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I would like to see the original comments relating to this. The first inkling I had was a result of reading the defensive comments in Thornton’s column in the Racing Post which in my opinion the most tedious part of paper – hopefully, he has no future as either a writer or broadcaster – strange that he was ever employed in the first place given that he has spent so much time avoiding the press.
Why is it that jockeys are so thin-skinned when it comes to taking criticism? Life can never be a succession of plaudits whoever you are.
I have probably criticised A P more than anyone else on here – I may have started off the thread about Get Me Out Here. For me McCoy despite all the winners has not been same jockey since he picked up his first serious injury. As discussed before he has had a shortage of winners at the major Festivals, horses make too many mistakes under him and relatively speaking he is no more than an ordinary hold-up jockey. As for Get Me Out Of Here he has ridden a succession of poor races on the horse and should be replaced as he will hardly be choosing the horse ahead of Binocular and if he can’t get the horse to settle then someone should be given a try.
As for Lydia I have criticised some of the postings that border on hero worship but having said that I would far sooner listen to someone with an opinion rather than the likes of Bob Cooper whose questions are usually about as penetrating as what’s your favourite colour. Whatever, A P’s or any other jockeys reaction Lydia and others should continue to express their opinions and stimulate debate such as this – that should be one of the reasons why they are broadcasting.
- Total Posts 102
Well everyone must be online now then. I used to work for the Tote a few years ago and virtually every shop i see seems to be empty compared with a few years ago when we were doing 600-800 slips a day with 1000 on a sat.
My Local Laddies has gone down to around 150 slips a day.
The product imo has become far to diluted. Id bet that with two good cards today there wont be much damage done to turnover, just look at Bank Holidays now, the shops are empty.
Too much Mediocre racing, oh and if they don’t want to enter horses lets cut the number of Novices Chases so we get some decent sized fields.
Completely agree zilzal –
If there are fewer than 6 starters they should reduce the prize money to 85% of original purse for 5 runners, 70% if 4, 55% for 3 and 40% for races with 2 runners.
You might argue that such a move is unfair on those who do run but sometimes these races are no more than a means of subsidy for the top yards.
If they won’t run in them then I would argue there’s too many of them and they (the number of them) should be pruned significantly.
- Total Posts 102
Just to go off topic a bit more.
Can someone do something about those youtube pop ups
Loath to use the word ‘schooling’ but I’m sure most will agree that yer general early-mid season Novice Chase is essentially an ‘educational’ race, and many are run as such. The horses are raced ‘with an eye to the future’ and punters too should consider them as ‘formbook building’ races for use later on.
Therefore I for one have no problem with the preponderance of small fields; infact I actually welcome them as it allows the participants to concentrate on the jumping learning curve unencumbered by the proximity of a mass of other horses. That they may be poor ‘uncompetitive’ betting material is of no consequence; there’s likely to be some juicy handicap to get stuck into soon afterwards, so take five watch and learn.
By the same token though, given the educational aspect, a reduction in prize money – large or small fields – wouldn’t bother me, would be a good idea in these cash-strapped times, and in all likelihood wouldn’t unduly bother connections
And are small field chases necessarily as poor entertainment as they may be betting fodder? Not in my view. The memories of those young ‘good old fashioned chasing types’ of Gordon Richards leaping the big black drops of Haydock with two or three lesser individuals a distance behind remains vivid
An adept novice chaser leaping alone is a thrilling experience for those who love to see a majestic steeplechaser in action
Racing ain’t all about levy-yield and value-betting is it?
so good to see read to see so many non biased opinions on this thread . for me too many of our broadcasters bow down to racing jockey and trainers as if they are gods .
we sometimes forget about the horses who also perform day in day out and as newbury shows today its they who pull in the crowds .
I still don’t know what was said and by whom, so cant offer too much of an opinion. Tony McCoy has responded…
http://www.sportpost.com/apmccoy/My+ver … K+incident
What a pity the stewards didn’t call him in on the day, get the explanation from him that he gives on his blog, publish that on the BHA website and perhaps the situation would never have escalated to where it has at the moment.
Lets hope for the good of the sport they can sort it out between them.
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Perhaps it would have solved it Cav but look at it from the Steward’s point of view. You would have to be half dumb and blind not to see he was a beaten horse and therefor they had absolutely no reason to have him in.
I really glad AP responded as he did because it it is exactly what I expected him to say. It’s what is called the truth.
My bet is Lydia will smile say sorry about that Merry Xmas and they will both live happily ever after….as far away from each other as possible
Good article by Chris Cook in The Guardian that lays things out with actual quotes from the RUK staff involved.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 … uk-boycott
You’d have to say McCoy is being precious, selfish and derelict in his duty to the sport as things stand.
Almost incomparable as a sportsman, but he needs to get over himself on this one, imo.
The usual story with racing.
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Why dont racecourses leave an offical race open to the public at the end of the card were all horses like Getmeoutofhere who are going to be ridden with just an exercise canter in mind.
It’s obvious that prize money isn’t an issue for these jumps owners so there should be no prize money in this race, just like a little trial.
How about trainers and owners should report to newspapers and BHA that their horse is going to be tenderly ridden which can be put in papers for the morning and all media outlets so that the public aren’t being put away and can back the horse at their own risk
Good article by Chris Cook in The Guardian that lays things out with actual quotes from the RUK staff involved.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 … uk-boycott
You’d have to say McCoy is being precious, selfish and derelict in his duty to the sport as things stand.
Almost incomparable as a sportsman, but he needs to get over himself on this one, imo.
The usual story with racing.
If that Guardian report is accurate, then Tony McCoy might well think about apologising to the RUK commentators before this gets to be better known by the general public and somebody starts posting videos on YouTube. The RUK commentators seemed to be saying what the Racing Post and Raceform Update analysis said. They were saying that he was surprisingly lenient on the horse, they did not say there was no good reason for it, but that maybe the stewards should have asked what those reasons were. For McCoy to accuse them on his blog of saying that he cheated is very wide of the mark. He is a man with lots of strong, positive attributes. I hope his friends can persuade him that he has overreacted and to settle this in the right way.
This stupid little saga created by AP himself could have seen the maestro shoot himself right in the foot! Sports Personality of the year is a fine accolade for a professional sportsperson to achieve,it shows the general public appreciate your talents and nobody deserves that recognition more than AP! 15yrs at the top its taken to get here,about bloody time he got the recognition he deserves! However it only takes a few Chinese whispers to get back to the hierarchy at the beeb and come vote counting time its, 1, for Tony, 1,for the bin! He"s Even money fav and all of us who should be able to celebrate his victory with a successful wager will be hoping he"s not saying Ffs "Get me out of here" I"ve just come 2nd and we know how much he hates that!
Has anyone else noticed how many races entitled ‘Tony McCoy for BBC Sports Personality’ there are in the run-up to the event?
Has anyone else noticed how many races entitled ‘Tony McCoy for BBC Sports Personality’ there are in the run-up to the event?
Soon to be changed to Graeme Swann
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Good article by Chris Cook in The Guardian that lays things out with actual quotes from the RUK staff involved.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 … uk-boycott
You’d have to say McCoy is being precious, selfish and derelict in his duty to the sport as things stand.
Almost incomparable as a sportsman, but he needs to get over himself on this one, imo.
The usual story with racing.
If that Guardian report is accurate, then Tony McCoy might well think about apologising to the RUK commentators before this gets to be better known by the general public and somebody starts posting videos on YouTube. The RUK commentators seemed to be saying what the Racing Post and Raceform Update analysis said. They were saying that he was surprisingly lenient on the horse, they did not say there was no good reason for it, but that maybe the stewards should have asked what those reasons were. For McCoy to accuse them on his blog of saying that he cheated is very wide of the mark. He is a man with lots of strong, positive attributes. I hope his friends can persuade him that he has overreacted and to settle this in the right way.
Why? That article is journalism at it’s worst.
It”s not AP who should be the one apologising.
All this rubbish about AP being a master at kicking and shoving! Sure when a horse has a chance of winning. Something GMOOH clearly didn’t have going for him at Ascot.
If AP rode every horse like he did Witchita Lineman he’d be banned for life.
He rides dozens of horses who don’t get the McCoy treatment because thewy are beaten and he’s not some kind of non caring animal.
He’s won 5 times on this horse and he knew turning for home he had no horse under him something that became very clear on his next run when beaten out of sight by Menorah.
These p[eople were wrong to make a big thing out of this. There was no booing and shouting cheat from the crowd only them bumping their gums for the sake of it.
Too right AP got angry who wouldn’t. Damnn amatuers trying to tell him how to do his job and insultiung him with it.
The we got this expert adding things that weren’t said like (Bigger fish to fry) and guessing what goes on in the changing rooms. Why not add a bit of spice with (McCoy may also have had in mind that he is favourite for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award) pure junk jounalism at it’s worse. Sure AP will accept the award and feel good about it but he’d be a lot more concerned about Get Me Out Of Here and why he’s run so badly.
These people should look back and take a look at what their opinions on the day are worth now.
If they are honest with themsleves they will be thinking hell AP was right to do what he did as he clearly isn’t himself and something is amiss.
Ascot was a first class call by AP. They were wrong to question his decision and he knew in his heart of hearts he couldn’t have won no matter what he did.
I fully understand his anger and why he dislikes the media when they act like this.
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