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Agree with most of whats been said, a few of my own.
# Blow up Ludlow racecourse and spend the insurance money on new stands and better prizemoney for Hereford. Their ground has been top class all season and they deserve better racing.
# Ban Betfair and up the subscription to RUK, and make ATR £100 a month.
Perhaps people will then actually go racing and support their local tracks.
# Stop all this still claiming at 30 business. If they werent good enough to ride out their claim they never will be, go learn to be a farrier and let a promising up and comer have the rides.
# Have all bumpers on the AW, perhaps on the end of flat cards. Nothing worse then seeing young horses being hammered on very soft or very hard ground. Some big flat trainers are actively seeking out AW maidens for their 2yos – they know its a better introduction, jumping will soon cop on. Pro jockeys wont fancy Lingfield for 1 ride, so make them all for amateurs/conditionals.
# Ban amateurs over 25 from riding against pros. They are taking the bread and butter from jockeys struggling to get a living. Stick to ammo races or buy a pointer, simple.The Cheekster
For a start you seem to forget K Fallon did not ride out his claim.
As for "blowing up" Ludlow why the aggression? If you think it’s not worthy of being a racecourse simply say close it or use another suitable expression.[/b]The ‘blowing up’ bit was meant tongue in cheek, did not mean to come across aggresively.
Didnt know about Fallon, too young!
You have to admit, he is just one of many, and my comments would stand for most of the rest.
Plus, he obviously made it despite not being able to claim what he should have.
Why should todays jockeys have it any easier?# Have all bumpers on the AW, perhaps on the end of flat cards. Nothing worse then seeing young horses being hammered on very soft or very hard ground……….
Most Bumper horses would be 5yo or 6yo, I would imagine. I’m no vet, but I would have thought running 2yo’s on quick summer ground might do more damage?
Perhaps we should ban all 2yo races, and run all 3yo+ Flat races as novelty, no-betting heats, at the start of Jumps cards??
To make the spectacle interesting, the Flat jockeys could be made to wear It’s A Knockout style foam costumes, with their saddles attached to the starting stalls by elastic.
“Oh how we laughed when Ryan Moore got ‘the yank’ mere feet from winning”
Personally, I think this is a winner, and I will be submitting it Edward Gillespie forthwith.
Flat fans should be concerned. Gillespie will do anything that will increase cash-flow at HQ.
# Ban amateurs over 25 from riding against pros. They are taking the bread and butter from jockeys struggling to get a living. Stick to ammo races or buy a pointer, simple.
This is anticompetitive and, for as long as you have the likes of Clare Dyson, Phil York and Dr Pritchard riding their own string, likely to present too many headaches to implement.
In addition, I personally wouldn’t want to suggest that the continued engagement of, for example, Tom Greenall in races against pros is to the detriment of the sport. There are good amateurs and there are bad ones – I don’t think it’s in anyone’s interests to drum the latter out of the game if it means risking doing the same to the former.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
# Stop all this still claiming at 30 business. If they werent good enough to ride out their claim they never will be, go learn to be a farrier and let a promising up and comer have the rides.
This allowance (to enable claiming from beyond the age of 26, to be precise) was only introduced about five years ago, so the likelihood of that being revoked any time soon must rate as slim, especially as it appears to have the desired effect of reversing (at least in part) the trend of declining numbers of jump jockeys.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
# Have all bumpers on the AW, perhaps on the end of flat cards. Nothing worse then seeing young horses being hammered on very soft or very hard ground.
Not too bad a call, and something Lingfield does at all its jumps meetings as a matter of course. Alternatively, might there be an argument for having bumpers as the opening race on a all-turf jumps card?
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
I dont think drumming them out of the sport is the way forward.
Tom Greenall is in interesting case. Very competent, good enough to mix it with the pros.
A term that is commonly used is ‘genuine amateur’ which he generally isnt. He could be, i’m guessing earninig a living isnt on the list of his priorities.
The others you mention are well entitled, and competent enough, to ride their own horses. The problem I have is that there are too many jockeys struggling to make a living, and those rides would make all the difference.
In addition to that I think that the amateur championships should be restricted to winners in amateur races. That gives all the amateurs a fair chance, not just the ones riding for top yards.
Of course this would all be simple if there were more amateur races, which isnt going to happen until the bookmakers stop dictating the sport.
Yes it may have stopped the declining number of jump jockeys, but just how many of them have ridden multiple winners since the new rule?
The one present in my mind is Derek Laverty, if only he joined the stable he is with now a few years ago he would have long made it by now. He could prove to be an exception to my way of thinking, and I hope he does. Saying that, I still disagree with no hopers taking 1/2 rides a week off up and coming pilots.
The solution may be to take a leaf out of Irelands book and make it easier to revert to amateur. These lads carry on for their love for the game, if they could turn back amateur more easily it would be the best thing for National Hunt racing and point to pointing.# Have all bumpers on the AW, perhaps on the end of flat cards. Nothing worse then seeing young horses being hammered on very soft or very hard ground……….
Most Bumper horses would be 5yo or 6yo, I would imagine. I’m no vet, but I would have thought running 2yo’s on quick summer ground might do more damage?
I think to simliarise between bumper horses and 2yo maidens is a mistake. A 2yo flat bred horse is trained to the minute and is more skeletally developed then your average bumper horse. They have been in trianing for months and months, and go in maidens to win(well most of the time
). Bumper horses have been broken in later, and go in bumpers green for experience (yes I know some yards farm them, but I am talking generally). Everyone knows a 4yo bumper horse is more likely to suffer with sore shins then a flat bred youngster.
The distances are so different, I know they are only relative to breeding, but 2m is a long way to go for a green, backward type. To do that on fast or soft ground places a huge strain on the anatomy and can be avoided.
Watching a soft ground bumper, where the fittest and best win, and the rest are strung out (hence no company, not learninig anything, and finding it hard) is no joy.
I would be interested to know how many bumpers were run on good ground last season, if anyone is bored enough to look them up!I would be interested to know how many bumpers were run on good ground last season, if anyone is bored enough to look them up!
…or indeed if anyone can differentiate between good ground meaning "good ground", or good ground meaning "might have been good ground at the start of the meeting but was poached to buggery by the time of the bumper", which would only serve to strengthen what is a very decent point you’re making.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
The problem I have is that there are too many jockeys struggling to make a living, and those rides would make all the difference.
…Which sounds crackers, when you think about it, at a time when there are more races, and more horses in training, than at any other time I can recall. Imposing a limit on the number of races in which amateurs, or amateurs / conditionals of a certain age, may participate is one take on things, but isn’t there also an argument for capping the number of rides that ALL jockeys from McCoy down to Millington may be booked for per week, month, season, whatever?
It strikes me that the more powerful racing agents hoovering up dozens of rides at a time for their clients squeezes out the aspiring young talent just as much as the presence of the amateurs or journeymen, if not more so.
Moreover, the champion jump jockey title has seldom represented a contest over the last 20-25 years, with whosoever has access to the most powerful stable du jour almost guaranteed of the title as long as a lengthy injury can be avoided. If all jocks were limited to, say, a maximum of 300 to 400 rides per season (but the jockey’s fee increased to offset any potential loss of earnings), I’d anticipate a more interesting contest.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
I would be interested to know how many bumpers were run on good ground last season, if anyone is bored enough to look them up!
…or indeed if anyone can differentiate between good ground meaning "good ground", or good ground meaning "might have been good ground at the start of the meeting but was poached to buggery by the time of the bumper", which would only serve to strengthen what is a very decent point you’re making.
gc
Im not sure id agree with running them as the first race. The argument against is, that the horses that are actually jumping need good ground more. Landing in false/churned patches places unnecessary strain on a horse and causes accident. Although less than perfect ground conditions is hard on a youngster, it is less likely to cause serious injury then jumping on it.
Fully agree with official going statements, quite often a mockery.The problem I have is that there are too many jockeys struggling to make a living, and those rides would make all the difference.
…Which sounds crackers, when you think about it, at a time when there are more races, and more horses in training, than at any other time I can recall. Imposing a limit on the number of races in which amateurs, or amateurs / conditionals of a certain age, may participate is one take on things, but isn’t there also an argument for capping the number of rides that ALL jockeys from McCoy down to Millington may be booked for per week, month, season, whatever?
It strikes me that the more powerful racing agents hoovering up dozens of rides at a time for their clients squeezes out the aspiring young talent just as much as the presence of the amateurs or journeymen, if not more so.
Moreover, the champion jump jockey title has seldom represented a contest over the last 20-25 years, with whosoever has access to the most powerful stable du jour almost guaranteed of the title as long as a lengthy injury can be avoided. If all jocks were limited to, say, a maximum of 300 to 400 rides per season (but the jockey’s fee increased to offset any potential loss of earnings), I’d anticipate a more interesting contest.
gcProbably so, espeically when you compare to the flat title. IS never a foregone conclusion at the start of every season, and the ‘runners’ are largely different every single year.
Do you think the main difference is that while jumping is dominated by just a few ultra powerful stables, with a lot of money behind them? The flat trainers are on more of a level playing field. Largely due to money being all over the place, but maybe also down to the fact less ‘facilities’ are needed, in the grand scheme of things.
I dont think I would like to see all jockeys restricted, and indeed if they were I think the NH jockey table would still read the same. Surely the ‘romanticism’ (ie, when the small man takes on the big boys, be it jockey/owner/trainer) of jumping is all part of the appeal?
Perhaps another solution is, for those trainers employing conditionals, is that they should be provided with a minimum of rides per year.Do you think the main difference is that while jumping is dominated by just a few ultra powerful stables, with a lot of money behind them?
Almost certainly so, which is why limiting jumps riders to so many meetings per week, rather than rides, would never work – there’s little point in telling whoever Pipe or Nicholls’ stable jockey that he can only ride in seven meetings per week, when his powerful stable could probably still provide him with up to 40 decent rides over those meetings (and if not them themselves, then whatever good outside rides the agents could find).
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
This question is too broad and so I am going to confine my comments to improving racing for Owners.
1. Owners recover only 22% of their costs by way of prizemoney. This is by some way the lowest in the mature racing world. This figure is getting worst as Betfair draws more and more punters away from traditional bookmakers. To overcome this I would make the Exchanges licence every one of their punters as a bookmaker at a rate of £80 per licence with the proceeds going direct to the prizemoney fund ( not the racecourse!). The exchanges would recover their money by increasing the commission rate. If I am right Racing would benefit by around £20 million per year and the commission rate would rise from 5 to 6.5%
2. Racecourses must provide better and separate facilities for owners. A couple of years ago I had the 2nd favourite for the Ebor and to make a day of it also entered a horse in the sprint handicap. Total cost of entry fees was over £2000. When we got to York from Cornwall the owners accomodation was so overcrowded that despite our advanced age my wife and I could not find a seat anywhere on the course . This is a thoroughly normal way for raccourses to treat owners and makes it almost impossible to bring guests for the day and give them the day out that any host would expect to give.
If racing wants to attract owners it must at least make them feel wanted even if they cannot increase prizemoney.[/b]
The majority of what’s been said above may be valid, but seems to be designed to improve interest amongst existing race goers, in particular the real enthusiasts. The only way British racing’s going to improve is by appealing to non race goers. To do this they need to look at the overall product and their competitors for leisure time, particularly in the sports field. IMO, to do this they need to:
1. Radically improve racing’s image. Get rid of the perception of the sport being bent. I think they’re doing a decent job of this to an extent, but they really need to stamp on this one further.
2. Improve facilities and value for money – the majority of tracks have rotten facilities and offer shocking value for money – this needs to be reversed by some major investment.
3. Really market the sport – promote the big name, charismatic jockeys and trainers (yes, more Frankie unfortunately). Pick a target audience (families being the obvious one, although the stag weekend/large groups of lads market is, sadly, another) and play to them.
4. Promote championship type competitions – the stayers one mentioned above sounded a good idea, whilst the Shergar Cup thing at Ascot is still a missed opportunity IMO. Regional competitions, or tournament style events (qualifiers run at regional courses leading to a final at a major track) have potential as well
5. Get rid of the clowns presenting on Channel 4.
6. Reduce the number of fixtures and tracks to make racing a bit more scarce
7. Offer more incentives for foreign horses to run in Britain.
8. Target big events on weekends where they don’t clash with other sporting fixtures.
Much of the above will probably annoy a lot of the enthusiasts of course…
From a geek’s point of view (i.e. what would improve my experience)
1. Proper distances reported
2. Proper, scientific reports of going leading up to, and on the day of, the fixture
3. Horse weights being published before and after races
4. Requiring trainers to account for runs "below par"
5. Stewards acting more like French stewards with regard to decisions of interference
6. A regime to stop trainers and owners taking the piss out of the handicap system
7. A new system for vet certificates when a horse is withdrawn to stop 8 runner races suddenly becoming 7 runner. Perhaps stopping horses withdrawn running within the next 7 days?
). Bumper horses have been broken in later, and go in bumpers green for experience (yes I know some yards farm them, but I am talking generally). Everyone knows a 4yo bumper horse is more likely to suffer with sore shins then a flat bred youngster. 
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