Jack Berry's New Book
- Proceeds To The Injured
Jockey's Fund
***Breaking News***
Following his hearing with the BHA yesterday, it has just been announced that Nicky Henderson has been handed a 3 month ban and a £50,000 fine imposed upon him. The verdict comes following the Lambourn trainer being found guilty of administering a banned substance to Moonlit Path prior to a race at Huntingdon in February. Henderson cannot run any of his horses between July 11th and October 10th. 3 Jul '09
Plenty Of Interest!
By
I was watching racing on the television yesterday and I always take a keen
interest in the claimers and sellers. As I am sure you are aware, in the
early days a lot of the runners from Pond House came from these type of races
(including Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand). I don't think you will
ever see another Champion Hurdle winner come from a
Anyway, I did happen to notice one that should certainly be capable of holding
his own in better company yesterday. It was in the 3.00pm at
*****
We continue in great form on the Pipeline with five winners advised yesterday at
odds of 5/2, 2/1, 6/5, 11/10 and Evens - I hope that you were on!
3rd Jul '09
Water, Water Nowhere!
By
From the sublime to the ridiculous...racing at
All you can say is that it was a complete mess up - A P McCoy got it right again
when he said, "It was probably the right decision on the basis of the welfare of
the horse", but the decision should probably have been made a lot earlier.
Remember, AP lost his riding fees so he was out of pocket (by the way, did you
know that he still has the first fiver that he ever earnt?) - I just wonder if
*****
Followers of the Pipeline had a good day yesterday when they were steered in the
direction of three winners from four selections at prices of 5/2, 2/1 and 7/4.
Listen in to the latest information on 0900 3900 900 from 8am
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2nd Jul '09
The Irish Are Coming!
By
It looks like St Patrick's Day up at
One of the English owners, David McComb has decided not to run on the basis of
regular Irish invasions - he asks what the Irish put back into British racing as
they just take the prize money away. It sounds a bit like cutting your
nose off to spite your face to me, and remember, you don't hear this sort of
thing when Aidan O'Brien wins countless Group One's over here on the flat.
Perhaps they could look at changing the entry fees so that the Irish runners
have to pay more to run, but why should they? Their presence makes the
racing more competitive. Take out the Irish runners today and that leaves
you only 32 runners across the entire six race card and that would upset
racegoers and bookies - it just goes to show that you will never please
everybody!
*****
I see David, our resident photographer extraordinaire has been taking a few
shots down the gallops that would impress local wildlife enthusiasts - here you
can see a deer that strayed onto the gallops. I don't know if David tried
to throw a saddle over him, but I'm sure he would have been a good jumper!
A deer on the gallops at Pond House this morning
A Bed For The Night? You'll Be Lucky!
By
I see that staff accommodation at the racecourse is in the news again after some
lads had to sleep on the floor at the course hostel. I won't mention the
course, but they hold the Northumberland Plate and have a pretty moderate
football team!
I remember when I used to go racing twenty years ago or more, the accommodation
back then was truly awful. I even had to sleep in a railway carriage at
Haydock where they only had one cabin with a lock on it. Rod Millman had
that cabin but forgot to lock it (I won't tell you what happened in the middle
of the night!). The hostel at Plumpton had no electricity and we had to
shine the headlights of the lorry into our room to see what we were doing (the
travelling head lad even pulled the gas oven over to his bed to keep him warm!).
In this day and age no-one should be made to sleep on the floor or share rooms
with complete strangers. It is this side of racing that the public are
unaware of, and is generally overlooked by the powers that be. It is about
time that something is done to improve the stable lads conditions once and for
all!
30th Jun '09
Glory Days!
By
Fame And Glory was a really impressive winner of the Irish Derby at the Curragh
yesterday afternoon, scoring easily by 5 lengths in the hands of Johnny Murtagh.
What I would like to know is how the O'Brien team could get is so wrong at
Epsom? You would have thought the Murtagh would have known which was the
best of his three year old's.
Admirable horse though he is, I don't think that Sea The Stars would beat Fame
And Glory in a strongly run twelve furlong race. If I was John Oxx I think
that I would avoid Fame And Glory in the future, although it would be excellent
for racing if they were to meet again. Racing is all about opinions and
now you have heard mine.
*****
I have to agree that there appear to be some peculiar disparities when the
Stewards' are handing out their punishments and Richard Hughes seems to be the
latest victim of a strange ruling. The six days he picked up aboard Saturn
Girl last week seems harsh and John Francome sums it up beautifully when he says
"from the experience I have had with the Stewards over the years, I think when
that door is closed they reach a lot of their verdicts by picking straws!"
It's a shame that Francome isn't still riding - racing could do with a few more
personalities like him.
29th Jun '09