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Is the domination of Ballydoyle of Group 1 racing at the moment detrimental to the health of racing?
Are Godolphin becoming a laughing-stock (probably too strong an expression, but you know what I mean)?
Colin
No – I just think it’s a huge credit to the whole Ballydoyle team that they are so well prepared when it comes to the big races.
No – Godolphin aren’t becoming a laughing stock – they already are a laughing stock – and no it’s not too strong an expression Colin
Mike
No, just so long as the overall competitiveness isnt affected. The doiwnside has been the use of certain team tactics and the suprise use of certain (well backed) horses as pacemakers.
Not usre i would say a "laughing stock" but it clearly isnt working is it? Something is radically wrong.
No, I believe the quality of Ballydoyle’s horses and the training establishment is great for racing plus they tend to keep their horses in training which is also great for racegoers. It isn’t just down to money as Godolphin are proving and while not quite a laughing stock they need to have a complete re-think.
Some competitive sports ( and a herd of horses ) have a " Pecking List " – competitors are scared of beating another competitor – for various reasons.
In Horseracing a big outside influence in finishing places, is betting.
If say, Yeats goes off at odds-on favourite and is beaten by a lightly bet 14/1 runner – where most of Ireland have placed millions of Euro’s on a Yeats win, How popular is the winning jockey ?
Everyone bets the Ballydoyle team and everyone goes home happy.
Backing two runners is the relentless pursuit of value. Backing each way is a shortcut to the poor house. Only 7% make a long term profit.
when I first became interested in flat racing every other winner seemed to be owned by the Maktoum family and I felt sorry for the smaller owners and trainers, there wern’t any crumbs left for them at all; then Michael Tabor and John Magnier got together and the rest is history..my main grumble with Coolmore at the time was the fact that they didn’t keep horses in training, whereas the Maktoums and later Godolphin did. Currently I am in awe of the whole Coolmore operation, with Aidan O’Briens gift with horses and Magniers knowledge of the breeding side they seem to be invincible…..now with Johnny Murtagh on board [who is not only a great horseman but seems to know every trick in the book on jockeyship? is that a proper word?] how can they get any better? The team tactics I have a problem with, because I’d rather see a Coolmore horse win because it is obviously the best horse in the race [and it usually is] other than the fact that it is helped by several of it’s stable mates. as for Godolphin, over the years I have come to appreciate Sheikh Mohammeds absolute love for horses and horse racing, and it would be nice to see things improve for them [but still haven’t quite forgotten the Henry Cecil incident].
I personnaly don’t have a problem with the team tactics employed by Ballydoyle. What is the problem with ensuring a properlly run race? This generally allows for a full test of the horses involved.
I agree they go at it in a professional manner and put thought into what they are doing. Can’t fault them really they just keep winning and that’s what it’s all about…………… BTW who’s Godolphin?
Although not familiar with the incident with Cecil I believe that the Sheikh has changed a lot since then and probably regrets taking away his horses from Henry. He now takes his wife racing with him and just like Henry must listen when she speaks. Note I said not familiar.
I have wondered of late about the other wives of which I assume there must be several…..
According to Wikipedia, HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein is his junior wife while Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum is his senior wife.
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