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Hunt Ball’s dismal failure in the US does not come as a surprise. Don’t know what Atlantic Equine paid for him, but if it was anything over $30K, he was greatly overpriced. His last UK win at Taunton was what amounted to a generous Class 3 event, whereby he didn’t really beat anything. Supposedly he got his ground in the US, but not once did he pick up his feet. Thought maybe he didn’t like the inner turf courses, but not getting a result at a proper chasing course (Far Hills) tells me he is quite ordinary. A lateral move from Sheppard to Henderson won’t help. There was no issue with his jumping the US obstacles, he’s just not a very fast horse.
It would have been interesting to see at what level he would have been competitive. Perhaps, he would have been better suited as a Timber horse. Moving back to the UK won’t change the fact that he is ordinary and I would not expect him to win a significant race. I applaud Atlantic Equine for taking a shot at trying to bring a quality chaser/hurdler to the US. Unfortunately, Hunt Ball wasn’t that horse.
There wont be much change out of $300K after the purchase price, 2 plane rides and training fees…
So far the Olympics has been hosted by around 14 or so cities with either no racecourse, a racecourse that doesnt meet standards and ones which may be great but that no one wants to travel to at the time of the Olympics.
The cost of building a track as well as a stadium would be prohibitive. And what do you do with it after the games-especially in a country with no racing heritage.
It wont be like Greenwich Park which was violated for about 6-9 months.
Darts would be easier to put on. Just need a room that can fit 500 overweight drunks…
Probably the last sport that would be considered.
They would never bring in events that would rule out a large number of potential candidate cities from the start. Leaving the Olympics with a small pool of cities with major racecourses…
Its OK for tennis players to agree say 3 times in 12 years to give up earnings to play at the Olympics and have minor changes in their training regime once every 4 years
But world class horses would be asked to give up running in a major race for prize money to run for nothing at the Olympics.
No fan is going to give up Goodwood, Deauville, Del Mar or Saratoga to go to watch…
According to John McCririck, Frankie also has a very moody side, " like everyone else " , so it will be interesting to see how he copes with the atmosphere in the artificial house, especially with the likes of annoying and oily Z celebrity – and X factor loser, Rylan Clark, moaning ( whilst no doubt endlessly mincing away ) at everyone. :roll
Nobody has the Ego or mood swings of Spencer Pratt. Im thinking of a real confrontation between him and Frankie.
Spencer will view Frankie as a complete nobody…as most Americans would view people in racing. However there was a huge cardboard cutout of Frankie on Ravens Pass suspended from the Westfield Mall by Santa Anita this past Breeders Cup…
I wouldn’t think he counts as a celebrity, even by Big Brother’s distorted sense of the word. What portion of the general non-racing fan public would recognize him?
I first read the thread title as "Is Frankel going on Celebrity Big Brother?". That’s a much better idea.
Written like a true American using the logic that the public has no idea who anyone in racing is.
Dettori is one of the most famous people in the UK. Team Captain on BBC Question of Sport. Preseented Top of the Pops. Frankie Dettori pizzas used to be sold at "Iceland" supermarket. Now there are a chain of his restaurants.
His ban recently was the lead story in the papers and TV sports news…and he has countless other non racing related media appearances
Im glad he isnt running in the Breeders Cup. Even with our clocks going back tomorrow-a week before the US does-the Breeders’ Cup Mile will be run at 1140 UK time and the Classic at 1230am.
And don’t for a minute think that the American sporting public will be glued to their TVs watching Breeders’ Cup with or without Frankel.
They will be watching USC-Oregon which starts at 4pm pacific and Alabama-LSU which kicks off at 5pm. Gotta love the College Tiddylwinks (sorry football)…just the way it is 4 of the top rated teams matched up with each other right when the big races are on…
I think the Coalition will last for at least 2 years-not least because neither Labour or Liberal party will have enough money to mount any campaign for well over a year.
I wonder if Brown is now questioning the decision to have the election on May 6. Certainly in London it might have been a real boost to canvassers and activists in Harrow, Brentford and Isleworth and Ealing/Acton etc to wake up on May 7 with Labour Councils returned to power. The party would have had little money left for a June 3 election but perhaps the momentum gained on May 6 would have been worth it
Papillon was owned by an American-Betty Maxwell Moran-owner of Brushwood Stables-who would definitely be known by American flat folk
I like Schoolyard Dreams at his current price. Derek Ryan his trainer is a good guy and coped well last year with all the Triple Crown mania with Musket Man.
Oh and he worked for Barney Curley
Paddy Young was with Henrietta Knight for a long time. Bernie Dalton I think worked for Alec Stewart and Luca Cumani. Robbie Walsh and Willie Dowling rode their share of winners here.
The Grand National would soon lose its appeal with the public if the same trainer had around 16 horses in the race every year.
If I had a vote for HOY it would be definitely be for Zenyatta.
Not much to split the 2 horses apart-but i’m fed up with Jess Jackson and his PR onslaught.
You should check out this site and possibly consider joining this group. Rachel Hood (aka Mrs Gosden) is the Chair.
I talked with Rachel and Tom Goff on Saturday-and will be trying my best to help the group in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Aidan should do more long interviews. 40 minutes after coming off set from what i’m told was his first ever lengthy interview on American TV-he saddled Man of Iron for his first BC win for 6 years
It’s a shame that HRTV is no longer shown in the UK. The Pursuit of the Cup show-which is the equivalent to The Works-is awesome
From what I saw today I thought that Einstein look really good and Bickersons who goes in the Juvenile fillies appears to be training well on the track. Saw Lord Shanakill for the first time since he left Britain
Golden Jubilee runner-up Cannonball trained on the Downhill Turf course and didn’t seem to like crossing over the main track-unlike Canadian Ballet.
Owners here get absolutely no value whatsoever for owning horses/shares in horses in Britain.
I believe that the ROA badge scheme is in the process of being overhauled and that the 100% equivalent will be lowered to 50% soon.
Compare that to the US. I have a New York Racing Association owners licence-requirement to get one is to have a 3% share in one horse. Free entry, free parking. Can go into the paddock for any races with the exception of the Belmont Stakes and the 2 races before it and the Travers Stakes and the 2 races before it.
Have access to the backside at Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct-with the sole exception of the Stakes barn at Saratoga.
Pay reduced prices during racing hours for beer, food etc on the backside. $1.75 for a beer etc
I will never own a hair of a racehorse in Britain again. I’d either go with the vast owners bonuses paid in France or the US
