Bits And Pieces

Today there are four flat cards at Leicester, Brighton, Catterick and Wolverhampton.  It looks as if those meetings taking part on the turf are going to have to contend with plenty of cut in the ground.  Brighton hosts a seven race card and four of them are worth only £1617.25 to the winner.  When you take all the travelling and other expenses into account you probably will not have an awful lot left...if you finish second you will probably be out of pocket!  Owners and trainers need to stand firm and not compete for these sort of pots - so long as the courses can continue to get away with it, they will.

Today there are four flat cards at Leicester, Brighton, Catterick and Wolverhampton.  It looks as if those meetings taking part on the turf are going to have to contend with plenty of cut in the ground.  Brighton hosts a seven race card and four of them are worth only £1617.25 to the winner.  When you take all the travelling and other expenses into account you probably will not have an awful lot left...if you finish second you will probably be out of pocket!  Owners and trainers need to stand firm and not compete for these sort of pots - so long as the courses can continue to get away with it, they will.

There is quite a bit of local racing coming up in the days ahead at Exeter, Newton Abbot and Bath and I managed to get a couple of photographs of our entries for the boys' race at Exeter, Ladyvie and Clever Dick (who worked in company with flat winner Ruby Brook).

  
Above left: Ladyvie and right: (l-r) Clever Dick and Ruby Brook

There was a bit of a gamble that went astray at Wolverhampton yesterday afternoon.  Seven year old Light From Mars was backed from 4/1 down to 2/1 favourite and was very unlucky in running (didn't enjoy the clearest of runs) when only beaten a head.  It probably wasn't jockey Graham Lee's finest hour, but I am sure that if you let him ride the race again the outcome would be different.  He definitely looks like one to follow next time as connections will no doubt be looking to recoup losses.

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A brand new bloodstock website was launched yesterday...www.racehorsetrader.com looks like a really good, user-friendly way of buying and selling racehorses commission free for a fixed price.  It is backed by the Racehorse Owners Association and is full of information about potential purchases including extended pedigrees and videos.  It is well worth a look.

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It is the World Golf Final in Turkey today and there is plenty of prize money up for grabs.  The winner will receive £1.5 million, while the person who finishes last of the eight competitors will still pick up £300,000!  Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods take each other again, so it looks like being another day in front of the television!

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I see that top British swimmer Rebecca Addlington is cycling across Zambia in a charity bicycle ride - she says that she is not looking forward to camping tonight as there will be no shower available.  She also isn't happy about the lack of toilet facilities!  What's wrong with the old fashioned bush?  There are plenty of them around my local golf course and I have never found it too much trouble!  Word of warning - look out for puddles around Churston golf course!

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If the FA spend £100,000,000 on a new headquarters will it make us World Football Champions?  Of course not, but it will be a nice place for the boys to work or play!  Another complete waste of money where the money could be better utilised elsewhere.