Victoria Pendleton to train as a jockey

ycbm said:
Apologies, it was EKW

Of course i think her achievement was outstanding? Don't you??? Or do you really think it deserved. qualifying as you did by pointing out that other horses are more difficult to ride?
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yes of course it is outstanding, we are all agreed on that, for sure.
PS if anyone offers me £200K, I will be quite happy to take up the reins again, unfortunately I won't get further than the first fence, where I will carefully [or not] dismount!
 
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Oh dear, some folk are so churlish! it was an amazing achievement by any one's standard, yes, she had a good mount but she still had to ride it and to get there in a year is astounding. She rode him sensibly, stayed out of trouble and got a fifth. Fantastic, I'm so thrilled that she got round safely and denied all the naysayers a field day. She is one gutsy strong determined woman, a proper role model and we should all celebrate her success.
 
It does feel like some people are desperate to be able to criticise her about something. Unfortunately for them, she rode a nice race and didn't fall off, so now all that's left is criticising her for not thanking the horse in one interview, immediately after the race, when she had interviewers bombarding her from all sides. Or of course saying that the horse did it all, which again I don't think is entirely fair. He certainly gave her a good ride, but we can equally say that she gave him a good ride - would he necessarily have jumped so well if she hadn't been doing a decent job in the saddle?!

Anyway, for what it's worth, this stuff about her not praising the horse is a load of rubbish. The Guardian has her as "quick to praise her horse". She said: "A better, more experienced jockey would have won that race today. If I hadn’t had a ride that was that smart, that canny and that experienced I wouldn’t have got into fifth position". http://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...al-foxhunter-chase-dream-audacious-ridiculous

Oh look, here she is again, not praising her horse :rolleyes: (watch the vid): http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/35845695
 
Well done VP. I hope you had a wonderful day.

What an achievement for someone new to the sport, regardless of the quality of the horse she was riding, those are big fences and riding at speed in a race is not for the faint hearted.

I don't know why people can't be more celebratory towards others achievements {probably jealousy?}.
 
Nina Carberry received a 7 day ban for over use of the whip. Victoria P left her horse and tack whilst being allowed in to the winner's enclosure. Generally the rider keeps their saddle and girths with them and goes straight to the weighing room. Is there a ruling regarding jockeys and the unsaddling process? There also remains the question if she's breached the terms of 'Amateur Status' regarding any payments.

None of the above alters the fact that VP completed the task which she set herself, I was impressed with how her mount quickened and how to her credit, she 'rode' him at the last. I may be wrong, but I suspect that what many find a little irksome is the hype and media attention around a former olympian who had an offered opportunity that many more able amateurs are never offered.

I wonder if it would be an idea for the larger bookmakers to offer sponsorship to those amateurs who, given the opportunity, would blossom. (eta, or do they already? :) )

Alec.
 
That's brilliant. Actually, I mentioned that she hadn't thanked the horse but she was bit incoherent so wasn't sure if I'd missed it and knew it would be brought up.
HashRouge said:
Anyway, for what it's worth, this stuff about her not praising the horse is a load of rubbish. The Guardian has her as "quick to praise her horse". She said: "A better, more experienced jockey would have won that race today. If I hadn’t had a ride that was that smart, that canny and that experienced I wouldn’t have got into fifth position". http://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...al-foxhunter-chase-dream-audacious-ridiculous

Oh look, here she is again, not praising her horse :rolleyes: (watch the vid): http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/35845695
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lol, poor bloody woman ... talk about you can't please all of the people all of the time ..

firstly (according to some) she shouldn't have been there, then she wouldn't last five fences, then she wouldn't complete the course, then she'd finish last/had been told to hack round the back and stay safe ... then people complained because she wasn't higher up in the placings, they can't say that she interfered with the horse, 'battered' the horse (unlike some jockeys), endangered the horse with stupid riding, endangered anyone else ... so now her only fault is that she didn't thank the horse in a moment when she was clearly overwhelmed and desperately trying to remember to thank everyone who had supported her ... dear god, she just can't win!!

her achievement, and the achievement of her team, and yes, definitely the horse, was incredible. she was lucky to be given such a marvellous chance but it won't have been easy and she has shown guts and determination, and a massive pair of brave pants. Now all the bitching just looks like sour grapes tbh.
 
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Alec Swan said:
Nina Carberry received a 7 day ban for over use of the whip. Victoria P left her horse and tack whilst being allowed in to the winner's enclosure. Generally the rider keeps their saddle and girths with them and goes straight to the weighing room. Is there a ruling regarding jockeys and the unsaddling process? There also remains the question if she's breached the terms of 'Amateur Status' regarding any payments.

None of the above alters the fact that VP completed the task which she set herself, I was impressed with how her mount quickened and how to her credit, she 'rode' him at the last. I may be wrong, but I suspect that what many find a little irksome is the hype and media attention around a former olympian who had an offered opportunity that many more able amateurs are never offered.

I wonder if it would be an idea for the larger bookmakers to offer sponsorship to those amateurs who, given the opportunity, would blossom. (eta, or do they already? :) )

Alec.
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No Alec t would not be a good idea, they only did this for the ROI, being a first it pays off, being a second it palls.
From an public perception, bookmakers should not pay jockeys, whether pro or amateur, for obvious reasons . There are very strict guidelines laid down by the BHA.
I really dislike the fact that betting and an interest racing are seen as one and the same, it does not happen in football.
I am occasional racing punter, but just to keep my interest in particular horses, not the other way round. I never bet on raindrops running down a window, and only play the lottery when the odds are excellent, about once every three years, I don't "gamble" I "invest".
 
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AdorableAlice said:
There no doubt it has been a remarkable achievement in just a year, but lets not forget the horse. If you watch the entire race not once did he make a mistake, he remained straight into and after his fences and really looked after her. As AP mentioned on one of the interviews "the horse helped". The good old boy then ran on for her, what a super genuine schoolmaster he is and when he retires what a hunter he will make for some lucky person.
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Read what is actually being said - no one is saying she did not 'thank' her horse. What is being said and is totally valid and correct, is that the horse was a total star, gentleman, genuine and forgiving racehorse, and both she and us need to and have recognised the fact.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Read what is actually being said - no one is saying she did not 'thank' her horse. What is being said and is totally valid and correct, is that the horse was a total star, gentleman, genuine and forgiving racehorse, and both she and us need to and have recognised the fact.
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We're not referring to your post - Doormouse mentioned being sad that VP didn't give the horse more credit, to which Bonkers replied that she (VP) obviously hadn't understood that PdP was the key player in the game. But she clearly did thank the horse, quite effusively in fact. She clearly HAS recognised him for the star he is, and consistently gives him credit.
 
I really dislike the fact that betting and an interest racing are seen as one and the same, it does not happen in football.
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Isn't this because racing would not exist without betting revenues to finance it, where the same is not true of football?
 
Alec Swan said:
I wonder if it would be an idea for the larger bookmakers to offer sponsorship to those amateurs who, given the opportunity, would blossom. (eta, or do they already? :) )

Alec.
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I have to say when this first came up I was of the view that the opportunity should be given to someone who needed the leg up so to speak. Plus I was critical of the sense of such an enormous task and the safety aspect. What I missed was the point that it was a challenge - to swap saddles. It was PR plain and simple. What it's snowballed into is someone who not only accepted the challenge but has relished it and now wants to continue under her own steam. Chris Hoy is training to be a racing driver. Nowhere near the same level of publicity or public knashing of teeth. Is this because he's a man in a male dominated sport. Would he or say Bradley Wiggins have had the same negativity if they had made the same attempt as VP. I think not which leads me to believe a lot of the ill feeling towards VP is that she's a woman. A woman having go in what is still very much a male dominated sport. We are still a very sexist society whether we wish to accept that is another matter. I even questioned myself on this point as a woman. Was I against it because she is as a woman ??? I'm glad to say she has won me over. I love the fact she is now 'horsey' and she feels the way the rest of us do. I think horses have bought an extra dimension to her life she never expected after everything she had achieved. Well done Victoria.
 
This is worth a read http://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...g-cheltenham-festival-jockey?CMP=share_btn_fb

I was never a huge fan in her cycling days, but she's won me over in recent weeks. I can imagine British Cycling to have been quite a toxic environment at times, compounded by her father's success, the fact there was a time when cycling was the only thing Team GB were good at, and maybe pressurised in/into a career she wasn't 100% happy in. From what I've heard closer to home she's incredibly well liked by the Hill team, and I have a feeling thanks in part to the leveller that horses are, she's been accepted as who she is as a person rather than a winning medal machine who was the face of cycling for more than just her ability.

The fact she's now one of us is icing on the cake and I hope she continues.
 
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I'm sorry I just can't appreciate whatever it is she has done for racing. I didn't warm to her in her cycling days - a bit too smug for my liking, and I can't warm to her now. There are many young jockeys who have been picking away for years and who would have relished the chance to ride as she has. She came 5th, ho hum. I doubt anyone else would have got a mention.
 
You know what I love the most? The fact she was out riding work this morning, back on the gallops. She did brilliantly, give the woman credit - a brave, gutsy ride especially when there was so much negativity being thrown at her. Well done VP!
 
I wonder how many jockeys could have trained for a year to take part in a cycling event and come 5th?

She was a national heroine for her cycling efforts and she has risen to the challenge of race riding wonderfully. Think about any rider "beginner" - just how likely is it that they could take part in any sort of race afer 1 year? Or is the skill in riding over-rated, and if we took notice of what our instructors say we could all become top class riders within a year?

I think if you read about Olympic athletes you will find that many of them struggle to adapt to normal life as for years the Olympics has been their one and only focus. Well done VP, I hope you continue to enjoy your racing.
 
At the end of the day she has done incredibly, fantastically well for the short period of time that she has been riding and also given her age we all know it's harder to learn to ride when your older than about 10! She has balls of steel, she has clearly developed a deep love of horses and the racing game. She could have walked away at 5pm yesterday and never looked at another horse but she wants to keep going. She will find it harder next year when she will no longer have such a huge sponsorship as I suspect the BHA might intervene so it will be all done under the amateur code of secrecy.

Her horse yesterday did a wonderful job of looking after her and she had the good sense not to interfere with him and trust him. It's hard to quite literally put your life in the hooves of a horse and try not to intervene and thus f up, especially over big fences on the biggest stage and the biggest test of her life probably.

No one can deny what everyone involved with the project has achieved. But to me, the real hero of the day was the horse. Pasha Du Polder jumped wonderfully, straight, true, sorted himself out and gave her a superb round.

Also well done to Paul Nichol's and the Hill's for not only providing her with the horses but finding her the most genuine, safe schoolmasters they could. With the added bonus that they had talent.
 
ycbm said:
Isn't this because racing would not exist without betting revenues to finance it, where the same is not true of football?
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I mean when I tell people I am going to the races they assume it is for the betting, but betting is much more reliable using the internet for up to date info on every race every day.

The general public don't know that there is a betting levy, or that media rights are so lucrative that certain racecourse owning companies will tear up hallowed turf just to guarantee racing every day they can.

I think you will find the owners buy the horses and pay all the expenses, it is regulated and structured etc etc, all for the good of the sport, and it is a massive industry employing thousands in Newmarket alone, not to mention breeding, veterinary work etc, all world class.

Football is a platform for various revenue streams, and a lot of betting goes on. I think the bookies them pay for advertising rights etc.

I don't think many people could guess at the income derived from the bookies that goes back in to racing, or what percentage it is of their total gate revenue, it is obviously significant as there is always pressure to get more income, but the racing industry is massive, and quite a lot of it is well removed from the betting levy. The industry would survive without the income from bookmakers [betting is illegal in Dubai for example], though they provide the icing on the cake.

Regardless of all that, it is the public perception I am talking about, the person in the street who knows nothing of betting levies, or of sports betting or fixed odds betting, spread betting, internet betting sites, offshore or otherwise.
 
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Bonkers2 said:
I mean when I tell people I am going to the races they assume it is for the betting, but betting is much more reliable using the internet for up to date info on every race every day.

The general public don't know that there is a betting levy, or that media rights are so lucrative that certain racecourse owning companies will tear up hallowed turf just to guarantee racing every day they can.

I think you will find the owners buy the horses and pay all the expenses, it is regulated and structured etc etc, all for the good of the sport, and it is a massive industry employing thousands in Newmarket alone ..........

Football is a massive platform for various revenue streams, and a lot of betting goes on, but I don't think many people could guess at the income derived from the bookies that goes back in to racing, or what percentage of their total gate revenue, it is obviously significant as there is always pressure to get more income, but the racing industry is massive, and quite a lot of it is well removed from the betting levy. The industry would survive without the income from bookmakers [betting is illegal in Dubai for example], though they provide the icing on the cake.

Regardless of all that, it is the public perception I am talking about, the person in the street who knows nothing of betting levies, or of sports betting or fixed odds betting, spread betting, internet betting sites, offshore or otherwise.
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Not sure you can compare racing here with the racing in Dubai !
 
bonny said:
Not sure you can compare racing here with the racing in Dubai !
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Not sure what you mean: racing is International in every sense of the word, horses move around , finding their niche or level from Uruguay to Usbekistan, from Newmarket to Meydan, St Anita to St Moritz.
It just happens that the UK is one of the main centres of excellence if one can put it that way.
Owners and trainers are as international as the horses. The rich have always owned racehorses and always will.
 
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Bonkers2 said:
Not sure what you mean, racing is International in every sense of the world, horses move around , finding their niche or level from ruguay to Usbekistan, it just happens that the UK is one of the main centres of excellence if one can put it that way, owners and trainers are as international as the horses.
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Racing in Dubai is financed completely differently to racing in the UK,that's all I was saying.
 
EKW said:
And race fixing is perfectly legal :X
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I've never understood how Dubai can have such a popular racing calender yet above board betting is completely legal. Then again, it's a country as a whole that's run on corruption and lies so I shouldn't be surprised.
 
teapot said:
I've never understood how Dubai can have such a popular racing calender yet above board betting is completely legal. Then again, it's a country as a whole that's run on corruption and lies so I shouldn't be surprised.
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Its all about image........... the oil revenues pay for it all, and the tourists.
From time immemorial rulers have provided places of entertainment for the masses. Fortunately feeding christians to the lions is no longer acceptable.
 
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For those who mentioned breaking the BHA rule of having 5th in the winners enclosure, this is on Lawney Hill's racing page:

'Robert Waley Cohen came up to Paul and asked that VP and Pacha be taken back into the enclosure as the crowd would like it. Paul said no we don't want to take anyone's limelight but Robert insisted that as a director of Cheltenham racecourse they would like it.'
 
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