well said james willoughby

He spoken so much common sense on the subject, imo.

Perhaps we should have a live TV debate with Willoghby, Chapman and the rule makers. May not get anywhere, but it sure would make good TV!

*Willoughby

roy ..must now step down

By common sense I assume you mean he agrees with you? There will be others who think it impossible that one man could spout so much claptrap in one evening.

Willoughby claims there is scientific evidence that there is no welfare issue. So is he not correct in saying it is nothing more than a PR exercise to appease people who couldn't give a sh!t about racing?

Willoughby has been superb tonight, imho...

Agreed,his comment about RFC and the PR disaster was spot on.

McNae also excellent, imo...

Not very often you can say that millhouse.

in trying to analyse hughes's words, willo completely overlooked the fact that hughes was acting emotionally and may well reflect differently

millhouse, when exactly was McNae excellent? Apart from agreeing with absolutely everything that Willo said all night - even the usual tosh about the chances of every runner in every race, or every winner afterwards - what did he actually say of any note?

what right has willoughby though to encourage and egg on someone to put their livelihood at risk...because that is what he was doing....pretty much called for a wholesale mutiny.....if he feels that strongly about it, why doesn't he pack up his punditry and whatever else he does connected to horse racing until the rules are changed.

Had to laugh when Willo said if a colleague at the RP took a stand he would support them...eh why does the name Paul Haigh spring to mind...

tbh...even though he kept saying "i'm just playing devils advocate " i got the distinct impression that he actually meant what he was saying but didn't have the balls to say so. put i might be wrong.

^
but

good guy, takes knocks when he gets them, not many in industry who takes it on the chin..lot of respect from me..even though his photo calls are a bit shabby

James Willoughby was correct on every point , the main one being these new rules were brought in as a PR exercise to appease the mob who have NO knowledge of racing , have , and never will have ANY interest in racing , and watch ONE race a year (Grand National) whilst eating a mixed grill with a side order of chicken nuggets (animal welfare concerns suspended whilst stuffing face) it's a total and utter farce.

It's a difficult arguement not to win,unless you have never achieved or won anything in your sad,miserable existence?

it's not just the once a year grand national viewers that know nothing about racing.
look at the number of folk on this forum who haven't a clue about whips either.

after last year's national there were hundreds of people who knew absolutely nothing about horses, calling the BBC to complain about the poor horses.
instead of the BHA informing the BBC that the water and the oxygen was already out at the finish to aid horse welfare as it was a very hot day, they kept quiet and let the BBC presenters ramble on about horses near collapse and needing urgent treatment etc.

the BHA should have stood up for racing there and then, and told everybody that what the public could see were safety measures that had been planned and put in place for the benefit of the horses.
instead they hid away and decided that if they didn't want the same complaints next year they better bring in new draconian rules that would please the once a year watcher. didn't matter if it chased away the every day watcher. 

the BHA don't care how stupid the new rules are for jockeys.
the racecourse stewards are landed gentry and jockeys are only serfs in their eyes, and the stewards enjoy nothing more than finding an excuse to ban jockeys. (especially hughes who says what he thinks about them in the RP)

most of these idiots that are complaining, don't want whips banned. they want racing banned.
now the BHA have moved everything along one step nearer to that.

let's hope that not too many old steeplechasers will get put down because their owners can't now afford to race a horse that only tries when it gets a smack with the foam covered whip to waken it up.

Owner puts horse down cos it cant be hit enough...yes, that wouldnt show racing in a good light.

what you dont seem to be recognising, Outpost, is that a lot of people object to the idea that jumps racing can push horses to the point of exhaustion or collapse  (i'd imagine that's why the BHA didnt want to broadcast their water and oxygen measures at Aintree).....Given that horses have no way of informing the jockey when they are nearing that point, a jockey can/will carry on hitting them....unless rules forbid. This is what i, as a watcher of racing for 30 yrs, find unattractive and thus welcome the new rules....the Flat i dont feel is/was such an issue but at the same time nor do i feel that reducing to 7 would chamge the sport unduly once jockeys had got used to it.

(btw If this foam-covered whip is so limp, why are you all getting your knickers in a twist about the number of hits being reduced slightly? If it's so limp, it must make barely any difference surely?)

Apart from last year's National duncan , which was an exceptionally hot day, give me one instance where a horse has been pushed to the point of exhaustion or collapse in the last 6 months.

not a fan of willo but he was brilliant last night

Completely lost my faith in willo last night when he said Tony Culhane was an exellent jockey riding horses from a bad draw he also said there was scientific evidence that horses dont feel pain when whipped but forgot to mention that there is scientific evidence that they do not run faster when whipped either.

Oh c'mon, bilbo...you see it all the time in jumps racing....just some people wont recognise the fact until a horse keels over.

willoughby rolled his sleeves up for Hughes (who acted incorrectly in my view), further adds he would strike for a fellow colleague, when exactly has he rolled his sleeves up for the ppl paying his wages, ie the punter subscribing to RUK and the numerous issues that never get covered in thr RP?

bilbobaggins 14 Oct 11 12:09 
Apart from last year's National duncan , which was an exceptionally hot day, give me one instance where a horse has been pushed to the point of exhaustion or collapse in the last 6 months.

Last season's Eider perhaps? (I'm not stalking you btw bilbo)

Could not agree with willoghby more in relation to the chicken nuggets  ,surley  a healthy side-salad  would be a better option
and  maybe  a   glass  of  red   or  white wine  to wash it down ;  or perhaps a cool  beer  depending on the weather .Personally I would go for a beer .

Of course as with all  Willoghby's statements  it is never  entirely clear what he really thinks ...put us in the picture  Jimmy ,
do you support chicken nuggets  as a suitable  side order to a mixed grill  , or do you not support said nuggets !!!!

bilbo

look back at murphys treatment of great endeavour in last years paddy power....watch on the sporting life website....look to the end of the video at the head on.....murphy was most definitely abusing his horse....and someone close to connections agreed wholeheartedly....if that is stopped, then something good would have come out of it.