Forum Replies Created
- Posts
John,
I’m well aware that there is more danger in running a horse in the Grand National, but this is a totally different ball game – GW was asked to perform in conditions which he was totally alien to. He had run on dirt last year and suffered it – the horse did not enjoy it one bit (take a look at his head carriage for one thing). To ask him to perform again in these conditions was unwise, to put it mildly.
Unfortunately, GW was treated as nothing more than an ‘asset’ by Coolmore, who were always going to run him no matter what. And by the way, I have not and never have had an axe to grind against Ballydoyle. I just think this was a shameful way to treat a brilliant racehorse.
Dont worry about it Mikky – just treat it as ‘lively debate’ – thats what ive been doing today!
Anyway, its better than being a Billy No Mates and getting zilch response eh?!
John,
Ive been following horse racing for 20 years, so I’m not exactly wet behind the ears. All i’m doing is expressing an opinion on the rights and wrongs of racing horses in unsuitable conditions. As far as I’m concerned, GW should not have run in that race. No double standards about it, comprendez??
Unfortunately some people on this forum are totally blinkered to certain opinions being expressed – particularly it seems when it comes to criticising their precious Ballydoyle.
Thats all well and good, so long as the best interests of the HORSE are put first – on this occasion (with GW), I dont think they were.
Aidan,
yes I have an opinion, strangely enough – why do you think I bothered posting on here?!!
If you read my previous posts you will see that I have responded to Gareth’s post.
As for your opinion, you are welcome to it. However, I’m not sure if you actually have one of your own, or are just a Ballydoyle ‘yes man’.
Gareth, I’m talking about the horse not LIKING the dirt, which is different from ‘handling’ it (although I dont think he handled it either, regardless of what the RP says).
Talking about the RP, take a look at the photo of GW on there and tell me that those are suitable conditions to run America’s most valuable race in!
Thanks marb, but it looks as though i’m the only person here who thinks GW didnt like the dirt last year, which frankly amazes me.
By the way Gareth, I saw that 12 months ago so i’d hardly call it after timing!!
So Aidan I suppose youre trying to tell me that the decision to run GW in a race which he was totally unsuited to had absolutely nothing to do with trying to make as much money as possible?
As the americans would say, ‘wake up and smell the coffee’.
Maybe not Seabird, but this sort of thing is becoming a depressingly familiar sight at the Breeders Cup.
I disagree, Cormack. Surely its more than a coincidence that the one horse that suffered a fatality last night was the European horse who wasnt used to running on such a surface, and hadnt been regularly drugged up to the eyeballs to prevent this sort of damage occurring?
I dont post very often on here, but felt I had too given what happened to GW.
I know this is being said with hindsight, but as far as i’m concerned this was a tragedy waiting to happen. I couldnt believe this meeting went ahead when I saw that horses were being raced on what can only be described as a quagmire. What a disgrace.
I also think that Coolmore have got what they deserved by running a horse on it who patently wasnt suited by the dirt last year, just so they can try to earn a few fast bucks.
RIP George Washington. As for the Breeders Cup, the yanks can shove it up their fat a*ses.
You can find a full re-run of the race on ‘Horseracing’s greatest ever races’ DVD (presented by Clare Balding). It is available on Amazon, although I picked up a copy at M&S.
Does anyone remember the arcade games they used to have about 20 years ago, where you could actually bet on real American quarter horse races? My Grandad used to take me to Whitley Bay when I was a kid, and they had them there. Unfortunately, as he was a compulsive gambler, I spent most of the day watching him playing on this machine, and never got to go on the beach!!
"I’d rather have an Arc winner" – stating the obvious or what?!
The Arc is an all-aged championship – of course it’s going to have, on average, a better horse winning it.
The continual crabbing of The Derby on this forum is becoming rather tedious…
I cant understand this obsession with having the horses walking/jogging towards the tape as they start. It didnt work at Cheltenham with 10 to 20 runners, so it was never going to work with 40 runners.
Why doesnt the starter just get them all lined up at a marker point a couple of yards back from the tape? Or is that too simple?
