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Interesting to read Tom Segal’s comments in today’s Racing Post. He has obviously been receiving a lot of flak regarding his comment that A.P McCoy wouldn’t be in his top 5 choices as Denman’s jockey…
Now, regardless of the rights and wrongs of Segal’s opinion, why is Racing as a sport so unwilling to allow anyone to express strong, critical, opinion of anyone else?
Pick up the tabloids any day of the week and there will be hard hitting quotes from various sportspeople. "Liverpool are no threat, Rafa Benitez is a nobody and the club are twenty years behind Man Utd" – says Alex Ferguson. "He will be unconscious in Round 1 and in hospital in Round 2", says Ricky Hatton….
Obviously these quotes are exaggerated, taken out of context and blown out of all proportion by journalists, but as Shakespeare said – the whole world is a stage – and racing needs to get in on this act.
The sport desperately needs a bit of theatre and there is nothing like a bitter rivalry or some controversy to add an "edge" and create outsider interest in the sport.
So – rather than getting upset by Segal, McCoy and his cohorts should be the first in line to stick two fingers up to him, if and when the opportunity arises. You never know, Racing might even make the back page of the Sun.
Wholeheartedly agree. One of the things I’ve always felt racing should play up more is the rivalries between horses, jockeys, trainers and owners.
I guess that many would view such a move unedifying and distasteful but wouldn’t it add one hell of an edge if, instead of being nice and generous when commenting on Denman’s troubled passage yesterday, Clive Smith had squared up to his rivals with a quote along the lines of ‘If they think they’ll get within twenty lengths of my horse after a performance like that they’re kidding themselves on’.
Egos in racing are very easily bruised, it seems to me, and if they had to deal with the hostile press that, say, football has to contend with I get the feeling some of them would be running for the kleenex.
The other problem of course is that it is a very insular world. Most of the protaganists will meet up on a daily basis and jockeys share a changing room in which they spend three of four hours a day with their rivals so it’s no place to be courting enemies.
That is why I think there is a real place for an outlet such as this forum. No hiding places on here!
Well said. Channel 4 Racing would be a lot more entertaining if part of the Morning Line was given over to ordinary punters to express their views about what has annoyed them in the past week etc. Unfortunately Channel 4 are one of the worst in not allowing controversial views to be aired so I’m not holding my breathe.
I think the point is you can make anything entertaining and appealing to most people if you can create a real atmosphere…
Why is X Factor popular? Is it because we all like listening to bad renditions of Britney Spears songs? No – it is because we like listening to Simon Cowell telling us how the majority of the participants are talentless mugs.
Another great example that really hit home with me was Bloomberg at the height of the financial crisis.
Watch the UK version of Bloomberg and it was the dullest, most turgid thing you could ever watch. If you weren’t an expert, the programme was like watching paint dry (and probably only slightly better than that if you were). Wait for the US version though and it was fantastic – strong opinions, shouting, screaming, drama, razamatazz – it was great, compulsive viewing – on completely the same subject of course.
UK racing is that UK Bloomberg at the moment.
It lacks diversity. Jumps racing in these islands in particular are exclusive not inclusive. They tolerate women, but anyone else, well I don’t think they’re desired and little effort is made to encourage participation of anyone outside what is considered the norm.
It often appears as something like a Boys Own club [see the Cheltenham ‘Downtown’ video].
X Factor that you mention, you will have noticed, is incredibly diverse if nothing else.Unless it makes serious efforts to change that status quo, it won’t ever get universal appeal I think it is striving for, and therefore the closing of ranks, such as you witness in this episode with McCoy, are all to frequent occurrences.
Letter to The Editor – The Times
Sir,
It has come to my attention that the dastardly and dishonourable Mr. Ruby Walsh has questioned my horsemanship in certain drinking hostelries, many of which, I am led to believe, are frequented by bands of ruffians and vagabonds, the likes of which a noble gentleman such as myself would be too ashamed and of upstanding reputation to dare to frequent.
It is with considerable distaste therefore that I feel duty bound to reprimand the aforementioned Mr. Walsh and duly give notice that unless he desist from these heinous and vicious ramblings and offers a public apology then I shall be left with no alternative than to hereby challenge him to a duel on Newmarket Heath as dawn breaks tomorrow.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Young McCoyOne of the things I’ve always felt racing should play up more is the rivalries between horses, jockeys, trainers and owners.
I just don’t think the genuine rivalries are there though. Obviously there is the odd situation like Pipe/Nicholls a few years ago, but in the main when trainers are in touch with each other on a regular basis discussing declarations/entries etc and jockeys are sharing lifts to races, weighing rooms etc, they collectively see each other as colleagues rather than rivals, as you can see by their reaction after big races at the Festivals. The aim is winning the race and the reward that brings rather than lauding it over a fellow professional.
I don’t see the point in embracing something that isn’t genuine. There’s enough fakery in this part of the world, without it transferring onto the race courses. If you want racing to embrace football traits, would you accept rival supporters of rival trainers fighting with each other, an away section for visiting supporters, flares being set off up the home straight and all trainers sitting in the dug outs with reserve jockeys ?
It’s a no goer in my opinion. Embrace the realness. It’s what sets racing apart from certain other sports. Though i’d maybe be partial to a few boxing traits being adopted, if the punters were allowed to knock some of the bookmakers out, all in the name of fun.
It always intrigued me why there was so little verbal swordplay in Racing, I think Cormack is right the daily contact makes that potentially uncomfortable.
I also think the implicit danger associated with the sport plays a part. There is a real chance of serious injury or death amongst the horses and jockeys everytime they leave the ground. This is a sport that is much more dangerous than boxing or motor racing for example. Those in racing are quite rightly silent on this subject most of the time but it must permeate any possible negative outbursts…its hard to slight a man who is putting his life at risk every half an hour.Unlike football jockeys take their life in their hands when they go out on the track.So basically they are all friends.The ambulance that follows the horses is never seen at the foorball matches! Any horse could be your last ride so one must be carefull of ones last words to a jockey.
I just don’t think the genuine rivalries are there though. Obviously there is the odd situation like Pipe/Nicholls a few years ago, but in the main when trainers are in touch with each other on a regular basis discussing declarations/entries etc and jockeys are sharing lifts to races, weighing rooms etc, they collectively see each other as colleagues rather than rivals.
What about Coolmore and Godolphin? It doesn’t get any bigger than that and it seems to me there is a huge rivalry there.
It could also be argued that wthe cosiness you describe is the symptom of this small-time mentality that racing has, rather than an underlying reality…
Coolmore and Godolphin is like the Nicholls/Pipe things I think, the exception to the norm. As amusing as it might be to see Lord Grimthorpe lay into Lady Rothschild, I don’t think it would particularly make racing more appealing. Concentrate on the horses, rather than priveleged people that own them.
I once engaged in a bit of verbal warfare with the inner circle. Well it was more a minor ribbing if truth be told…
Struck off for life as a result.
You can see why people aren’t keen.
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TDK has a point and it probably would do no harm to get a bit of headline news in the daily’s. However when you compare a jockey to a football player he’s a different breed.
A football player knocks another player on his backside and gets sent off he misses a few games at worst and probably get a bollocking from his boss. If your a Vinny Jones you’re like a hero and can even get into the movies
He’ll turn to the ref and tell him fook U and if the crowd are within earshot he’ll give them some too.A jockey the complete opposite. He goes racing he has to meet Mr. Smith because he’s been asked to ride for him. If Mr Smith doesn’t like his attutude Mr Jockey won’t be riding for him again. So generally they are very nice well mannered guys when it comes to the public eye.
I’ve been in the jockeys changing room many times and the crack is brilliant. All the lads are full of fun and there’s no room for anyone who doesn’t have a sense of humour. Mind you when you see them all wearing ladies tights that’s enough to make anyone laugh…..I heard Francome still wears them
Most of them are full of devilment and I can imagine what AP went through after he fell off Denman. He would get some roasting from the lads when he got back….all fun stuff like "Sam Thomas called wanted to know how you got on?"
Some people made a big issue because one jockey turned round and waved bye bye to another a month or so back but that was just an extension of changing room humour that got out. The jockey’s themself wouldn’t bat an eyelid at thing like that but the public being the public jump on these things, so for the best part in the changing rooms it stays.
I doubt if it’s changed in 100 years and I doubt if it ever will. They’re are no doubt times when people fall out and even been a punch up or two, no jockey is liked by every other rider and in any competeive sport things can get heated. But racing people are famed for not talking and even the media within racing will hush up……..basically it’s the fear that if they don’t the chances are the next time they ask so and so a question they’ll get a rubber ear.
So if AP knocks Sam Thomas out for laughing at him no ones going to tell. Just the way racing is and I hope it stays that way.
Horses can’t talk, sadly. Agree to differ on this one…
Totally agree TDK.
The only humans worth listening to in racing would be Lester Piggot and Martin Pipe.
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