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Thanks Chris – very useful – I may go to Woodbridge show now I’ve seen the schedule.<br>
Steve,
It told me to vote Lib Dem – yeah right! – and went on to mention their standpoint on various issues, some of which I’d just voted against.
I think I was too neutral on many points but thats because I can see both sides of many of the arguements.
I predicted Conservative but it went pear shaped:
Labour – 22<br>Green – 12<br>Conservative -7<br>UKIP – 3<br>Lib Dems 0
So no party showed a positive outcome – the question is do I have a member of Veritas in my constituency?!
Very sad – he was always a great contributor to the forum and I enjoyed his Scottish twist on life.
RIP Phunter and best wishes to his family.
Elaine,
Twist and Turn was sold to race from Bruno Schutz’s stable in Germany after his 3yo season. Not sure what happened to him out there – Andreas would have taken over his late father’s string shortly afterwards.
Kotki, my doggy loving little scrapper, I presume this link takes us to a picture of her –
http://www.totallycool.net/Isabelli.html
Woo, Woo!
If so then I second Tooting’s advice without the move on bit!<br>
Hi Zoz,
Try looking at the British Eventing website – you can watch the good affiiliated events at Poplar Park and Isleham in your area (and others ones later in season).
As you know legal hunting has less than 2 weeks to go so you’re running out of time to see that.
However there will be a big hunting meet at Tattersalls at Noon on Saturday 19th February, after the ban, which should give you some good pictures.
You’ll find the East Anglian point to point fixtures on pointingea.com
Dear Andrew,
Thanks for your answer to my question and all the other interesting topics discussed.
I’m glad you will review the situation on ante-post bets because I certainly get plenty of opportunities to lay non-runners and this is morally wrong.
Many congratulations on potentially breaking into the Australian market and many of their journalists I’ve been speaking with recently are warming to the prospect.
Best wishes,<br>Adrian
Elvis Costello – Beyond Belief (showing my age!)
Can anybody tell me the names of a couple of tunes that bug me:
1. The one where the guy in the video is strangely dressed in rather dogdy showjumping kit including velvet cap? Good song though…
2. The theme behind the new Landrover Discovery ad where the car almost crashes off the side of the planet.
Thanks in advance
AP,
I understand your point and can see both sides of the Countryside Day arguement. I guess it’ll come down to the view of the racecourse’s own boards which may be split on the issue.
I was in charge of the PR for Whitbread’s racing sponsorship and was integral to their decisions on cancelling both the Murphy’s meeting and the Whitbread Gold Cup meeting.
You are absolutely correct about their worries pertaining to age group – specificially with regard to the viewing audience of Channel 4 racing which was contracted to show Cheltenham and Sandown.
However their cancellation had nothing to do with countryside day at the Murphy’s meeting. In fact they wre happy for the Countryside Alliance to use the Whitbread marquee on Friday to host their own lunch and fund raising auction for only a minimal donation.
The cancellation was more down to new brand managers coming in who wanted to be "trendy" and try to appeal to a younger audience – hence "Sisters of Murphys" etc. They did not feel happy with the incumbent portfolio of sports they were taking on, such a racing, when they wanted to get more into youth orientated sports.
It is interesting to note that both the Stella Artois tennis tournament and the Heineken Rugby survived – although their brand managers were not so aggressive in their "need to modernise".
Dave,
This is what the Masters of Foxhounds Association have to say about digging out:
If a fox is run to ground, digging may only take place with the expressed permission of the landowner or farmer. It can only be carried out by those licensed by the appropriate governing body. Normally the terrierman will be accompanied by only one assistant. Due to the possible use of a humane killer (licensed firearm) and to avoid unnecessary noise and disturbance, participation is limited to the terrierman and his assistant with sometimes the presence of the relevant farmer or gamekeeper.
What usually happens if a fox goes to ground (on land where the owner has specifically asked the hunt to dig out) then the field are kept well back from the dig. The hounds are also taken away and kept quietly by the hunt staff. The huntsman and terriermen do their stuff by putting the terrier down the hole and when the fox comes out he is netted and shot.
Only then is the dead fox given to the hounds as their reward.
I can understand that this may be the sort of activity which has to be curtailed if we are to appease the general public who may see digging out as "unfair".
Just one other side to the line about countryside days at racecourses. Whilst it may put off some people it can encourage others. I know that my next door neighbour only went racing because it was a countryside day – to see the hounds etc – and loved it so much he now has a share in a jumper.
I’m sure that these meetings are commercially viable for the racetracks (they certainly attract big crowds at Cheltenham, Newmarket etc) and I expect their market research encourages them to continue otherwise their accountants may try to discontinue them.
Also have a look at the jockeys (and trainers), both flat and jumping, that support hunting (from wealthy top ones down to those from the grass roots) – they are not the terrible people that some antis would have you believe.
Elaine (Roberty Lea),
Whilst I don’t want to ban them I would not participate in shooting or fishing because:
1. In shooting the game is bred to be shot and I don’t like the use of guns anyway.  I think lamping of foxes (which killed a young boy this week) will be a problem if hunting goes.
2. In fishing I don’t like the idea of hooking a fish and putting it back just to do it all again.  I’m not against salmon fishing etc (where the catch is eaten) but I think I’d just find it boring!
Quote from Grasshopper:
If it’s merely pest-control, the hunt lobby should probably have moved away from their incessant larking around in fancy attire, tootling on their stupid little horn’s, and giving it "Tally-ho" left and right. If they had put their Barbour’s on instead, it would have looked more blue-collar, and easier to sell as pest-control. <br>It looks elitist, and for the large part, it probably is elitist. That buys the hunt lobby no favours, with the detritus which makes up the voting public.
Grasshopper, I absolutely agree with you that hunting has not put itself in the best of lights with the general public with some of it’s customs.
However only the huntsmen and his staff wear red – so we in the field can see them a long way off and know who to follow.  Only the huntsman carries a horn and he only uses it to signal to the hounds and the fieldmaster (who leads the main group of riders) what is going on.
The hunting clothes of the average field member are <br>a thick coat (usually blue or black) with riding breeches and long boots.  In the Autumn riders are much more casually dressed in hacking jackets etc.
In bad weather riders often wear barbours for waterproofness and warmth and I’ve never seen anybody turned away for what they were wearing as long as they were smartly turned out. ÂÂÂ
Of course a huge proportion of people who follow the hunt are in cars or on foot and just wear everyday wear.  Certainly in bad weather "foot-followers" would outnumber the mounted riders with the pack I follow.
<br>(Edited by Adrian at 5:21 pm on Sep. 16, 2004)<br>
(Edited by Adrian at 5:23 pm on Sep. 16, 2004)
I’ve hunted foxes and hinds on horseback and hare and mink on foot. ÂÂÂ
I didn’t go to London yesterday because of work committments although some work colleagues did. ÂÂÂ
It is interesting to read everybody’s view on here and I wasn’t going to post – thinking this was more appropriate for the Lounge – but did not want people to think that only one side of the arguement participate in the TRF.
It seems pretty set that the Lord’s will chuck out the law and then the Government will enforce the Parliament Act, after which there will be lots of legal wrangling.  Subsequently even if the law is put on the statute the same thing may happen as in Scotland where hunting distorts so that hounds can put up foxes, hares, deer etc so that they can be shot. ÂÂÂ
Not sure what will happen to the worst vermin – aka mink – nobody seems too bothered about them in the current discussions. (On this point why do anti-hunters only complain about red coated foxhunt masters and staff and never mention green coats of harrier/beagle masters or blue coats of mink huntsmen?)
I’d like to say that I’d keep hunting if the ban comes in.  I think however this would just be bravado. I think the law would come down on the Masters and land owners – rather than just the field followers – so it would be impractical for the organisers to continue regardless of support from the subscribers.
I don’t approve of shooting or fishing but would not want to see either banned.  Maybe all activities need regulatation but in the end I’d rather people were allowed to get on with their own lives as long as other citizens don’t suffer.  I believe it is morally defenceable to hunt and hope that my daughter will have the chance to do so as well when she is old enough – if she wants to!
(Edited by Adrian at 12:15 pm on Sep. 16, 2004)
I voted for Royal Ascot but love all the big meetings especially the Cheltenham Festival, Open Meeting and July Meeting.
Clivex I’d love to know how you can think Royal Ascot is a "dismal event at a rubbish racecourse" – although I agree it should be much improved after the redevelopment.
Good to know that the whole place is populated by east end maggots with tattoos. I may wear a top hat but obviously I’m just going to have to that "Made in England" script put on my forearm!
Thumbs up for Perth from me.  I really enjoyed their Festival and thought Sam Morshead had done a great job encouraging so many Southern stables to bring a team and ensuring that there were parties and evening activities for visiting race fans. ÂÂÂ
I agree it was really crowded but this added to the atmosphere, which I did not find oppresive like some mid-summer flat meetings.
Its also in a gorgeous location and playing golf in Scone beforehand is a real treat.
If we had to scrap some courses then I’d start with Brighton – had a runner there once, never again – I just don’t like the camber.
Bad memories of Catterick – but only because when I arrived for my first and only visit it was shrouded in thick fog and the meeting had to be abandoned.
<br>
(Edited by Adrian at 2:51 pm on Sep. 19, 2003)
I’ve taken my first stab in the dark.
I’ve backed Federico to win at 8.4 – pretty boy that<br>will be popular with girly/gay vote
I’ve backed Anoushka to be first out – huge backlash on forums and Big Brother live texts.
If Anoushka does survive first impressions (possibly at expense of Jon) then she may do a Jade and go a long way.
Not all media organisations fill their post based on who you know.
Our company has started off plenty of people into a career in racing journalism straight from school/Uni – Matt Chapman etc. Racenews – first home to the likes of Lydia Hislop, Tony Smurthwaite etc – has also taken young people at face value.
An enthusiasm and knowledge for the whole sport (not just tipping) and the willingness to work long hours, especially at weekends, often brings its reward.
