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Grey Desire a group of us go down each year to York and the reason we keep going back is because it is a great track with great facilities..Davie Jay we used to go to Ayr to most meetings but stopped because we felt it was nothing more than a rip off ..still miss the Prince of Wales across the road though.
I have to agree with everything you say Wallace and what makes it worse is that they still believe they are the top track..white elephant springs to mind..compare it to Hamilton and there is no comparison alongside Musselburgh who have come on leaps and bounds in the last few years ..the steps from the bookies to the bar still kill me right enough..here is the article in full i hope Big Broon from ATR doesn’t mind me posting it here..HORSE RACING: GO AND TAKE A HIKE Jan 8 2003
<br>£40 entry is a National disgrace<br> <br>Garry Owen (Gordon Brown)<br>
<br>AYR racegoers will need to stump up £40 to watch the Scottish Grand National in April and September’s Ayr Gold Cup – a scandalous rise of almost 50 PER CENT.
The impoverished seaside track is desperate to raise cash and punters are being asked to pay through the nose.
But I’ve got news for the Ayr executive – it’s just not on. Are these people living in the real world?
Do they really think it’s fair to ask a man and wife travelling from Glasgow, Edinburgh or beyond to fork out £100 on transport and entrance money – before they even strike a bet or enjoy a snack and drink.
The early runnings of the Ayr Gold Cup were plagued by highwaymen.
But apparently nowadays you don’t need a mask to fleece punters with entry to the Club enclosure rocketing from £27 last year to a staggering £40.
Management at the racecourse, which is currently for sale, have defended the massive hike, saying extra expenditure is incurred to cater for the big crowds.
But that excuse won’t wash with most of the Ayr regulars, many of whom have to settle for three per cent rate- of-inflation ceilings on their wage packets.
Disgruntled punter Rab Montgomerie – who runs a bus every year from his Falkirk pub – phoned the Record to complain.
He said: "We all thought £27 was too much last year and I’m sure there will be a backlash when ordinary working people are asked to pay £40-a- head."
Another unhappy racegoer said: "To charge £40 for one day’s racing – which isn’t in the same league as Cheltenham – is disgraceful.
"I paid the same to watch Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid in the Champions League final at Hampden Park."
However, Ayr clerk of the course Chris Kennedy defended the price rise yesterday.
He said: "Ayr may not be a Grade 1 course in terms of facilities but it is in terms of racing classifications and the decision for the increase was taken at a board meeting in the autumn.
"At last year’s Scottish Grand National meeting there were a lot of complaints about overcrowding and this rise is needed to help pay for easing the congestion.
"All the various options were discussed and the view was taken to look at the price structure. It is a substantial hike but where else can you get six hours of top class entertainment for £40?
"If you compare our new prices with what is costs to get into the likes of York and Cheltenham I don’t think we are being unreasonable.
"There are 15 and 10 per cent reductions if you book between now and the end of February and I can tell you we’ve taken some bookings already without anything being said about the prices."
Leading bookmaker and rails layer Ricky Martin said: "I’m an annual member at Ayr and I can’t believe they’ve put the Club stand up to £40.
"I know a lot of punters that come over in cheap ferries from Ireland but I can’t see them coming now.
"This will definitely see a decrease in business for all rails bookmakers."
Lorna Bromley-Martin of Scottish Racing, the umbrella body that represents all five tartan tracks, said: "My job is to market racing in Scotland as value for money and I very much hope these prices are reflective of facilities that Ayr can produce on the day."
Ayr are in talks with police with a view to limiting the crowd for the Gold Cup and Scottish National fixtures.
Sadly, those discussions may not be necessary as many punters won’t be able to afford to attend Scotland’s two showpiece events.
Common sense should prevail. It’s not too late for a re-think, Ayr.
<br>
As someone who had Deano’s Beano i was happy enough with the result..but all the same it still annoys me to see the way Thierry Doumen always gets questioned when losing a race if half the jocks in this country were questioned as much it wouldn’t be so bad.
One that annoyed me was when Derek Thompson was commentating on a horse called Milngavie it is a place just outside Glasgow and when pronounced actually sounds like MILGUY he never once got it right.
Another story from the Record today it concerns the amatuer who was warned off …………THE traditional world of the blue-blooded racing officials at the Jockey Club in London is far removed from its seamy namesake on Spain’s Costa del Crime.
But former Scots jockey Adrian McPherson is a man well- acquainted with both.
Five years ago, he became the first rider to lose his licence for bringing shame on the sport, after he was sentenced to jail for living off the earnings of prostitution. But, on appeal, he was given community service instead.
His sordid tale exposed the dark underbelly of racing, after his Edinburgh sauna was at the centre of rape claims involving a hooker and four top jockeys.
After the case was abandoned because of a lack of evidence, the Jockey Club probed McPherson, concerned that jockeys had been getting sexual favours in return for inside information.
They refused to renew McPherson’s licence in 1997 because he was "not a fit and proper person".
But sources say they were never able to nail race-fixing allegations.
The Record’s campaign has exposed corruption that has cost thousands of ordinary punters money. It has also seen one jockey admit to throwing races for cash – and it has now caught up with McPherson, 44.
He’s leading the high life, flitting between his home on the Costa del Sol and his house in Scotland.
Teetotal and non-smoking, he is one of the most feared and respected figures in the murky world of Costa crime.
He can be found in a restaurant at the marina in Fuengirola called The Jockey Club which, on paper, is owned by his girlfriend, Lindsay.
He has his own table in one corner overlooking the harbour. A seat there is by invitation only.
Short, wiry and always clear- headed, he receives people at his table to discuss business and horses. He is also revered guest at the Costa del Sol racecourse.
He was a good friend of Brian Wright – known as "The Milkman" because he always delivers – who also frequented the track.
Wright is now holed up in northern Cyprus instead of facing life in prison on cocaine charges.
The gangster was featured on the weekend’s Panorama programme as the linchpin in the entire race-fixing scam.
Outwardly, McPherson comes across as a quiet man. He lives in an end- of-terrace town house in Torrenueva, in the hills behind Fuengirola, with his long- term lover.
Their two rottweilers are let loose on anyone who dares to make inquiries at the whitewashed villa.
But it is The Jockey Club that is the hub of McPherson’s empire. It is where he summons those he wants to talk to or needs to deal with.
He has been under investigation by Spanish police for alleged smuggling.
McPherson’s name has also surfaced in connection with the brutal killing of Irish money launderer Michael McGuinness, who was found dead in the boot of his car at Malaga airport two years ago.
But yesterday, McPherson’s girlfriend denied he had anything to do with race-fixing.
Speaking from their villa, Lindsay claimed: "He doesn’t go to races and he doesn’t even gamble.
"I think you’ve got it all wrong. He’s not even here at the moment to defend himself. I saw the Panorama programme and he wasn’t even mentioned, so I don’t know where you get your information from."
But a police spokesman in Fuengirola told the Daily Record: "We are aware of McPherson and are interested in his activities."
<br>
Rory ,I have to agree while it makes it interesting to see other stories on the matter this story printed today was in my opinion a non starter ..i don’t believe for a minute that Wullie, Jock or Tam or whatever he wants to call himself felt anything for the punters but this was probably put in to make it sound good for him..the point i think that maybe should be made is to jockeys that they need to watch who they are associated with in the future ..if they look at this themselves it can only do them good..if the O’Donnell story is true i would hope that the JC contact him to verify the claims as it would do the sport a whole lot of good to be seen to be trying to repair the damage which has been done.
Since the programme was shown on Sunday the Daily Record up here in Scotland have had Hugh O ‘Donnell in the paper saying he had races fixed for him by jockeys when he was an owner..i think it was Alan Bailey he had his horses with and Alan Mckay rode most of O’Donnells runners..he had a reputation of a big money punter so it wasn’t a surprise to see him featured in the paper and today they printed this story…<br>A FORMER jockey last night revealed how he made thousands of pounds throwing races for corrupt owners.
The ex-apprentice also told how he and fellow jockeys plotted to make sure the horses they had backed finished first.
His confession comes as the probe into corruption in the sport and links to organised crime intensifies.
"Jamie" (we have changed his name to protect his identity) told the Record he was once paid £10,000 not to ride a horse.
He also says he accepted bungs of £500 to £1000 a time to "box in" a rival horse to make sure it had no chance of winning.
He said: "The reason I am speaking out is because I am sick to death of watching guys blow their wages at the bookies when I know deep down that they aren’t getting a run for their money."
As a teenager, Jamie, from Glasgow, dreamed of being a champion jockey like his hero Willie Carson.
He thought if he worked hard at his apprenticeship and gained enough experience, he would hit the big time.
However, the deeper he became immersed in the racing world the more his eyes were opened to race fixing and bribery.
He said: "On one occasion, I sat in a sauna with five other jockeys who were going to be riding in a six horse race that day.
"We all decided who was going to win. Say there was a 7/2 favourite, a 6/1 and an 8/1 – we would put our money on the 8/1 shot. Instead of 10 per cent of the £1000 prize money, we’d all get a couple of grand.
"We worked in a team and were all given specific targets to block."
Jamie began his apprenticeship aged 19 at Newmarket. He spent a few years in Scandinavia to gain experience but the pressure of keeping his weight down lead to drug abuse.
He said: "Life as an apprentice was tough. You are treated like dirt.
Drugs
"I had to take amphetamines to suppress my appetite in order to keep my weight down.
"If I was told two days before a race I’d be riding and realised I wasn’t going to make the weight, I had to take drugs.
"In the next two days I wouldn’t eat, I’d drink plenty of fluids, take speed pills and run and sit in the sauna."
After success abroad, Jamie returned to Britain and was introduced to the seedy world of race fixing.
He said: "I always thought racing was all about winning, about being the best.
"My hero was Willie Carson and, like him, I wanted to go out there and win, win, win.
"I started getting good horses underneath me. When I was riding them every day I would know which horses were the best and I would spy on the trainer for the owner to make sure he was doing the job right.
"I knew the rumours about race fixing and had heard what was happening. Then I started getting told I’m only taking the horse out for a run, that it was not to win.
"But when I was in a race sitting on a horse I knew could win, and people back home were all rooting for me and putting their money on me, it made me feel rotten."
Jamie says the orders to throw a race never came from the trainers.
He said: "It came from the people who paid the bills – the owners."
Jamie revealed various ways races could be fixed. He said: "The owner would tell me to take it down the front if it wasn’t a front-runner.
"Sometimes they would put an apprentice on a horse and make it look like the horse bolted. Then they would blame the apprentice for not being experienced enough."
One time, Jamie was paid £10,000 NOT to ride a horse because a huge wager had been placed on it.
He said: "I rode it out the first time at 50/1 in a maiden.
"I was told, jump about and let him run and tire out before the race.
"He wasn’t meant to win because they were trying to con the handicappers for the next race.
"But he was such a good horse that three furlongs out, he picked up.
"He was so good that he was still going to win it and I had to make an excuse that I dropped my whip and reins and lost ground. I was scared in case I made a mistake and won.
"The next time out, the horse was supposed to win and I was supposed to ride it but I was taken off when a £60,000 bet was placed in case I made a mistake.
"It was far, far better than the other horses. It shouldn’t have been running in that field but they were conning the handicappers and I was paid £10,000 just for not riding.
"Usually though, I would get between £500 and £1000 for stopping a horse."
Sometimes confusion would reign when more than one owner tried to stitch up the race and jockeys were all involved in their own fixes without consulting each other.
He said: "Sometimes I’d be told to stop a horse but then other jockeys in the same race would be getting paid by other owners to do the same.
"I’ve seen a fight in the weighing room because of that – jockeys in fist-fights because no-one knew what the others were up to and were all blaming one another for ruining the race for them.
"If there was a six-horse race and three jockeys worked together, we would decide the tactics of how we block the others to let the horse we’ve got our money on through.
"I’ve been in situations where I’ve been in a race and I’m blocking horses behind. The horse out in front was the one I had my money on.
Jamie no longer rides and looks back on his career with sadness.
He said: "When my eyes were opened to what was happening I knew that my dream was over, that I wasn’t going to make it big because I was just a pawn.
"It’d be like playing for Rangers or Celtic and being told to go out on Old Firm day and lose the game."
Jamie is still pressed by punters for tips because of his background.
He always gives the same reply: "When people stop me in the bookies and ask for a tip I tell them don’t wash your feet with your socks on.
"Don’t gamble. It’s a mugs’ game."
Yesterday, we exposed race fixer Hugh O’Donnell, who boasted of the ease with which he could guarantee the result of a race.
It followed Sunday’s Panorama, in which Major Rodger Buffham, ex-director of security at the Jockey Club, revealed the scale of the problem, sparking a massive inquiry.
I think most folk will have expected stories like this to follow the programme ..the story of the amatuer jockey who was banned a couple of years ago it was well publicised up here and he was the owner of several brothels and saunas and a top northern jockey who was associated with him was up on rape charges around 3 years ago i think it was along with the guy who got banned ..the jockey was cleared but he was dogged for a while by the revelations of being associated with the guy concerned .
I have never been lucky enough to own a horse or even a share in a horse,but i feel Mark Johnstons comments are a bit OTT when he started out did he have the top horses in training no he didn’t and i doubt if he would be saying this if he hadn’t been successful,obviously everyone would love to own a top class horse but this is the real world and there has to be a place for every horse in training no matter it’s rating but what incentive can there be for prospective owners if the case that David has made out occurs more often than not something has to be done but unfortunately i can’t think of anything off the top of my head .
What mentality is that Aiden ..the mentality that knows when to stop listening to same stories everytime something doesn’t go right….knowing that yard had setback would had me more inclined perhaps not to run the horse in such a race.<br>Over the years we hear stories about the Derby taking so much out of a horse maybe it is the case the horse has had one hard race to many if that is the case then maybe we are being to hard on the horse but time like everything else will tell…personaly i tend not to side with one camp or another so i am not having a go at Hawk wing Aiden if i offended you i can only apologise.
Yes he did give his all yesterday but once again just fell short , you can only make so many excuses for a horse not winning.
Just to say a very well done to Amelia and everyone connected ,managed to get a little on her on train back from York but congratulations you all must be very proud.
If i remember rightly did someone not go into the retired racehorses thing a couple of years back and found that some ex racehorses were found to be left in an appalling state,this brings me back to someone i met around 2 years ago it was after a meeting at Hamilton and it was in the pub about 200 yards up the road from the course it was trainer Micky Quinn who had been running horses at the course a nicer more genuine guy you could wish to meet i would say, and i can honestly say i was shocked more than suprised when i read about the state of some of his horses i honestly couldn’t believe that he would have let this happen after the way he spoke about his horses he put them first in everyway as to the way they were treated and to how they were looked after, he genuinely sounded as though he would never do anything that would bring his charges to harm,but as could be seen by subsequent event’s some of his horses did manage to be left in a bit of a state the thing that concerned me about these horses were that they were at the time still running at racecourses if they were in such a bad state why did he get to run them ,i know this may be way off beam but it still lurks in the back of my mind that quinn was never really accepted into the racing set and that they looked to get rid of him as soon as possible put it this way i have spoken to a couple of trainers in bars on the racecourse and never have i seen one like Mick Quinn someone who was prepared to stand and chat with you for more than an hour just chewing the fat and guess what not once did he try to sell us a horse now that has to be a first from a trainer.
I think if the jockey club are seen to do nothing then racing will receive more bad publicity and it won’t be the fault of any TV makers that the bad publicity arises it will be racing itself they can’t just let this go by them ,Ferdy Murphy it has been said didn’t lay the horse at Betfair if this is true then he did lie but it was to prospective owners looking to buy a horse in his yard so either way he lied which makes him look totally stupid and i have to say that Jamie Osborne just doesn’t help himself you would think after all the carry on last time around he would have more sense to say anything like he did,i have also heard people say that the interviewers kept harking back to get the answers they wanted to hear the simple way for the trainers to get involved in that would have been to say we do not resort to those sort of tactics if you wish for something like that to happen i suggest you try elsewhere but all three were more than happy to do what they were asked ,all in all they should be asked in to explain themselves and see what happens from there .
Whether we agree or not about the trainers i think most of us would agree on one thing and that is the JC have to get their act together i feel they have stood back and basically washed their hands of it all and for a governing body that certainly doesn’t look good to any outsider .
Whether you think it was a fuss about sod all or not if the JC are seen to do nothing it will make things worse all i can say about Jamie Osborne is what a total prat you think after the false allegations made before he would have known better obviously not, as for Murphy whether he actually did bet on betfair what he said puts him in a bad light as for Wintle he certainly didn’t help himself the trip concerns are nothing new to us who follow racing but to an outsider it certaintly didn’t look good but all his pap about a fiddling horse and a job horse he made himself look bad, all in all the 3 of them made the statements so they can’t complain about it now thats the one thing most folk have glaringly forgot to mention they did say it so they will have to stand or fall by it they can blame no-one but themselves.
