General Chat

[fatherjohn]

I might be late to discussion here (there's been a bit to catch up on this thread!) but how do people see implications for gigginstown horses? they've stood by Gordon but now we know none of his horses can run in his name. is there a quirk that would allow them to run under care of another member of Gordon's staff?

[Redbridge]

There are innocent peoples livelihoods at stake here, this removing animals is leaving a broken hearted stable lass in pieces, please remember the staff in all this.

Just to punish GE should be done with staff consideration and jobs in such times.

[Eggs]

I might be late to discussion here (there's been a bit to catch up on this thread!) but how do people see implications for gigginstown horses? they've stood by Gordon but now we know none of his horses can run in his name. is there a quirk that would allow them to run under care of another member of Gordon's staff?

....I’d be surprised if somebody else is allowed to take over his yard because the reality could be that Elliott is still running things in everything but name.

Giggi have stated they will stand by Elliott, but if he gets a lengthy ban ahead of the Spring festivals that could still see them moving horses elsewhere with assurances to Elliott they will send him stock when he’s allowed to resume.

[RufusFlynn]

What a sad few days for the sport.

Unfortunately it was probably naive to think that the original image was an isolated incident - but surely it is only correct that other things emerge now also. Racing is under scrutiny, but the only way things improve is to expose the behavior that is unacceptable and make it extremely clear that this is the case. Racing should be 'The sport of Kings' and this is evidently the action of little boys.

Those involved in the images show a clear disrespect for the animals but also for the wider sport. It has come to me this morning that for those horses to have died there; there will have had a be a work rider/stable lad/lass on board at the time of death, who I can only assume is traumatised by the experience, so the disrespect is also for their colleagues. I can only assume (and in a way hope) that the behavior is a result of some 'jack the lad' style culture - as I would like to think the people get into racing primarily for the love of horses.

It is not for me to speculate on the adequate punishment, but it is clearly somehting that needs addressed.

No doubt, there will be further evidence and accusations to come but it is important to remember that these are still the very small minority of the population that work in and support our sport.

[Redbridge]

I might be late to discussion here (there's been a bit to catch up on this thread!) but how do people see implications for gigginstown horses? they've stood by Gordon but now we know none of his horses can run in his name. is there a quirk that would allow them to run under care of another member of Gordon's staff?

Karl Burke and his misses had to come to this arrangement but with him living off the premises for 6 months and unable to set foot upon them.

[Carnage at Taunton]

I don't think speed should feature in this at all. Suspensions should be introduced to allow a full and thorough investigation. It has to be thorough. They cannot rush to appease the baying mob.

Of course we will carry on with racing and the festival. There are disgusting people in most sports / walks of life. Talk of shut down / stopping racing is complete and utter nonsense, so don't worry

Absolutely a full and thorough investigation, and if they can do that without interrupting the racing, then great.
When i say i am worried, its for the festival yes, but my main worry is for the sport and its future.

[charlie]

Looking back a couple of days and lthen forward to the months of March and April, this could be one of the most significant periods in the modern era for defining whether NH Racing survives or starts a rapid decline into oblivion.

This might seem like a doomsayers exaggeration and I sincerely hope it is but part of me now feels that we could be on the top of a very slippery slope with few realistic options of stopping safely.

For the sake of thr sport, in my opinion GE will be given a very strong puishment to help assuage public opinion. Any leniency here and the people who are leaking this information, pictures and videos will just put more effort into what is seemingly becoming an orchestrated campaign.

Very soon we need some high profile trainers to come out publicly and condemn what GE and others have done, otherwise their silience will be treated as acceptance rather than condemnation.

In my opinion, how ITV deals with this issue on Saturday could be a defining moment. They could either stoke the fires or help to put them out depending on how they portray this, who the flag bearers are (Fitzy again would be good again but they need some trainers and stable staff, as well as Briony). Also and I'm loathe to think it let alone write it here but there must be an outside chance that ITV could start to think again whether or not to televise NH racing. The last few days will have significantly eroded the good job which ITV has clearly been doing over the past few years to enhance the profile of NH racing.

I said up front that March and April could be key months and that's very much on the basis that anti NH racing activisits will be using both Cheltenham and Aintree to publicise their cause, especially if there are ongoing high profile incidents or a high number of fatalaties at either meeting. Maybe its sctually a good thing that there will be no crowds attending this year, which hopefully will minimise the chances of on course demonstrations.

I hope I'm way off the mark here but I fear I may not be.

People need to get a grip now, this is getting absolutely ridiculous.....'whether NH Racing survives or starts a rapid decline into oblivion', I mean really?!?!?!?!

Why would a billion pound industry followed adoringly by millions end because a stupid idiotic twat like Gordon behaved deplorably, or because Robert James is a sick twisted disgusting little cunt?

There are wrong un's in every sport, and in every walk of life, but that's why the authorities exist, and that is what they are for.

Suggesting ITV will walk away and that racing will start a rapid decline into oblivion is the height of nonsense IMO.

[Madmoose]

I might be late to discussion here (there's been a bit to catch up on this thread!) but how do people see implications for gigginstown horses? they've stood by Gordon but now we know none of his horses can run in his name. is there a quirk that would allow them to run under care of another member of Gordon's staff?

I was wondering would they back him to the point of not bothering to send theirs to Cheltenham to make a point knowing them?

I’d feel for Jack Kennedy missing out on all these rides though if none went across.

[Hurricane fly]

It is a very good point though that how ITV handle this could make things either a lot better or a lot worse in the public domain.

How many people will see RacingUK discussions on it outside of the racing fan bubble? A fraction of those that will see ITV coverage.

I personally would trust Ed Chamberlain to handle this well

[Eggs]

....looks like he has a ride in the Bumper today, be interesting if he takes that up.

Sitting astride a dead horse for a photo could be a ‘thing’ in some yards. If it is, I imagine there’s a few nervous people about in racing.

....no surprise to see that hose R James was due to ride later today is a non-runner.

[Madmoose]

Any comments from the Morans regarding this situation and their horses?

[ryanh97]

People need to get a grip now, this is getting absolutely ridiculous.....'whether NH Racing survives or starts a rapid decline into oblivion', I mean really?!?!?!?!

Why would a billion pound industry followed adoringly by millions end because a stupid idiotic twat like Gordon behaved deplorably, or because Robert James is a sick twisted disgusting little cunt?

There are wrong un's in every sport, and in every walk of life, but that's why the authorities exist, and that is what they are for.

Suggesting ITV will walk away and that racing will start a rapid decline into oblivion is the height of nonsense IMO.

I'm not too sure I agree charlie. I agree that ITV won't walk away, but I don't disagree with NW that NH Racing could be massively on the decline. I don't find it difficult to envisage a world where the majority of the public find it unacceptable.

[ryanh97]

It is a very good point though that how ITV handle this could make things either a lot better or a lot worse in the public domain.

How many people will see RacingUK discussions on it outside of the racing fan bubble? A fraction of those that will see ITV coverage.

I personally would trust Ed Chamberlain to handle this well

Agree with this HF. For all the criticism Ed gets on here, I think he'll be bang on for this.

[Big Bucks]

I know the weights are officially out tomorrow, but I take it we might bet some in drips and draps on likes of twitter today? Just like the entries certain people get the goods a day early?

[Brital]

I really don’t like the way the BHA have held a gun to the owners head. They’ve gone beyond their jurisdiction and it seems like a vendetta.

imagine IRHB doing the same, there would be an uproar. Seems like bully boy arrogance from BHA.... I hope it comes back in their face big time

Totally agree - it’s disappointing that the BHA response to someone sitting on a dead horse is for them to get on a high one.