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A punter could have had Agapanthus, AJ. Won a year and a month ago on rock hard ground at Yarmouth in a Class 5. Hated the soft ground he’d encountered ever since. Back to a winning mark. Three month break. There’s nothing in this one the BHA could have him before the beak for. I see this at Southwell all the time.
Anyway, Sean Boyce has written a tidy piece on his blog and I agree with every word so I’ll move on. This might be the end for Curley.
Fantastic write up, I echo those sentiments.
Looks like someone got out of bed the wrong side
Max, I think what some of us trying to put across is that Barney’s MO is so blatant, so up your arse that it shows the whole system up for what it is and is deliberately meant too – no hiding behind impressionable young female jocks, royal connections or Mothercare vouchers.
Sean, I hope you don’t think my earlier mentioning of Lady Pilot was a dig directed to you, tbh, I’ve never watched ATR and have no idea who you are but I recognise the respect from others on here that I respect towards you. Also, at the time of writing I hadn’t read your blog and did not know you had written about it, but as an ordinary punter I thank you for doing so.
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Sean Boyce
I confess I hadn’t read the other articles on your blog, and concede we’re singing from the same hymn sheet regarding many more non-triers needing atttention than just those highlighted by Betfair. However, (from what I have read since), you’re still only reporting similar things yourself, while the Stoutes and Johnstons of this world continue to pull their strokes with impunity.
When – and if – you, your colleagues and the BHA start to query these more frequent offenders than Barney Curley and Charlotte Kerton, then we might start to believe there’s more to integrity than keeping things cosy.RH, I think you’ll find that Stoute’s been done by the BHA quite recently. Can’t say the same re Curley ironically. Karl Burke was a pretty big name, Group One winning trainer, but he still got his when the evidence was there. I don’t buy the whole one rule for one where it comes to the BHA. I do think you have a point re the media though.
I’m not asking that the media be judge and jury in these things. In fact, that’s a very dangerous thing.
What I’m suggesting is that the media need to be supportive of a more robust and rigorous approach by the BHA. Many of us try to do our bit but none of us are perfect and it’s hard to swim against the tide. Harder still when it lands you in court
I’m arguing for a more consistent approach across the sport and across the media but the starting point for that is the recognition that there is a problem. Curley himself isn’t the problem, he just illustrates it.Imo, the only thing that separates Barney Curley from most other yards is the amount he has on, and it’s that very transparency which makes him a soft target for the media.
Betting coups are landed every day, often by much bigger fish than BC, not all of them heralded by the market, either.
There are non-triers every day, in almost every race, and when Boycie and his counterparts start squealing about those from the bigger yards, then the BHA might begin to take notice. Until such times, we’ll have to content ourselves with the lazy and opportunistic bleating about the small fry on the periphery.Hear Hear RH
Curley is the public face of racing’s extensive shady underworld as he doesn’t attempt to conceal what he’s up to: a bloke with the thickest of skins who couldn’t give a toss about racing, its authorities or its followers and enjoys emphasising that contempt in the most audacious, brazen manner possible
So he’s the easiest of soft targets and has been for decades. I have little time for the bloke but at least the buck stops with him, unlike his more ‘shrewd’ colleagues who I have no time for at all as their nasty, covert operations are executed in a manner to ensure the buck stops elsewhere and plead well-rehearsed weasel words of innocence if put up in front of the beak
It’s all too easy to bleat ‘what are the BHA going to do about this’ – put yourselves in their shoes. Racing has a centuries-old tradition of nefarious practices and the cancer remains so deeply rooted that rapid, extensive, succesful surgery is all but impossible
Brutal, disfiguring amputation may be the only option left
What would you do?
Fellow members of the Racing Tribe:
Please accept that our ranks contain a disproportionate number of unpleasant, unsavoury, duplicitous and selfish people, who if they weren’t working their mischief within the soft micro-world of racing with its wafting velvet-glove admonishments would be working it in the tough real world up against the Law’s iron fist
Sell that RFC
Fist
You think it’s a coincidence that a horse once owned and run by Curley should win on the same day as 2 of his 3 flat runners? That it should not have run for nearly 2 years and then wins backed form 25s to 6/4? That Grant has another Curley horse in his care which is listed on his website but yesterday’s winner is not shown on there?It was all part of the plot for sure.
bookmakers and punters ,both like barneys coups, good for the game,
the rest can please themselves.
The thing is there’s nothing they can say or do. Barney Curley is no fool and he knows that any horse who wins first time out after along lay off is never questioned…the simple answer is they improved for the rest and there’s no law against gambling………..plus one was from a completely different yard and while Sammy Stringer and Barney Curley are close freinds I know of know direct involvement Barney has with Chris Grant. A planned move? you could say that but I couldn’t possibly comment and while Mr Raw may or may not own Jeu De Roseau 100% is besides the point. He’s the registered owner end of story.
Tom Queally who often rides for Barney Curley continues to ride the horse for Sammy but that doesn’t prove anything other than the fact Mr Raw knows him through his dealing with Barney Curley.
Sure we can all shout conspiracy! but anyone wants to catch Barney Curley and co out better get up a lot earlier in the morning.
Case dismissed
I don’t know why I bother but….
Andrew Stringer was Barney’s caretaker trainer while he was away in Africa.
I’d like a bit of 10 on that the whole sequence of events with Jeu de Roseau has Barney’s pawprints on it from the sale for a grand to Chris Grant to its win yesterday. More than coincidence it was on the same day as the others. I’d imagine he’s told them they could keep the horse afterwards once the job was done.How may of you punters would risk it all on a horse who had been off the track for two years? All right how many would risk a tenner on a horse that had been off the track for two years and combine it with two more ? Do you realise the courage it takes to bet like that?To get the two best jockeys in the country to ride such nags?The man is brilliant, a F…..g genius he is.That is what makes the world of bookmakers and gamblers go around.If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen. Otherwise we go to the French system and no bookies at the track or off it. No ante post.No up and down accumulators. Just the tote. Would you prefer that? It is us versus them mate, stay on our side for goodness sake. Attack the bookies for screwing the SP etc not the punter for screwing the bookies.
I’d imagine Chris Grant would just be happy to be off the cold trainers list.
Max your abusive post directed at Fist is not called for and does you a disservice. Let’s stay on topic rather than start slinging mud at each other.
By the way I believe that Barney is a personal friend of Tommy Stack,Jamie Spencer, Tom Queally and many more jockeys so maybe it is time to haul them all in before the stewards if Barney is the bad guy you all suggest he is.His programs to help in the third world countries should be investigated for money laundering,right? So he swims with the sharks, keep out of the water if you must but don’t stand on the shore and cry coward .
It would seem that Racing For Change, the BHA, the race-fixing investigators, the Integrity Panels etc. etc. should all be made obsolete. What hope is there for a clean and sterile sport unadulterated by race-fixing and double-dealing when even half the punters (judging from this thread alone) seem to approve of this underhanded and sordid affair? I suppose the best thing would be to abandon all ambitions for things to be above-board and just let anarchy and corruption have free reign. At least then we would all know where we stand and could decide whether to continue to support horse racing or seek pastures new.
How may of you punters would risk it all on a horse who had been off the track for two years? All right how many would risk a tenner on a horse that had been off the track for two years and combine it with two more ? Do you realise the courage it takes to bet like that?To get the two best jockeys in the country to ride such nags?The man is brilliant, a F…..g genius he is.That is what makes the world of bookmakers and gamblers go around.If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen. Otherwise we go to the French system and no bookies at the track or off it. No ante post.No up and down accumulators. Just the tote. Would you prefer that? It is us versus them mate, stay on our side for goodness sake. Attack the bookies for screwing the SP etc not the punter for screwing the bookies.
I don’t care about Mr Curley bashing bookmakers. No one forces anyone to bet with bookmakers – you can bet on exchange sites now, where you have no idea who you are backing against.
And as for a Tote only system, why are you so negative? If the take-out percentages could ever be lowered to a better percentage than bookmakers offer (the enemy supposedly) what would be the problem? It can’t and won’t happen for logistical reasons in Britain, but if it could be done, I wouldn’t oppose it.
Top two issues for punters –
1. Bookie’s manipulation of SP system (bookie’s ‘take’ on each race, in % terms, should be controlled – I keep saying this. At the minute it is totally arbitrary and easily manipulated by those with huge vested interests.)
2. Horses not being run on their merits – for whatever reason
And if the handicapping system blatantly rewards horses not being run on their merits as everyone knows, then this will never stop.
Kent please explain how anyone can afford to have a horse at the track when it takes 3 wins to cover training expenses for one year.So the situation requires gambling to pay expences.All sport, including snooker, involving gamblingand is open to corruption. It seems that much of the fixing is not done by the racing punters who openly take on the offshore big boys.
I’m arguing for a more consistent approach across the sport and across the media but the starting point for that is the recognition that there is a problem. Curley himself isn’t the problem, he just illustrates it.
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