywhere near the publicity or prize money that he has won over his years as a jump jockey. I don't want to pick any individual yard out, as there are quiet a few, but the top yards of Mullins, Henderson and Nicholls dominate in such a way that the little boys will always struggle. These small yards are trying to get by on meagre winnings, and can only dream of winning a top prize at the festivals, and we all know they don't make the money they should. But we are eternally grateful for what they do so that we can enjoy a sport that we love so much...
Over the water in Ireland we have the monster that is Ballydoyle and all their power in strength, money and horses. Its not quiet as one sided over here for the flat trainers but the Stoutes, Cecils and Hannons are very much on top of things in the English flat scene. But there is still a disparity between the top trainers and the smaller outfits, but the money on the whole is better. I get that, even without Ruby confirming it, but we need a healthy National Hunt scene, if only to prolong the racing careers of some the flat horses.
The other point that sort of vexes me from what Ruby is saying is that one of our leading jump jocks isn't really pushing the jumps scene even if the facts are right in what he says. The money IS in the flat code, and he is also right that the flat scene IS global in a very big way from what the National Hunt can ever dream of getting close to. But we need both and we need them to compliment each other in making the whole racing scene better. You only have to look at what the charge is for Frankel covering a mare just the once, you don't get that sort of prize money on a full card at Huntingdon for example. Yes that's where the money is at, in the breeding, but there has to more to horse racing than just the money. Or am I missing point, and it is all about the money...?!?!
So it begs a question as to what future dos the National Hunt scene have...?? We have the biggest and best four days of jumps racing coming up at Cheltenham soon and one of the leading players in those 4 days is sort of putting it down a wee bit...???
If I am missing the point a bit then please let me know. I am no great thinker in the world of horse racing, my own selections will testify to that, but I am an avid fan of it and take a lot of joy out of watching it...
Please let me know what your thoughts are...
