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Reet
Substitute "The man who almost bought Man United" with "staff, friends and family" and you’ll probably be right on the money.
They can close them all down, The Curragh, Leopardstown, Fairyhouse and Punchestown excepted.
Not to mention the 18 runner handicap hurdle that ended up being the usual 2 runner affair (3:55).
Riddler when you’ve sorted out UK racing can you come over here please???
It goes without saying that Magnier dosent need the money. A gift to the stable perhaps? Whatever its still a total farce.
Walsh rode 55 horses that were first 3 in the betting in Ireland in August. He had 10 winners and 8 of those were ridden at or towards the front of the race.(i dont have comments for the other 2)
I’m not picking on him in particular he is a great jockey no argument there. Wish I could say the same for the racing here.
Its a general point I’m making Aragorn and anyway have you seen some of Walsh’s "patient" rides on fancied horses in Ireland recently?
I’ve watched an awful lot of Irish racing over the past year with a view to it being a profitable laying medium on the exchanges given the oncourse over rounds here.
In my opinion its by and large farcical. Granted the dog track layout of many of the tracks mean if your not front rank you dont have a chance but 80-85% of the runners are never put in the race. 20 runner handicaps are contested by the 3 front runners, I cant remember the last handicap hurdle I watched where there were 3-4 runners within a few lengths of each other coming to the last. If you look carefully you’ll often see jockeys taking a pull as they come forward for a tape ”start” giving 20 lengths away before they’ve even under way.
Thing is it seems to be accepted practise. Its so much more blatant than the UK, the "tribe" obviously know they’ll never have to answer for thier crookedness.
Does it also put the argument that good prizemoney means straight racing firmly into the bin?
Im Irish and very proud of where I come from but outside of the obvious big meetings my strong feeling is our racing is an embarrasing joke.
"Heffernan was certainly guilty of overconfidence, and he should have been warned about his future conduct following the ride, but I believe Ballydoyle, Coolmore and both riders have too much at stake to be messing about in races like that."
Evening DJ thats why they did it in their own back yard, where they knew they’d get away with it.
I defy ANYONE to look at the head on and defend that. I’m still reeling from it.I honestly always thought O’Brien would be above something as blatant as that
Something died for me this evening, really I am beyond shocked.
Clivex
Your calling horse racing high margin????
You should listen to or read some of Barney Curleys arguments before you dimiss them as "irrelevant" or "ridiculous" in the context of whats being discussed on this thread.
Always amazes me how quick people are to call for the head of Barney Curley for stiffing the punters when this type of piracy happens every day without almost a whisper.
If I was JP I’d have some interesting questions to ask my bloodstock agent, but I’m not and maybe theres a reason for it all?
Being solely a layer and a layer who doesnt take jockeys or trainers into account its been my misfortune to have layed by coincidence a few of his winners lately. The guy is amazing. Almost every ride is a value for money ride. Whether its hold up, midfield or a front runner most of his mounts are ridden to maximum effect. His partnership with Stoute is lethal. A trainer who’s the best judge of a jockey around and his faith in Moore speaks volumes.
Ryan will never recieve the plaudits of some of his peers because of his quiet demeanour and his aparant disinterest in PR but in my opinion we’re witnessing a very special talent who will certainly go on to reach ledgendary status in the game.
year races avg med
2000 7448 6115 3348
2001 7155 6350 3541
2002 7732 6875 3935
2003 8053 7307 4046
2004 8590 7264 4124
2005 8609 7116 4040
2006 8961 7123 3886
2007 5571 6822 3253Above is the winning prizemoney both average and median for all UK races over the past 7 years. The median figure is a more realible general figure as it gives more creedance to every day bread and butter racing which is in the vast majority in the UK. Its a significant decline and I havent even taken inflation into account. The 2007 figure so far is below year 2000 levels!
Interestingly horses in training have increased from 15989 in 2000 to 19151 in 2006 a 19.7% increase which goes hand in hand with the 20% increase in fixtures over the same period. That increse keeps the average field size at 10.5 runners per race over the period. So really the race planners are just accomodating the increased racehorse population.
What is clear is that prizemoney is now below year 2000 levels, training costs have increased, I’d imagine that median sales prices have increased and yet there have never been more horses in training. The black and white economics of racehorse ownership simply dont add up.
So what is the attraction of ownership…..? In my opinion simply and starkly the betting exchanges and the "oportunities" they present owners these days. Its the only "economic reason" to get involved isnt it?
Perhaps the Big 3 need the exchanges more than they realise….
The race of the summer, hope Notnow can do it and finally get the credit he fully deserves.
