Why does anyone bother going horse racing in Ireland?

Like saying it's as unpopular as Take That tbf.

Nothing can be as boring as Motor Racing or whatever they call it now.

Pretty pointless thread. Irish not to blame if Nicholls and Henderson can't be bothered to send horses over for their Gr1s.
If they did I would have a horse in training with them rather than with Willie Mullins.

why-does-anyone-bother-going-horse-racing-in-ireland

Autocue: let's take a wild guess - could it possibly be because it's the best racing (NH and Flat) in the world!

the pertinent question is why people go racing in the UK

people so far up their own ars es that they cant make any executive decision for the common good

races so uncompetitive midweek- that theres no point in betting - fans then getting irate when the favorite doesnt win..

field sizes so small that theirs no value at all

bookmakers shortening prices on a purely reactionary basis and not taking any bets

any good horse is immediately proclaimed the best ever

so called adults behaving like children at the race tracks

segregation enforced with different enclosures

racecourse entry prices offering zero value - over priced entry with little to no concession

and then they crap on about being the best in the world...the RUK mantra...its comedy stuff

could it possibly be because it's the best racing (NH and Flat) in the world!


They have some of the best turf trainers. The racing is 2nd rate when compared to the absolute best events.

I can't think of a single race in Ireland Flat or NH that is a world leading event akin to the Gold Cup, Derby, Arc, Kentucky Derby

Like Mercedes in F1 it seems Mullins horses just have to turn up to win. Boring. JP McManus has been brilliant for the sport spreading his good horses around many trainers including the next generation. Mullins' main owner acts like a greedy investment banker wanting to corner the market. Result, boring racing.
I'm not knocking Mullins in any way. The guy is amazing. The yards of other trainers get the virus and one after another of their horses run like drains. When Willie gets the virus his horses win in workmanlike fashion or get touched off by multiple grade 1 winners. Season after season he delivers the goods and good luck to him but I'd rather watch paint dry than watch one of his finish a fence clear at long odds on in a twenty runner maiden hurdle.

tilted, surely as the owner you dictate to the trainer where to run your horse.
For example if you have a horse in training with A Trainer in the UK you say to him enter it and run it at Tramore or wherever else you want ?

A lot of stupidity about on this thread morons.

Jan 3, 2016 -- 11:19AM, Racingqueen wrote:

could it possibly be because it's the best racing (NH and Flat) in the world! They have some of the best turf trainers. The racing is 2nd rate when compared to the absolute best events.I can't think of a single race in Ireland Flat or NH that is a world leading event akin to the Gold Cup, Derby, Arc, Kentucky Derby

Only toffs and clowns still think the Derby, run on a dog track, is a 'world leading event'.

Hang on as a veteran of the Oirish horse racing you cannot beat the crack but the racing and betting are so sub-standard it makes me unwell..

You can get an odds on favorite in a 30 runner handicap..

Don't mention the alleged bookmakers - that sean graham organisation (lower case intended) are a complete disgrace and are so ugly that they would double their trade if they wore masks..

(and it would not be the first time)....

hardly a dog track ,i have made lots of tongue in cheek comments about it but it is a unique test and helps keep the breed in shape

funny enough the best horse more often than not wins ,a straight flat 12f would be of no use ,lets face it no where in the world are is there such a diversity of tracks as the United Kingdom .

why don't the irish have more fixtures??

Given the populations of the UK - over 60 million v Irealand a few million, you
have to say that Irish racing is an unbelievable success story.

I love watching irish racing, not least because of the outstanding quality of the racing
and of course the pointers it gives for all the top class races

Aberdonia gets it in one , not enogh people to make it a 4 or even 5 days a week with the exception of festivals...

Outstanding quality of racing? You're having a laugh. Outstanding quality of Mullins horses for sure.

Isn't that good enough Autoque? Even the Thurles/Clonmel midweek winter NH meetings usually have a few decent animals whether they are Mullins/Elliot or whoever.
You generally have the better UK horses running in a 90 minute gap on a Saturday,why go racing in the UK except on Saturday should have been your question.

Mullins had more winners in Ireland last season than the 2nd, 3rd and 4rth trainers combined, he won half the races at Punchestown Festival

its very unhealthy for the sport and as said by a few on here, becomes rather boring, you get the odd rick on a few of his good horses but mainly they are priced accordingly at odds on

people will say the the others need to up their game but what exactly can they do? Mullins gets 30 french prospects to another trainers 1, no one can deny he has a good eye but he is given a war chest by a handful of the biggest and best owners in the game

only the owners spamming Mullins can change the game but with his results in the big races why would they?

aberdonia 04 Jan 16 10:03 Joined: 18 Oct 08 | Topic/replies: 12,101 | Blogger: aberdonia's blog
Given the populations of the UK - over 60 million v Irealand a few million, you
have to say that Irish racing is an unbelievable success story.

I love watching irish racing, not least because of the outstanding quality of the racing
and of course the pointers it gives for all the top class races

Love it Aberdonia and if the "English" had not taken charge of Jolly old Oiland then today it would be ..

40 million in the UK v 80 million in Ireland...

Feck me where would they have fit..

And I am not taking the rise..

admittedly Mullins' domination leads to a lot of uncompetiitve stuff in Ireland. but i think that their product is a lot better than ours. Not as much racing and, because of that, you usually see at least one very smart prospect a meeting (not so much at places like downpatrick obv). I'd rather go to watch a smart horse like a douvan, shaneshill romp home than watch a meeting consisting of 4-runner fields of moderate horses slogging through heavy ground, like seems the norm here midweek

Bit of an unhealthy interest in individual horses you've got there. Irish racing is a misnomer imo. For a race you need competition.

Autocue did you see the 1.30 at Linfield today.

Inferiority complex Irish having to twist the question. It's like 'our racing might be uncompetitive but it's better than English racing.' I haven't seen any convincing argument demonstrating how it's good for Irish racing to have one trainer with a stranglehold tightened by greedy owners.

Auto you started the thread perhaps you may be the one with the complex

Autocue is correct.The one man dominance should not be allowed in any field of sport.Oirland is too small for such a monopoly and the Authorities should act accordingly.

The capacity to rig a horse race ( is too stro...n...g..

Sorry I have just wet myself...

Dont worry Willie will ensure that Cheltenham races will be competitive this year - he'll probably run 3 or 4 in most races.

Unlikely as he has to spread them out to let the greedy owner win. Still haven't heard a convincing argument as to why it's worth paying to see one horse schooling sessions in Ireland. if you want to have a go at what's wrong with English racing start you're own thread. There would be plenty to talk about on that subject and not something I would get defensive or passive aggressive about

Been to most courses in the UK,& would put my visits to the curragh in the top 5 of racecourse experience.

I have attended the Curragh on multiple occasions including once when we flew in on a private plane with the local Chinese..

On Derby Day though it was never a pleasant experience and on other days the place was empty.

Jan 5, 2016 -- 3:47PM, BARROWBOY wrote:

Been to most courses in the UK,& would put my visits to the curragh in the top 5 of racecourse experience.

Leopardstown is far superior in every way

Just to close out from my point of view I'm sure there are plenty of beautiful tracks in Ireland well worth a visit regardless of owner/trainer dominance. I think there is a serious point about single trainer domination, supported to the exclusion of other able trainers by an owner out to corner the market, being unhealthy for the sport. It's one thing being cocky about 'Irish' horses dominating at Cheltenham but an American owner winning with French breds is as fake Irish as the plastic shamrock pubs that no city in the world seems to be able to do without.

Hardly our fault that everyone wants to be associated with us because of our wonderful hospitality and outlook on life, has its advantages and disadvantages of course, what would you suggest we do though...?

Well Cork that would be a long list headed by the fact that you should take the probable half a million Irish that are on the Dole and the four million that claim tax credits in the UK back to that land of "wonderful hospitality and outlook on life"....

Just a thought..

Vincent O'Brien and Tom Dreaper was doing a Willie Mullins back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Anne Duchess Of Westminster was the Rich Ricci of her day. ( Arkle, Ten Up, Kinloch Brae, Ben Stack, Dickie May etc )

Not possible HFT, you have made them all so welcome, they won't be tempted until they reach retirement age and can claim two state  pensions..!

Auto of WM's 8 winners at last years festival 3 were French bred. I reckon you need to have a look at PFN's festival winners since the turn of the century - 19 French bred 11 Irish bred and 4 GB bred.

couple of lovely nibbles there