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Just wonder how you qualify for "legendary" status in this sport?
Must be something to do with "Panorama hours" looking at the card for this heat…
Enough material for a box set of said documentary with this lot….
LOL
Cattermole and Motorshead aren’t the only ones applauding this lot’s return. It’s a Rabble Pension to a Brick that all the Pauls will be forming a guard of honour to applaude them back into the paddock.
Good article from a North Korean dissident in today’s Guardian…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 … arity-race
The comments from Channel 4’s sycophant in residence and the bookie rag’s cornflake man (cheers ricky) are shameful but entirely expected.
I wont be watching.
A Martin Bell figure, who we can all pledge donations to on the understanding that he/she takes Bradley’s place.
Dean McKeown, for me.
The contempt for the punter doesn’t stop at the ‘legends’ lining up.
Sixteen runners, with reserves…but what’s this? It’s the first classified stakes I’ve seen in ages. A handicap in all but name, yet that’ll be a fifth the odds first three.
Looking at William Hill’s overound on the race they are betting to 518% on the placebook. Dick Turpin was hung for less.
THEY really are rubbing our noses in it with this race.
I was chatting with a chum yesterday about the forthcoming Leger meeting
A Brian with a capital B: ex-miner; late 60s; small time punter; great enthusiast; adores racing; regular with-wife-and-dog-on-the-infield type racegoer; the bookies know;
you can’t win at this game
but won a tenner yesterday; what’s Dettori riding; Saturday yankee man.
Lovely fella who I find stimulating zeal-inducing company, and the archetypal recreational punter who keeps the whole shebang on the road
Like me he has a special place in his heart for the Leger meeting and unfailingly attends at least one of the days each year. ‘Definitely going on Wednesday, seen that legends race? Brilliant, Brad back, Francome, Eddery…can’t wait, by that lot could tell a few tales’ (knowing, resigned, jolly guffaw)
Up this way – and in all likelihood countrywide – Bradley (Brad to those who like to insinuate they ‘know’ him) arouses emotions at polar opposition: a vile crook who should be shot at dawn (serious, TRF-type punter), or loveable rogue who adds colour to the game, they don’t make ’em like that any more, mores the pity (fun, LBO-type punter)
You can’t win at this game but I love it
and the ‘characters’ in it
The Daley-dodginess of racing is both wanted and enjoyed by many a Brian –
you can’t win at this game
,
but it ain’t my fault
: a curious but expected rationalization
Such is the love-hate relationship generations have had with racing and betting: a sport that for so long was the preserve of Dukes and Dustmen on the perimeter, ignored and frowned upon by the broad middle ground
Racing is bent,
but I love it
: the clarion-call of my chum and his fellow Ds and D; who are growing old, fading away
Erase that tattoo burnt deep into the flesh of generations if you can RFC, BHA…
We all occupy the middle ground now
Fine words from Greg Wood
Just had a glance through the ‘legends’ race tomorrow and see dear ol’ Ernie Johnson is taking part. A hearty breakfast 7-7 jock who’ll be forever remembered for his short-head defeat aboard Rheingold behind that eye-watering Piggott finish on Roberto
when men were men
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A most unsavoury individual.
What depressing news.
What a horrible thing to say about someone you obviously have never met.
Brad was no anglel and everyone who new him new that but he’s one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet.
Back when Brad was riding there wasn’t a jockey in the north who didn’t have friends they would keep informed.
Why the fuss about Brad? Isn’t Johnny Francome friend of John Banks riding? or is that ok because he’s a TV celebrity.
Brad is a great charachter he paid his dues and I’m damn sure if a certain coke head, mad fighting, gambling flat jockey can get back in the saddle then so can a lovely guy like Brad.
I’ll go now cause your post is depressing me.
I’m struggling to see how Bradley qualifies as a "legend" on any count, Fist.
The BHA should hang their heads in shame. In no other sport would the red carpet be rolled out, and "legendary" status conferred upon disgraced individuals…
Looks like there really will be a guard of honour for the jocks in the race, with a roped-off pathway and escort for the jocks being put in place ‘amid fears they could be a target for disgruntled punters’ according to today’s RP.
When an individual has been proved to be corrupt, and worse still, a corrupting influence on others, I cannot understand how anyone can say they are a nice guy.
Yes, they may have surface charm but that is what makes them even more dangerous. Others are persuaded that what they are asked to do is ok, just a bit of harmless fun, everybody does it, and look what’s in it for you!!!
I agree that a proven corrupt individual should be given a second chance, but not within the arena where the corruption took place. By allowing them back in to the sport with their previous behaviour forgiven, forgotten, whatever; the wrong message is being sent to others. It’s incomprehensible that the racing authorities cannot see this.- Total Posts 17716
I for one found myself unexpectedly moved by the sight of so many great and interesting jockeys entering the parade ring again, to shake hands with the greatest of them all.
In the race itself, I couldn’t take my eyes off Pat Eddery, never having thought to get the privilege of seeing him race ride again in this life. What style, what rhythm, what balance! And what grace in accepting defeat once it was certain.
For once, a
bon bouche
which added to the main meat of the day rather than diluting it.
Greg Wood, you have a heart the size of a lemon pip.
Greg Wood’s article was bang on the money imo – and I don’t how see his views contradict your emotions at seeing the few genuine legends that were in action today.
Karl Burke, erm I mean Mrs Karl Burke, a fitting winner of this race.
I’m sure a lot of money will have been raised for charidee from this contrived 16 runner non-hcap. Bookies betting to 9% per runner on the place book. I believe Dick Turpin was hung for less.
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Karl Burke, erm I mean Mrs Karl Burke, a fitting winner of this race.
I’m sure a lot of money will have been raised for charidee from this contrived 16 runner non-hcap. Bookies betting to 9% per runner on the place book. I believe Dick Turpin was hung for less.
I thought it was generally accepted that Dick Turpin made his money by stealing sixteen horses – guided by a mysterious insider known only as Graham of Bradley – and then forcing terrified passers-by to bet at 10% a runner, 1/3 odds each-way the first four, before pulling Samuel Gregory’s Shetland out at the last minute.
I must have read Ainsworth’s pop-induced re-work.
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Greg Wood’s article was bang on the money imo – and I don’t how see his views contradict your emotions at seeing the few genuine legends that were in action today.
His "views" were, as usual, parsimonious, negative, carping and small-minded. His plain, ponderous style matches those views. He’s as bad a writer as he is a journalist.
Grauniad Wood is a pure example of human weed. The day he conveys any positive joy in the sport out of which he makes a nice living, thank you, without at least a seasoning of his sickly brand of diluted, sanctimonious and politic bile, is the day when I will eat my panama hat.
If there were to be a Booker Prize for Raining on Parades he’d win it every year.
I apologise for understating the man’s iniquity.
What is it with some of you?
We have a proven corrupt jockey who associated with a proven corrupt drug barron, who had a list of other jockeys and trainers who were also his friends.
Very fortunately for the sport of racing, this drug barron kept his mouth shut during his trial in court. He had a character reference from a trainer and comedian but was convicted and sent to prison.
Surely the racing authorities must realise that allowing proven corrupt individuals back in the fold only rakes up memories of what has past. And it is no good slating journalists who comment on this.
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