- This topic has 130 replies, 35 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 6 months ago by
.
- Posts
gets four day ban
Surprise surprise.
Will still be able to ride at Listowel and in the Kerry National. Probably won’t miss much
“In a hearing which lasted over an hour, Russell was emotional at times in outlining the impact the controversy has had on himself and his family and he was critical of media coverage describing some of it as “in my eyes disgraceful.” – Yes Davy some also thought your antics disgraceful.
“Russell outlined the circumstances of what occurred before Kings Dolly’s race and the horse’s behaviour. He stressed he didn’t punch the animal in the head but on a soft part of her neck. The panel said the blow did appear to have been delivered towards the neck of the horse.” – That’s alright then
amazing the amount of vitriol been posted about this incident. Ok, although it has not been admitted (which would be my biggest issue) it seems fairly clear russell lost his temper and did something inappropriate. Nobody or animal was hurt….he’s got a 4 day ban now so hopefully this can be forgotten about. how many of you have had a dog who did something naughty and you gave it a clip? There’s people calling for lifetime bans and the media are just all over this bandwagon and going completely over the top. Cases of domestic abuse and cheating in sport go unheralded compared to this incident. ridiculous IMO.
“amazing the amount of vitriol been posted” – You might want to take a quiet moment to ask yourself why you are amazed, and why many people have been outraged. It is quite probable that you think the incident was a minor issue, but a majority think it was shockingly bad.
“nobody or animal was hurt” – are you sure that a punch to the soft part of a horse’s neck does not hurt or even cause damage.
“so hopefully this can be forgotten about” – most people will never forget that Davy Russell punched a restrained animal, since it was done in anger as retribution. There is no element of sense in using a punch as a training aid whether the recipient is a human or some other animal. It is a common heritage of the multi-connected tribes of these islands that people are greatly offended by those in a stronger position visiting their anger upon those in a weaker position. A lot of people will not forget how inept the Turf Club has been in understanding what was going on and therefore reacting in a completely inappropriate manner.
“give a naughty dog a clip” – if you put in there the word “punch” instead of “clip” it offers a better comparison, because a clip might have an element of training in it. A punch never does.
“domestic abuse goes unheralded” – In the latest yearly figures I can find, in Scotland alone over 1,000 people people were jailed for domestic abuse, and a member of the Scottish parliament was jailed for 12 months. There are special domestic violence courts in England that make it easier for victims and witnesses (often women and children) to come forward and give evidence. The Crown Prosecution’s stated policy is to prosecute in court all cases where sufficient evidence is available and no lesser measure will be taken. In any case, if you feel that domestic abuse is treated too cursorily, it is no excuse to let other matters such as this one to be also treated in an uncaring manner.
“amazing the amount of vitriol been posted” – You might want to take a quiet moment to ask yourself why you are amazed, and why many people have been outraged. It is quite probable that you think the incident was a minor issue, but a majority think it was shockingly bad.
“nobody or animal was hurt” – are you sure that a punch to the soft part of a horse’s neck does not hurt or even cause damage.
“so hopefully this can be forgotten about” – most people will never forget that Davy Russell punched a restrained animal, since it was done in anger as retribution. There is no element of sense in using a punch as a training aid whether the recipient is a human or some other animal. It is a common heritage of the multi-connected tribes of these islands that people are greatly offended by those in a stronger position visiting their anger upon those in a weaker position. A lot of people will not forget how inept the Turf Club has been in understanding what was going on and therefore reacting in a completely inappropriate manner.
“give a naughty dog a clip” – if you put in there the word “punch” instead of “clip” it offers a better comparison, because a clip might have an element of training in it. A punch never does.
“domestic abuse goes unheralded” – In the latest yearly figures I can find, in Scotland alone over 1,000 people people were jailed for domestic abuse, and a member of the Scottish parliament was jailed for 12 months. There are special domestic violence courts in England that make it easier for victims and witnesses (often women and children) to come forward and give evidence. The Crown Prosecution’s stated policy is to prosecute in court all cases where sufficient evidence is available and no lesser measure will be taken. In any case, if you feel that domestic abuse is treated too cursorily, it is no excuse to let other matters such as this one to be also treated in an uncaring manner.
Well answered and spot on.
Best Wishes
SilkThe point that more heat has been given to this than some horrendously more serious assaults such as domestic abuse to me is a valid one. This incident has given every Tom dick and harry to say how horrible it is. I can see why those in racing and those dealing with a horse weighing 1200lbs are saying it has been blown totally out of proportion. The horse I doubt even flinched and it felt like a flicked ear. This is not defending what Russell did but as animal cruelty goes this was surely at the bottom end of the scale. Perception is everything is this media age and I’m sure Russell now realises his bad error of judgement.
Davy Russell is indeed a superb horseman as he has shown many times but surely what he did was no worse than horses getting whipped 7 or 8 time in a driving finish and getting booted in the belly to get it going. Amazing how so many are experts on horse welfare. I’d hate to see the reaction if actual cruelty occurred.My issue here is not the actual cruelty but the jockey taking out his anger on the horse. This was done in view of cameras as well, so it begs the question “what does on behind the scenes”. Apart from the anger issues that need to be addressed, he seemed to show no remorse or realise he had done anything wrong, at least initially.
Unfortunately this has done a lot of harm to the sport and reinforced a lot of bad stereotypes amongst the non-initiated. As a former equine owner and regular rider it looked ugly to me, I would be reluctant to allow him near a horse of mine.I think some Russel supporters are trying to have it both ways. If it was barely a flick to the horse and he hardly felt it then Russell’s argument that it was needed to bring the horse ‘under control’ is even dafter than it already sounds.
Russell looks shell shocked and I have plenty of sympathy for him and his family when it comes to the internet keyboard psychos threatening murderous revenge, but he shouldn’t blame the press. And he shouldn’t blame social media in general – most of the criticism I’ve seen has been well balanced.
The blame lies primarily with Russell although a fair lump of it goes to Egan and the Turf Club for their gross misreading and mishandling.
The point that more heat has been given to this than some horrendously more serious assaults such as domestic abuse to me is a valid one. This incident has given every Tom dick and harry to say how horrible it is. I can see why those in racing and those dealing with a horse weighing 1200lbs are saying it has been blown totally out of proportion. The horse I doubt even flinched and it felt like a flicked ear. This is not defending what Russell did but as animal cruelty goes this was surely at the bottom end of the scale. Perception is everything is this media age and I’m sure Russell now realises his bad error of judgement.
Davy Russell is indeed a superb horseman as he has shown many times but surely what he did was no worse than horses getting whipped 7 or 8 time in a driving finish and getting booted in the belly to get it going. Amazing how so many are experts on horse welfare. I’d hate to see the reaction if actual cruelty occurred.This attitude is exactly why racing is struggling to attract new people. It’s like ‘this is our club and we don’t want any outsiders in’. Presumably you know from experience that when you received a full blown fist in the back of your head that it felt like someone was flicking your ear. I’m no animal rights activist and I believe that jockeys should to be allowed to use the whip, but to compare an attack out of blind anger and rage on a stationery horse to being whipped in a driving finish is absurd.
My issue here is not the actual cruelty but the jockey taking out his anger on the horse. This was done in view of cameras as well, so it begs the question “what does on behind the scenes”. Apart from the anger issues that need to be addressed, he seemed to show no remorse or realise he had done anything wrong, at least initially.
Unfortunately this has done a lot of harm to the sport and reinforced a lot of bad stereotypes amongst the non-initiated. As a former equine owner and regular rider it looked ugly to me, I would be reluctant to allow him near a horse of mine.More good points.
Also there is a big difference in domestic abuse, or otherwise not in public view. Most would hesitate if televised, for just a few minutes. If everybody sees the intent you need to come down on it. It is the Great Power of the Example. “if he can hit a horse improperly in public and remain unpunished, then how bad can it be?”Best Wishes
SilkDavy Russell is under the misapprehension that the world should adapt to his beliefs and sentiments.
I never worked that way before, it doesn’t work that way now and it will never work that way in the future.
The media, be it formal, or social, will react to news stories. Much of it will be unpleasant at times, but when every person with an internet connection can post their unfettered and largely un-moderated opinion, you have to accept that it won’t make good reading.
The social media is not going to change to be what Russell wants to read and you have to accept that fact. The secret to avoiding negative comment is to conduct yourself in a befitting manner. If you are arrogant enough to think that you can get away with the “Nothing out of the ordinary” and “Non-Racing people don’t understand” attitude, then suck up the negative comments and get on with it.
I imagine Kevin Blake must be bereft that his heroes, who were giving two fingers to the soft Brits and those criticising the lack of punishment, have now caved in and handed out a ban. His stance was one of the most naive I read regarding the whole affair. Not a clue about how important image is in modern society. Stuck in the Dark Ages Kevin.
I read somewhere that an “Outsider” was impressed by the way the officials handled the Russell affair. I can only assume they are “Outsiders” to the term “Balls Up” as well.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
I think four days is a disgrace and laughable!!
I think the image of horse racing has been tarnished and if I was an owner I wouldn’t let him anywhere near a horse I owned.At no point do I deny his skills as a jockey are in question regarding riding a race but surely his judgement in controlling an unruly horse has to be brought to question!!
And I certainly don’t think domestic violence or any other kind of unreported or unpunished violence should be used as a comparison. This incident has to have been or should have been dealt with as an individual case.
Its taken me two days since the outcome of the appeals panel hearing to calm down sufficiently to post (well, actually, I’ve been away!) so the comments above have pretty well covered everything.
Its another cop out by the Irish Turf Club, the RSPCA says it would expect a more severe penalty in future similar cases. Any longer ban here would have made the positions of the members of the original panel untenable!
Russell sinks lower in my opinion because he still denies any wrongdoing, any angry intent, and has rounded on the media which merely reflected public opinion and was right to highlight the issue. Both panels, he conveniently chooses to ignore, found him guilty of bringing the game into disrepute. Even if the horse wasn’t hurt he has injured racing’s image and its bid to attract new fans, Russell and his old pals in the industry seemingly fail to grasp that. Its staggering that the likes of Mick Fitzgerald, who now occupies a prominent role in the sport’s media and is in prime position to foster racing (which if becoming more popular would boost the contents of his own wallet too), would downplay the original incident and leap to Russell’s defence.
For Russell to brand the media coverage as unacceptable and disgraceful and say his family has suffered press intrusion is in itself shameful and the latest attempt in his persistent crusade to present himself as the victim in all this. His family were merely mentioned which is standard background in an article on a well known professional sportsperson, his public status no doubt being something which his family have on many occasions benefited from and enjoyed. What would he have called the media coverage if his name was Colleen Rooney!
As in everything these days there seems to be no middle ground on the incident. And as is normal nowadays anybody whose opinion differs from the majority is castigated. As a huge animal lover with the most adorable pet I find people’s way over the top generalisations baffling. Is everybody an expert on whether the horse felt what happened. I doubt it. Of course I deplore any animal cruelty but to call for lifetime bans and the witchunt of Russell and his family is a way ott reaction. We all know it was wrong,it’s bad on all levels but let’s have some common sense here or is only the opinion of the baying masses to be valid.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.