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Any word on Brad? His ban must be nearly up now. Wondering if he will be welcomed back into the fold
Hope so. One of my favourite jockeys of all time. I know he got himself into trouble down the years, but in terms of his artistry in the saddle he had few peers. My favourite race was aboard Merry Gale in the 1985 Martell Cup – balls of steel, and sheer class.
Lucky to meet him at Kempton one Boxing Day when he was signing his book. Got in to a chat about some of his great rides, Merry Gale, Morley Street, and Kildimo’s Sun Alliance.
He was a true gent and happy to spend time talking racing with a complete stranger.
He has done his time, lets hope he can rise to the top of the game once again.
I’d be happy to see you Firefox if you were buying my book.
I’ve met the bloke too, seemed nice enough but that was just one meeting. I don’t judge people on one meeting. Met one trainer and he was abusive, but I don’t know what sought of day he had etc, unfair to judge him on that. And let’s face it, the Mafia are nice to people unless they want something (not that Brad is like them). Other things I know about him suggests it will be a risk letting him back.Let’s hope he never comes back, artist or no artist.
Mark
Value Is EverythingOnly my opinion, nothing more but if you think racing is straight then he should never be allowed back.
I think the ban expires in November, perhaps he will renew his Anfield connection and team up with Michael Owen.
The betting on Betfair for the Man Mood race would have been something to behold. Flip flopping favourites before the off and as soon as it turned in running Drumstick backed at 1.01 after 20 yards!
Firefox…the ‘Wayward Lad’ is a good read, but its full of protestations that he later contradicted in the court cases. You should ask for your money back.
I used to like Graham Bradley…rode my favourite NH horse Bregawn to glory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup……..Kieron Fallon anyone?
One’s been banned for failing a drugs test and the other for stopping racehorses. Totally different cases RP.
One’s been banned for failing a drugs test and the other for stopping racehorses. Totally different cases RP.
I never knew Brad failed a drugs test. When was this?
Someone I knew years ago who took me under his wing and took me racing at a time when none of my friends or family were interested turned to me one day and ‘if ever there is a bent jockey it’s Graham Bradley’. The words stuck in my mind and this was ages before all of the court cases.
In my limited time of membership of TRF, it would appear to me that the the forum splits into two camps. Those who think racing is clean and, imo, the majority who think skullduggery is afoot. FFIW, I’m in the latter camp as there’s huge monetary gains to be made. It’s been going on through the ages but is more high profile now as detecting techniques have eveloved, especially access to phone/betting records. However, knowing there may be mischief around just makes our sport all the more challenging and exciting.
Bradley, Fallon, Culhane, Winston et al have done/are doing their time and as talented people should be welcomed back to the sport.
Before anyone compares the situation to a bank robber working in a bank ….ITS NOT THE SAME.
sTU
In any activity where there is money to be made there will be opportunists who will try and take advantage of others for self gain.
A
nyone who believes racing is totally straight is living in cloud cuckoo land. Equally anyone who believes every race is bent and fixed also resides on another planet.The reality is the overwhelming majority of those involved in the sport are straight and honest. That includes all aspects of the sport – from stable staff and trainers, jockeys, bookmakers, punters and yes even journalists.
Equally there are people in all those areas who are happy to, for want of a better word, cheat. You only have to look at some of the recent postings about punting in this forum to see the level of moral turpitude some will stoop to.
I would also say there are plenty of sports which are worse than racing in terms of integrity – I never bet on greyhounds any more after what I have been told by trainers involved in the “sport”, especially at some of the smaller tracks.
Racing has improved what it is doing to try and drive out the cheats. Yes there have been some spectacular cock-up’s but there have also been some notable successes. On the whole if someone is caught cheating they know there is a strong chance they will be caught and punished.
Should they be allowed back into the sport once they have served their punishment. A difficult question there. “Natural justice” says once a punishment has been served then a clean start should be made.
However there is also the question of integrity and trust as well.
If an employee has, for example, defrauded a bank they work for and served their sentence. Would it be reasonable for the bank to take them back again. Could that person be trusted?
Or if a teacher is convicted for downloading indecent pictures of children. They serve their time. Would you be happy for them to teach your children afterwards, even though they have done their time. It is a question of trust again.
Likewise in racing, where integrity and trust is a keystone, if someone has betrayed that trust and, yes been punished, is it still right to allow them back into the industry?
Some will argue a bent jockey coming back to racing, and a paedophilic teacher going back to teaching are not the same thing. Aren’t they?
In the end it comes down to the same basic question – even though they have served their punishment, can they still be trusted in the same environment where whey previously betrayed a trust and where ongoing trust and integrity remains a key requirement?
If i have 10k on a horse which is stopped by a jockey I lose 10k. Also, I’d never see that cash again. In the case of the Bank Manager…at least i’d get my cash back!! There are controls in place for corrupt Bank Managers, there are no such financial insurances in place with corrupt jocks… I’d hang them out to dry.
maybe it’s because my first memory of racing was taking my dad’s bet money to the then illegal bookies up the road I’ve always thought of racing and betting as a bit of a game of trying to outwit people; I love it when someone tells me of a horse that has slipped through the radar screen [Look Here for example] that I can put my pennies on [and I mean pennies]. Gambling is a daft way of spending my hard earned money anyway and if I lose it it’s my fault for doing it in the first place. Look at Monty’s Pass in the Grand National a few years ago; running him right handed knowing that he would be a stone better going left handed…I look on racing more like a game of poker..knowing when someones bluffing, I guess. Pulling horses or doping them is a different matter however.
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