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An eloquently penned and informative response as per usual Joni. Very well put!
As an aside I had the honor many years ago of doing a little work on Sir Henry’s rose garden. If I remember correctly I think it was by way of Sheik Hamdam (Whose Warren Towers house we were building at the time.) repaying Sir Henry for the use of some adjacent ground and free passage through Warren Place.
I didnt thank you for this Hammy and for constantly sticking up for me! Much appreciated mate!!
Can’t believe you are taking all the credit for his rose garden though!!!
Oh yes, without my expertise Sir Henry would have been limited to Daffodils.
I was absolutely amazed to read that, even with Frankel appearing for his gallop, or "faux race" as it has been dubbed on here, the crowd at Newmarket on Saturday was still only a paltry 8,510.
The course seemed to be pleased that at least it was better than the 2011 figure of 7,223.
When you consider that there were two Group One races and the Cambridgeshire, as well as Frankel, it seems positively miniscule for a crowd at a major meeting.
I would have thought the place might be packed to the rafters but obviously not.
The Friday evening meetings, with the concerts and Tommo, seem to be much more popular, it seems, than heavyweight, high-quality meetings there.
Sadly some people would think a defeat in the Arc
would
detract
from Frankel’s "
great
"ness. As earlier threads demonstrate. All the xxxx about Frankel not being so "great" because he hadn’t
proved
himself at 1m4f.
You can’t have it both ways Brigadier.
Some people may think that but I don’t. Over 1 mile and 10f he’s proved beyond any doubt he’s a brilliant racehorse and has nothing left to prove to anyone in those divisions. Even if he didn’t get 12f I’d still be of the same opinion.
The only point I’m making and it has nothing to do with knocking Frankel
is it will for me forever be a shame we never got to see him over 12f and imo he’d win the Arc.
In fairness I think it is difficult not to feel a bit that way and I’m sure lots of racing fans feel the same way too. I suppose the point is though that a man who has a brilliant knowledge of and empathy with horses doesn’t agree with them.
Take a leaf out of the World Cup, Ryder Cup, European Championships, Racing as a sport is going to have to promote one of its events on a 2-4 year interval to generate the mass audience and fever pitch.
Fine post MrUnoHugh.
I was one of many who thought that Frankel should’ve gone to compete in the Arc. I truly believe he’d have won it too because the horse is a gifted one and a sublime talent that we’ll never get to see the bottom of. All of his races this year, to me, indicates that he’d stay 12 furlongs … particularly his searing romp in the Juddmonte International.
That said, the Arc isn’t the ‘be all and end all of Flat races’ and the Champion Stakes is a terrific contest for Frankel to finish on.
I’ll truly miss Frankel after he retires. What makes Frankel a little bit more special for me is the fact that my middle name is Frank and my first is Rob. Makes it like a honour
As one of those who spotted Frankel first with a close friend of mine given me information on how good he was months before his debut I’d like to say it’s been a fantastic journey.
My personal opinion is that Sir Henry Cecil has trained the horse impeccably in the three years we’ve been able to watch this great horse. I’m in no doubt that if Frankel had the temperament to run over a mile and half he would have but it’s down to the great man who trains him to use his wealth of knowledge and experience in standing by his opinion in batting away those who thought they knew a better campaign and as Sintra would say "Cecil done it his way".
Henry probably knew this would be the last great horse he could quite possibly train given they come around every 20-30 years but what we can learn from his approach to Frankel is that Cecil has trained him right, trained him to the book and has mapped out an emphatic journey that we’ve all eventually become a part off.
I think that the fact QIPCO signed a multi-million pound deal to host Champions day would have always meant that Frankel was going to end up on this day through persuasion or what ever means and who could blame them? the amount they’ve given this sport it’s a fantastic way to create history for their new Champions day and who knows, 5-10 years down the line the Arc may trail in the shadows of The Champions Stakes in the flat calender.
Excellent post. Funnily enough I agree!
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
Take a leaf out of the World Cup, Ryder Cup, European Championships, Racing as a sport is going to have to promote one of its events on a 2-4 year interval to generate the mass audience and fever pitch.
That won’t work with Horse Racing. The careers of the horses are too short to make that format viable. Football has always been the big sport and the format has always been a four year gap between tournaments. The Ryder Cup used to be a non-event, as the USA won almost every time. The secret of it’s success has been the expanding to a European Team and actually becoming a contest. When you get right down to it, much of the appeal is the "Putting it up the Yanks", "USA, USA, USA" patriotic/jingoistic fervour. Horse Racing is pretty much a niche, Marmite sport where very few of the general public could name, or care about, races outside of the Grand National and The Derby. Even many of those who venture into the betting offices would rather place a bet on Computer Roulette or virtual Snail racing. We already have a "World Cup" in Horse Racing but I would struggle to name many of those who have won it and it is far from the creme de la creme of the racing world. It is a sport that divides the nation in many ways and I don’t think it will ever be as popular as some might want it to be. The very fact that it needs broken down pop stars to pull in the crowds tells its own story. It is what it is.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
Cannot disagree strongly enough – The Champion Stakes is an excellent race but it will NEVER be more important the The Arc.
Tradition will out over Money once in a while. To me the year Pride won at HQ summed things up – its an after-thought / consolation for Arc also-rans.
Tradition will out over Money once in a while.
Tradition? Champion Stakes first run in 1877, Arc first run in 1920.
Money? Champion Stakes worth £1.3m, Arc worth 4m Euro.
Of course The Arc is the more prestigious race but your assertion that it will always be so is, in my opinion, flawed as you can know no such thing.
The fact is we now have a Champions Day that is worthy of the name and the Champion of the World is going to be there. You may not like it but that is the way it is and the fact that tickets were sold out almost immediately tells you that many people don’t share your opinion of it as an afterthought.
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
I was absolutely amazed to read that, even with Frankel appearing for his gallop, or "faux race" as it has been dubbed on here, the crowd at Newmarket on Saturday was still only a paltry 8,510.
The course seemed to be pleased that at least it was better than the 2011 figure of 7,223.
When you consider that there were two Group One races and the Cambridgeshire, as well as Frankel, it seems positively miniscule for a crowd at a major meeting.
I would have thought the place might be packed to the rafters but obviously not.
Sadly those figures only confirm that the Publics interest in the Great horse have wained and its pretty obviously due to connections poor decision to avoid the most obvious target for a horse of his calibre…The Arc! Its a bit like owning a ‘Bugatti Veyron’ and driving round the estate you live on but never daring to Push it to its limit……….Just in case!!
I
I’ll truly miss Frankel after he retires. What makes Frankel a little bit more special for me is the fact that my middle name is Frank and my first is Rob. Makes it like a honourYou won’t be the only one missing him Robert Frank!! Not sure how I’ll cope!
If I have another son I will be calling him Frank El Bacon!!!
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
I was absolutely amazed to read that, even with Frankel appearing for his gallop, or "faux race" as it has been dubbed on here, the crowd at Newmarket on Saturday was still only a paltry 8,510.
The course seemed to be pleased that at least it was better than the 2011 figure of 7,223.
When you consider that there were two Group One races and the Cambridgeshire, as well as Frankel, it seems positively miniscule for a crowd at a major meeting.
I would have thought the place might be packed to the rafters but obviously not.
The Friday evening meetings, with the concerts and Tommo, seem to be much more popular, it seems, than heavyweight, high-quality meetings there.
The old Cambridgeshire meeting used to be held the same week as the first yearling (once called to as the Highflyer) sale at Tattersalls. The racing itself was somewhat secondary to the important business of the week. The Cheveley Park was on the Wednesday, Middle Park on the Thursday and Cambridgeshire on the Saturday. The races have been shunted around days, meetings and even courses so I do not think anyone has any idea what is going on.
Does the figure of 8,510 just include the paying customers?I was absolutely amazed to read that, even with Frankel appearing for his gallop, or "faux race" as it has been dubbed on here, the crowd at Newmarket on Saturday was still only a paltry 8,510.
The course seemed to be pleased that at least it was better than the 2011 figure of 7,223.
When you consider that there were two Group One races and the Cambridgeshire, as well as Frankel, it seems positively miniscule for a crowd at a major meeting.
I would have thought the place might be packed to the rafters but obviously not.
Sadly those figures only confirm that the Publics interest in the Great horse have wained and its pretty obviously due to connections poor decision to avoid the most obvious target for a horse of his calibre…The Arc! Its a bit like owning a ‘Bugatti Veyron’ and driving round the estate you live on but never daring to Push it to its limit……….Just in case!!
Wow – you have come out with some crap in the last couple of years Gord but this tops the lot!!!
How do you explain Champions Day selling out in record time then?
Your Arc is losing more gloss by the second anyway. The rate these horses are dropping out Coolmore might actually be tempted to run Camelot!
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
How do you explain Champions Day selling out in record time then?
It may have been easier when the "capacity" for Champions Day is around half that of the Royal Meeting.
The Champion Stakes at Newmarket was on the downgrade. The Champion Stakes at Ascot appears to be a totally different race on the admittedly limited evidence of one race.
Judging only by last year’s Arc and Champion the standard is very similar. Not just the winners but the first 6 home.
Value Is EverythingJoni! Like I say it saddens me to say it but the Public are getting bored of the same old thing,we want to see our equine heroes tested and unfortunately ‘Frankel’ has been wrapped up like a fragile piece of ‘Ming’and for those of us who wear our hearts on our sleeves the whole thing is beginning to do just that, Sadly!
The Champion Stakes at Newmarket was on the downgrade. The Champion Stakes at Ascot appears to be a totally different race on the admittedly limited evidence of one race.
Judging only by last year’s Arc and Champion the standard is very similar. Not just the winners but the first 6 home.
First 5 perhaps, Green Destiny would not win a group 1 walkover.
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