An Overview of The 2009 Flat Season

[doyley]

Hello,

(1) Firstly, SEA OF STARS has been superb, a joy to watch, and, a contradiction in terms, almost unique. The horse did not get the respect or media attention it actually deserved (a point covered at 3). however, the bickering about it’s rating is highly subjective and being a staunch BRIGADIER GERRARD man I will always call any rating into question.

(2) What we (the UK) suspected but dare not admit, the USA probably do have better horses and training methods than we have!! I think what we seen from their "tokens" at RA that if a will, and the relaxation of ridiculous drugs rules, was prevelant, the UK could have the best racing in the world….let ’em come.

(3) The demise of BBC Coverage..absolute B&S&TArd*

(4) Corruption: I am joyous in saying that I visited over twenty tracks this year, and I am NH man. What stuck firmly in my mind was the acceptance of results.
There were horses’ losing when they really shouldn’t, not without the proverbial fight. Conversely, there were horses that really shouldn’t have won. But most disturbing was the stewards, at primarily Northern tracks done absolutely nothing. In fact, if RUK hadn’t made a fuss at one track, they wouldn’t have left their champagne?? I give examples at Point 5
Over my 40 years in racing, I know corription exists, but annoyingly 20 years ago we wished we had technology to "spot" it, we have and it doesn’t make the blind bit of difference. Very perplexing…But an average punter will GAIN by corruption than not!!!

(5)Prices: Yep, £26.00 into Chester on a Friday, six races, one a Gentlemans race…£11.00 in the Haydock Cheap end, bag searched, and insufficient bar staff, pay the extra into Tatts. and get your head kicked in.
Newmarket, £45.00, Riot Police on the approach.
Stop Press: Breeders Cup, Anita, $5.00, $25.00 "members". Need I say anymore?

(6) Sprints, including 6f: Group Races ?? NO ! NO ! NO !
These ludicrous races, drummed up by the media, obviously sponsored by the bookies build these races, any bloody sprint, into an extravaganza.
A sprint "champion" can only be that at the same track and conditions, thankfully the UK has a variety of tracks whereby a short distance racer cannot possibly replicate it’s performance from a previous venue, unless helped by an artificial means called a handicapper.I believe most the readers accept that, but these races are targetted by our bookie and corruption friends.
I fear 2 and 3 furlong races will be introduced in the future. Anything less than 7f is a joke and is not racing. Likewise anything over 1.6f is a circus.

(7) Trainers/Owners: Nothing changed there, all to a man/woman; aresholes.

(8) Pissed now, probably should have more points, but I think I have upset the Flat boys and JTS, and my daughter is getting married on Saturday. She will be led by me accompanied by "All you need is Love", the latter being attached to the horses we owned, and , let me check, not one was a ******* sprinter!!

regards,

doyley

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