Channel 4 Racing

Oh it was definitely public knowledge – it was in Sat mornings papers (well the Sun at least) and Nick Luck virtually admitted they’d missed the story later on.
 
MrsD123 said:
I don't see why ads on CH Racing are related to content, they don't bet in the Emirates, and I think the idea is to get people to go there on holiday.
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They sponsor the programme. Ever wondered why the drugs issue has been treated so flippantly by them? Don't want to upset the boss after all.

You're absolutely right about the lack of love for the horses. I'm not talking fluffy bunny, but JF (who has anopther job at Oaksey House i believe) & MF appreciate what these animals give. I cannot abide listening to those, whose betting knowledge I respect, go on when they don't even ride or understand how to care for a horse. Yes Mr McGrath owns racehorses, but lets see him on one. See the animal beyond the betting slip or winners purse. They are flesh & blood, who give their all & deserve to be treated as individuals rather than an accumulation of statistics. They are phenominal animals & deserve more than Ch4 give. Maybe their boss should get his trainers to respect his charges as well & work to eradicate doping in racing & endurance, becoming a leading light in the middle east for clean sport & against animal abuse at all costs to win.

Only good thing they did was to get rid of that loud mouth prat.
 
KautoStar1 said:
Oh it was definitely public knowledge – it was in Sat mornings papers (well the Sun at least) and Nick Luck virtually admitted they’d missed the story later on.
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Apologies - I don't ever look at the Sun content. :p

Twitter, usually being the first place news breaks, didn't pick it up until after the ML was aired.
 
Judgemental said:
Really good programme today.
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How the programme has changed, and how I agree with you. Such a mix of views, interviews and opinions. I thought that the Claire B input was excellent, she knows her stuff so why does she generally faff about with fripperies? There's no need.

I enjoyed the heart warming Henrietta K / Mick F interviews.

A vastly improved programme, I'd say!

Alec.
 
I really enjoyed this afternoons programme. There were more horses, paddock discussions, informative interviews. The horse was right back at the heart of the programme. Well done Channel 4. Do you think they have been listening to the viewers?
 
Well it just shows one man's meat is another man's poison. I think Nick Luck is an excellent presenter. Simon Holt does a great job on the race commentary, I reckon. All of the women are spot on at their jobs (and Claire, Emma and Alice can all hold their own on a race horse, too). Mick Fitzgerald is coming on leaps and bounds. The other two blokes, whose names escape me, are lacklustre. Rishi is irritating. The only thing I miss about the Beeb's coverage is their lack of adverts. They do get on my nerves. But guess C4 has to pay the bills without the luxury of the BBC's licence fee.
 
Chanel 4 comments this morning were, at best, barbed!!

So Lord Stevens has cleared Al Maktoum of any complicity in the doping scandal which has surrounded Godolphin, has he?

Maktoum commissioned the report, FFS. What did we expect?

Lord Stevens clearly laid the blame with junior management. Does this man really think that those who follow racing, and are passionate about the sport, actually give any credibility to his thoughts? Does Stevens actually think that we're THAT stupid?

Alec.
 
If you have enough money most things can be achieved. Cunningham was struggling to word his comments appropriately on The Morning Line today. Tricky given the programmes sponsor.

What a farce.
 
Agree with Alec, yes they do think we are stupid. Look at their endurance horses, they have no love of horses, just pres(bug*er forgot how to spell it) but you know what I mean.
 
I don't like CB but I did think the one program she has presented recently (was it NYD?) was better than usual, it was a bit more human overall, not just her bits.
Still they did OK yesterday, covering that many races is always going to be hard work and I really do think Rishi has improved.
 
Yes Rishi is better than he was five years ago, still sometimes just a bit of a "spare best man" at a wedding :).
I did not see yesterday's Morning Line program, but if it was controversial, was Jim McGrath there, or was he on "diplomatic leave". He does not mince words.
 
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Was also very surprised (& pleased) that they didn't take the report at face value. Took a stand despite he with the money pays for C4R, well done!

There was a recent FEI conference about cleaning up international endurance (please note in gb there are no such issues), and some certain middle east countries (those in the 'group 7' who are the source of the problem) refused to attend. Shows they have no intention of changing their ways, despite over 30 horses loosing their lives in these countries just this season. No other sport would accept this fatality level. Their response to FEI 'crackdown'? To run their races under national rules, not FEI so don't have to adhere to any of the rule changes. We should ban all horses & riders from these countries from all horse sport international competition, including racing, then they might think again.

Only this week there was a live stream race from Bahrain (one of the group 7 countries), where a horse approaching the finish slowed to a trot due to fatigue. The response was for the rider to beat hell out of the horse (in the uk whips are totally banned on the final circuit), then someone got out of one of the crew cars & using an object started to beat the horse, then several cars crowding the horse used their horns to try & scare the horse into going faster. This video made it to youtube, but 'disappeared' in under twelve hours.

Looks like the brown envelopes have been in use again.
 
It is absolutely dreadful, I can understand racing has fatalities, and I think we in the UK do a lot to limit them, and have good H&S standards for both horse and jockeys.
I suspect this is not the case for other countries,and if the arabs want to win that much, all they need to do is buy all the best horses. That's what they do in T.B racing, why not endurance, and if these problems occur in "Arabia" all they need do is put up barriers like quarantine hospitality to stop competitors entering.
It was international outrage that curtailed the use of immigrant boys on racing camels. the want to be seen as "not third world", but underneath they don' t care
 
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Endurance is in full pelt in the Middle East. 20 horses killed through exhaustion this season. Videos showing crew behind exhausted horses beating them to the finishing line. Barbaric people who want to win at all costs and they have the power and money to rule racing in Europe. Sport of kings, don't think so. Sport of Arabs that have the propensity to cheat more like.
 
Please write to royal windsor horse show & ask them to ban all people wishing to compete in their endurance race from the middle east. We should have the right to refuse entry to these people for races held in our own country! This is the email address:

sophiea@hpower.co.uk

BTW, it's over 30 horses killed in the current season in Bahrain (which with UAE & Qatar is in the group 7) alone.
 
Brilliant journalist on ch4r this morning, has excellent grasp of steroid issue out of training. Hope people listen to him. Noticed presenter from last week who said Sheik Mo's report clearing himself of participating in doping of his horses not entirely to be trusted was missing, as was JM.
 
pip6 said:
Brilliant journalist on ch4r this morning, has excellent grasp of steroid issue out of training. Hope people listen to him. Noticed presenter from last week who said Sheik Mo's report clearing himself of participating in doping of his horses not entirely to be trusted was missing, as was JM.
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I have ordered his book dealing with Armstrong and all the rest.
I seem to recall at the time that Sheik Mhmd and the BHA were sharing a table to announce the setting up of an inquiry, ludicrous.............
 
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The ads are irritating, and all geared to the punter. Claire is brilliant, she has lost a lot of weight - hope she is ok after her cancer scare of a few years ago.
Dishi Rishi does a good job, and I enjoy Mick Fitz's down to earth comments. The others tend to over analyise everything, with their stats, facts and figures. Having said all of that its wonderful to have 2-3 hours of top racing to watch on the telly every saturday afternoon. And roll on Cheltenham !
 
I thought it was better today because they spent more time looking at horses in the paddock, thank goodness there was no Rishi, Alice continues to do a good job and her interviews are just like she is addressing a friend. Nice to see a small stable Caroline Keevil having the big winner today, thought Irving looked tremendous too.
 
MrsD123 said:
.......
I seem to recall at the time that Sheik Mhmd and the BHA were sharing a table to announce the setting up of an inquiry, ludicrous.............
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One would have as much confidence in lunatics who were running an asylum. The, as you say, 'ludicrous' aspect to this is that those who agree to such an enquiry seem to think that the racing public are idiots. We're not idiots (at least not theirs) and we should stand against such insulting behaviour.

Surely it's time for the puerile excuses and playground politics to be expelled. It wont happen with the spineless BHA leading the field, so if they are as inept as they sound, then it's time for the common man to speak up.

I understand the limitations placed upon the Ch4 team, and I admire their courage, such as they're able to display.

Such a memorial service for Terry Biddlecomb, and how I wish that we could have heard Alistair Downe's address, in its entirety, and clearly. Can any clever bods on here, find it on youtube? I'd be forever grateful.

Alec.
 
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