Ruby Walsh says Paul Nicholls backs his 'pick and choose' policy • Jockey yet to decide whether to ride at Wetherby on Saturday • Racing seems 'a watered-down affair' under new rules Chris Cook guardian.co.uk, Ruby Walsh plans to discuss his immediate future as a rider in Britain with Paul Nicholls on Thursday morning(today), with the jockey's desire to avoid another whip ban hanging over the conversation. Walsh abandoned plans to ride in Britain on two days this week after being given a five-day ban at Aintree on Saturday, when he used his whip nine times during a narrow victory on Edgardo Sol.
Under the strict new rules on whip use Walsh will get a 10-day ban if he should repeat that offence, with the result that he now feels forced to ration his appearances on this side of the Irish Sea. "I've been talking to Paul about it, and his owners," Walsh said on Racing UK on Wednesday night, "and they're happy to back me in picking and choosing my way through this. They don't want me banned for 10 days."
The jockey, yet to confirm that he will travel to Wetherby to ride Poquelin in Saturday's Charlie Hall Chase, said he would "be a bit strategic, pick where I go and what I ride, in order to minimise the chance of getting that 10-day ban".
Walsh said his appeal against the Aintree ban would be based on the fact that one of his whip strokes was "an instinctive reaction to correct the horse". He added that he saw no reason to change the old rules, arguing that the number of breaches amounted to less than 1% of all rides.
He predicted that the current dispute between the British Horseracing Authority and the jockeys would "escalate" because "the rules are too severe and the penalties are too harsh". "I'm the first high-profile jump jockey [banned under the new rules] but by the end of the weekend I should think there'll be someone else in the same boat as me."
Walsh said he had found Wednesday's racing at Haydock to be a "watered-down affair". "It looked like a schooling race with everyone coming down the straight, pushing away with hands and heels."
its a shame the joke pub did not take my advice, for the last 5 years, ban, Mac the Mouth, from British Horseracing, for bring the game into desrepute, i did email to David Muir RSPCA, your organsisation well not get anothe penny from me, i see into days RP, a Keith Holland, quote me vertually word for word, of what i sent last week, but did leave a few things out, like if a jockey is found guilty, i'm sure the vast majority of people involved in horseracing would give there approval to have to the courts and have these people delt with, as they are animal lovers of all kinds. THAT ON THE MUIRs and ROLYs, who unbeleavble the joke pub took advice from and fear, i realised resently, i was discussing with the Monkey over the The J Rupert the con mouth, who at one time was proclaiming himself was the media Punters Pal, (to sell himself) till he jumped on the ban something that did not excist and was banned in Brittish horseracing, The bad old whip, band wagon, for his Pig pocket. There is an object that looks similar to and some people still tend to call it a whip, and the Mouth is one who has taken advantage of this misperception, AND as i said to the Joke Pubs monkey early this year, you have not heard the last of this Object issue, while that Big Mouth Piece is ranting on his little limelight box, for his POCKET.
its a shame the joke pub did not take my advice, for the last 5 years, ban, Mac the Mouth, from British Horseracing, for bring the game into desrepute, i did email to David Muir RSPCA, your organsisation well not get anothe penny from me, i see into
its a shame the joke pub did not take my advice, for the last 5 years, ban, Mac the Mouth, from British Horseracing, for bring the game into desrepute
Agreed..
its a shame the joke pub did not take my advice, for the last 5 years, ban, Mac the Mouth, from British Horseracing, for bring the game into desreputeAgreed..
"Walsh said he had found Wednesday's racing at Haydock to be a "watered-down affair". "It looked like a schooling race with everyone coming down the straight, pushing away with hands and heels."
probably the most damning statement ever about UK horseracing. it shows how far the sport has tumbled, from being a truly exciting competitive sport to being like watching grass grow.
"Walsh said he had found Wednesday's racing at Haydock to be a "watered-down affair". "It looked like a schooling race with everyone coming down the straight, pushing away with hands and heels." probably the most damning statement ever about UK hors
If you done a poll and asked 100 people from the general Public which would you rather. A Whip Ban or John McCricketer off the screens for ever, i bet it would be around 98-1 in favour of McCricketer off the screens. The one Abstained would be he poor suffering loyal wife who wouldn't vote against him but deep down would..
If you done a poll and asked 100 people from the general Public which would you rather. A Whip Ban or John McCricketer off the screens for ever, i bet it would be around 98-1 in favour of McCricketer off the screens. The one Abstained would be he poo
i was dumfunded whan John Banks Franks, started agreeing The Mouth, mind you like Dick Pitman,also agreed, as both of them stryggled to pull there (them whip through) let alone use it, they were both Fred Winter jokes, hunt them round, as we all kow jumping is crucial, but in a tight finsh, you would has thought Dick was on the throne, and the whip when he dared try, look like a windmill with on blade, in distress, and Franks did improve in time, two blades, unless the money was on, he could have STOPPED, hitting his horse's them, and lets behonest, they were riding for the top yard in the country, with one other succesfull jump yard nearby.
i was dumfunded whan John Banks Franks, started agreeing The Mouth, mind you like Dick Pitman,also agreed, as both of them stryggled to pull there (them whip through) let alone use it, they were both Fred Winter jokes, hunt them round, as we all kow
It was the racing press, for a jackanory on a wet nothing to writr about humdrum day, they just want a jackanory, and as we all, well nearly all found out they dont give a fiddlers who or what damsage they cause. whether its true, half-true, or a lode off boll!cks or not, and we all know the Media Pig, and what his goal was, HIS POCKET. cant remember his name, nor do i want too.
It was the racing press, for a jackanory on a wet nothing to writr about humdrum day, they just want a jackanory, and as we all, well nearly all found out they dont give a fiddlers who or what damsage they cause. whether its true, half-true, or a lod
Ruby had a nerve saying racing was watered down at Haydock,at Punchestown the cup of triers never threatened to runneth over.With British stewards they may have had 4 or 5 28 dayers for the jockeys and 40 days for the nags.
Ruby had a nerve saying racing was watered down at Haydock,at Punchestown the cup of triers never threatened to runneth over.With British stewards they may have had 4 or 5 28 dayers for the jockeys and 40 days for the nags.
The irony of this PR horror story is that the general public would just have carried on not really caring about the use of the whip if the total half-wits at the BHA had not done everything humanly possible to force it onto the media agenda with their ham-fisted, clueless, totally unecessary Racing For Change 'initiatives' ...
The irony of this PR horror story is that the general public would just have carried on not really caring about the use of the whip if the total half-wits at the BHA had not done everything humanly possible to force it onto the media agenda with thei
anything linked to BHA is doomed and cursed I tell ya. F****** public perception? Aren't punters and followers of the sport also part of this all powerful cult?
anything linked to BHA is doomed and cursed I tell ya. F****** public perception? Aren't punters and followers of the sport also part of this all powerful cult?
I agree with you Millhouse. The BHB have managed to make this whole episode a PR disaster and bring the name of racing into disrepute with the general public. The whole lot should stand down. I was talking to a person who has never been racing does not watch it on the TV and has no ineterest in horses but knew about the whip rule change and was spouting as if racing was cruel. This is what this debacle has caused. The BHA have managed to give gravitas to an issue that did not exist. All they needed to do was step on Jockeys more harshly that were found guilty of excessive use as a deterrent to others. Job done in my opinion.
I agree with you Millhouse. The BHB have managed to make this whole episode a PR disaster and bring the name of racing into disrepute with the general public. The whole lot should stand down. I was talking to a person who has never been racing does n
With respect to walsh, its no surprise hes got a ban and then jumped on a soap box, all fairly predictable stuff. Really worry for walsh/hughes/murtagh though cos i think theyre either gonna have to do an embarrassing u-turn at some point or end up watching the big races on telly. At the moment the BHA dont need to act fast to placate them cos these jocks are making all sorts of confusing comments which are making people think fck em.
Walsh going on about schooling races, messis left foot, ryan moores 'one smack could be abuse'. I know theyre all trying to defend themselves but theyre not doing a very good job.
With respect to walsh, its no surprise hes got a ban and then jumped on a soap box, all fairly predictable stuff. Really worry for walsh/hughes/murtagh though cos i think theyre either gonna have to do an embarrassing u-turn at some point or end up w
Perhaps the BHA dont need to act fast to appease them. However the BHA have already done irreparable damage to racing and need to act very very quickly or it will be too late irrespective of their opinion on jockeys.
Perhaps the BHA dont need to act fast to appease them. However the BHA have already done irreparable damage to racing and need to act very very quickly or it will be too late irrespective of their opinion on jockeys.
I'm not bothered about the BHA appeasing jockeys,they will come and they will go and newbies will ride to the new guidelines ( I don't think they are right either) however hardcore punters will be lost because the game is an out and out shambles nowadays.The BHA are so blinkered to perception and trying to find new blood that they are/have alienated the hardcore who yield the Levy through their punting. This gripe of course refers to too many fixtures and non incentivising prize money. If top Irish jockeys wish to stay there and ply their trade then so be it.No individual is bigger than the sport and that includes Paul Roy and his Shedload of ****.
I'm not bothered about the BHA appeasing jockeys,they will come and they will go and newbies will ride to the new guidelines ( I don't think they are right either) however hardcore punters will be lost because the game is an out and out shambles nowa
Might be wrong but i think the BHA and PJA agreed to review the situation in a month did they?
I'm certainly not a supporter but the BHA can claim to have made decisive (albeit stupid) action on animal abuse, then listened to jockeys and agreed a compromise to review in a month, then stopped commenting.
The jocks have flouted the rules, threw toys and now some are taking their ball home. None of which in a professional organised way and very little actual argument put forward by jockeys or trainers to justify keeping the whip at all. Somebody needs to get all these jocks in a room and explain that if there is still arguing and moaning next month, the only viable solution may be total whip ban
Might be wrong but i think the BHA and PJA agreed to review the situation in a month did they?I'm certainly not a supporter but the BHA can claim to have made decisive (albeit stupid) action on animal abuse, then listened to jockeys and agreed a comp
Pleasegive if you put adults in a room nowadays and treat them like that you will only get one answer. That might have worked in 1911 but this is 2011.
Pleasegive if you put adults in a room nowadays and treat them like that you will only get one answer. That might have worked in 1911 but this is 2011.
Lol i didnt mean lecture them. I meant that the BHA look like an organisation who has set a position and then stopped commenting. The jocks look like a bunch of kids with no unified direction and no coherent arguments. It doesnt really matter for now that the rules are ridiculous, theyre already in place, the jocks and trainers need to stop whining about it and start telling everyone how the sport can get back on track
Lol i didnt mean lecture them. I meant that the BHA look like an organisation who has set a position and then stopped commenting. The jocks look like a bunch of kids with no unified direction and no coherent arguments. It doesnt really matter for now
I believe the new BHA guy starts in January. That may be the current encumbents get out card. The new guy will no doubt be given the brief to look at this issue hopefully. Lets hope he can get racing back on track.
I believe the new BHA guy starts in January. That may be the current encumbents get out card. The new guy will no doubt be given the brief to look at this issue hopefully. Lets hope he can get racing back on track.
If you haven't been to Cheltenham and witnessed Ruby moving one up going down the hill,still on the bridle,with the stands erupting with "go on Ruby",even if you are not on,the atmosphere,as is Ruby,is special.It will be a big loss to the sport if he opts out.All sports need their stars.
If you haven't been to Cheltenham and witnessed Ruby moving one up going down the hill,still on the bridle,with the stands erupting with "go on Ruby",even if you are not on,the atmosphere,as is Ruby,is special.It will be a big loss to the sport if h
Well if the jocks aren't prepared to come together and propose viable whip rules but continue to complain about the current crap ones then the BHA will eventually ban it altogether. It will be the only option that stops jocks complaining and maintains the animal welfare steps forward that the BHA believe they have taken.
Well if the jocks aren't prepared to come together and propose viable whip rules but continue to complain about the current crap ones then the BHA will eventually ban it altogether. It will be the only option that stops jocks complaining and maintain
Everyone? Dont include me and I am sure there are many many more also. Do you ever have a bet on a horse. Do you work for the BHA. Looking at your posts I suspect you do.
Everyone? Dont include me and I am sure there are many many more also. Do you ever have a bet on a horse. Do you work for the BHA. Looking at your posts I suspect you do.
Ok not everyone will blame them but they will be the ones who refused to compromise without an alternative solution. Obviously I bet as im logged into a gambling site. The other questions a bit too ridiculous to answer.
Ok not everyone will blame them but they will be the ones who refused to compromise without an alternative solution. Obviously I bet as im logged into a gambling site. The other questions a bit too ridiculous to answer.
Did the BHA not say about eight days ago that they were the rule makers and they were not going to listen to people like jockeys (you know those litle men the ambulances follow around when they work). That did not sound like compromise.
Did the BHA not say about eight days ago that they were the rule makers and they were not going to listen to people like jockeys (you know those litle men the ambulances follow around when they work). That did not sound like compromise.
What about the clown on page 6 of the RP, he just confirmed what said about juranalists, tyring to make a name for themselfs, saying something so rediculous, he should be laughted off the Paper, and join the Murdoch now defuncked sunday beano.
What about the clown on page 6 of the RP, he just confirmed what said about juranalists, tyring to make a name for themselfs, saying something so rediculous, he should be laughted off the Paper, and join the Murdoch now defuncked sunday beano.
Arklearkle, I understood that the PJA commitee thing were happy with the open negotiations with the BHA and the PJA/jocks had recommended to scrap the final furlong lunacy and restrict punishments to bans rather than money. Both of which they got. But since then jocks are still getting on their high horses though?
I know in reality it wasn't a 'compromise' because the first set of rules were so wrong that they never would have worked anyway but by backing down a little the BHA seem to have bought themselves a month.
So what do you think will happen next month? Jockeys accept the current rules? Demand to go back to the old rules? Propose new rules?
Arklearkle, I understood that the PJA commitee thing were happy with the open negotiations with the BHA and the PJA/jocks had recommended to scrap the final furlong lunacy and restrict punishments to bans rather than money. Both of which they got. Bu