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It’s acceptable because, as a documentary style programme, it was a reflection of what happens in reality and, in reality, people in day to day life generally swear a lot. Not all of us, not in all situations, contexts or workplaces but there is a lot of it about.
I thought it was a brilliant piece of television. The old lad who was travelling with the horses was excellent. His affection for the horses really came through (as it did for all involved).
Paul Nolan came across well, wordly-wise and shrewd enough but you could tell how passionate he was about racing and horses. He had an endearing down-to-earth quality lacking in a sizeable number of people in his profession.
I didn’t need the subtitles, being a fellow Celt, but I could see that some of our friends from Englandshire might have needed some help as some of the accents were pretty strong.
The lack of commentary I thought worked well. Often, in documentaries, the commentaries can be either superfluous , misleading or can just downright get in the way. I thought this worked just the way it was.
One thing that surprised me was the rather austere breeze block boxes. Perhaps that’s because we usually see boxes in the manicured yards of Stoute, Cecil, Nicholls, etc.
I’d echo Rob’s comments about horse’s characters. Those close to horses always talk about how important a horse’s character is and the amount of variation there can be from horse A to horse B but, as punters, it’s a side we rarely see, think about or have knowledge of (horses are either game or are dogs!)
Excellent programme and a great advert for racing IMO.
It’s acceptable because, as a documentary style programme, it was a reflection of what happens in reality and, in reality, people in day to day life generally swear a lot. Not all of us, not in all situations, contexts or workplaces but there is a lot of it about.
Reality is there are an increasing number of people who are rude, ill-mannered, aggressive etc. but it doesn’t mean they particularly deserve a stage to prove it. Would this programme have been any less ‘brilliant’ if Paul Nolan had refrained from swearing?
I’d echo Rob’s comments about horse’s characters. Those close to horses always talk about how important a horse’s character is and the amount of variation there can be from horse A to horse B but, as punters, it’s a side we rarely see, think about or have knowledge of (horses are either game or are dogs!)
On that subject, I’d love to see a documentary on the seven contestants for the 5.05 at Ayr today. An equine psychologist would have a field day!
Rob
I thought it was excellent and a very realistic portrayal of a racing yard. Swearing is part and parcel of the racing industry – actually I thought they were all pretty restrained compared to what you usually hear. Its usually "effing this, effing that" every other word.
I enjoyed the way they showed the different characters of the 3 horses. And I felt for Nolan standing in the unsaddling enlcosure having to face the owners after a disappointing run – believe me it is a very very hard thing to do – the anticipation, the excitement followed by the confusion and disappointment and the owners are waiting for some sort of explanation and quite often you are as baffled as they are. It showed horses aren’t machines.
Nolan, I felt came across very well – hands on and knowledgable with a good sense of humour. Interesting to note the complete absence of women working there though!
Would this programme have been any less ‘brilliant’ if Paul Nolan had refrained from swearing?
Yes, because then we wouldn’t have seen the real Paul Nolan or gotten a feel for what day to day life in a yard is like.
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Complaining about swearing
Getting a bit like that Talking Sh.it forum, I hope TRF doesn’t become that website.
I haven’t seen the programme yet, but, from what I can remember of Storyville documentaries that I’ve seen they’re very much ‘fly on the wall’ and I’d rather see someone as they really are, swearing and all than some edited version of what someone somewhere wants me to see. There was a series a few years ago which I missed which, I think, followed Jessica Harringtons’ horses on the run up to Cheltenham. I was only told about it after it had ended. The best documentary I ever saw on racing was one about the ‘Dove’ horses, which followed the farmers deciding to breed and race horses and then followed their progress. I may find it in the loft one day; I’d love to see it again. I think they started with Red Dove and Grey Dove, and, of course, the end result was that great race mare Flakey Dove.
I thought it was excellent and a very realistic portrayal of a racing yard. Swearing is part and parcel of the racing industry – actually I thought they were all pretty restrained compared to what you usually hear. Its usually "effing this, effing that" every other word.
Why is that?
Would this programme have been any less ‘brilliant’ if Paul Nolan had refrained from swearing?
Yes, because then we wouldn’t have seen the real Paul Nolan or gotten a feel for what day to day life in a yard is like.
Isn’t that no more than just not hearing him swearing. How much better off are we for knowing he swears a lot?
I’m not the biggest fan of swearing Stilvi and at times it does really annoy me. I’ve started taking my 9 year old girl to rugby and am constantly in arguments with people about controlling their language around children. The odd slip here and there is understandable, but when every other word is a swear word it’s out of order and I tell people.
I find this different though… It was on after 9 o’clock and I’m sure a warning will have been given before the programme and with the type of programme it was you knew there would be swearing in it.
Despite what I put above about my little girl, I swear quite a lot in my working environment as does everyone else I work with. There’s no children there and no women (I don’t swear in front of either) so I don’t see a problem.
If Paul Nolan puts a lot of time and effort into preparing a horse for a race and then the horse falls at the first fence can you not understand he may come out with the odd swear word?
It was real true to life stuff and a very good watch!
If you don’t want to listen to the swearing, mute the sound & just watch the subtitles. The BBC kindly didn’t put the swearing in them.
As it happens I’ve heard a few choice words on Channel 4 racing, admittedly not as ‘choice’ as the f word but still.
‘Won his last four races? Check. Likes the ground? Check. Trainer swears? Oh, best put a line through that one then.’
I thought it was excellent and a very realistic portrayal of a racing yard. Swearing is part and parcel of the racing industry – actually I thought they were all pretty restrained compared to what you usually hear. Its usually "effing this, effing that" every other word.
I enjoyed the way they showed the different characters of the 3 horses. And I felt for Nolan standing in the unsaddling enlcosure having to face the owners after a disappointing run – believe me it is a very very hard thing to do – the anticipation, the excitement followed by the confusion and disappointment and the owners are waiting for some sort of explanation and quite often you are as baffled as they are. It showed horses aren’t machines.
Nolan, I felt came across very well – hands on and knowledgable with a good sense of humour. Interesting to note the complete absence of women working there though!
Agreed with all the above, so little point in me typing it again.
I loved it and thought it was great viewing, even my OH who is a horse owner/lover who doesn’t really care for racing enjoyed it. He liked the angle they took as in a lot of it was from the horses view so to speak.
As for the swearing…. It is part and parcel of life, whether we like it or not it is there in every walk of it. Does it alter my opinion of Nolan? Not a bit, if I had his job and the massive stress (when I say massive I mean massive!) that go along side it I would be far from an angel myself. He didn’t act in this, he was himself and thank God for that I say. When Cuan Na Grai took that horrendous fall I think most viewers would have sworn out loud to be honest.Just to add, loved the travelling head lad. He was some fella and Nolan is a lucky man to have him, a gentle kind soul if there ever was one .
When Cuan Na Grai fell I said something pretty much the same as PN- even though, unlike him at the time, I knew the outcome!
Watched it again over tea tonight. Absolutely fantastic programme. Loved the three legged dog! I can imagine him mooching about, watching all that’s going on and retreating to his spot at night knowing a lot more than us humans!!
Just saw it on iplayer; loved it..you could smell the hoof oil and the rugs and I was back sitting in the stable with my old pony talking to her and watching her roll in the field [she used to roll right over]..and I feel quite emotional. It really captured how it felt to be there with them. I’ll be a wreck watching Joncol in his races in future.
Yep Moe – I feel a real affection all of a sudden for Joncol – When they were putting the oil in the hooves they were saying it was ‘old engine oil’ btw!
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