Good piece from Kevin Blake RE: Irish stewarding

I would say a Great piece George, the only journalist in racing to speak his mind imo, as a racing fan who goes to around 94% of Irish racing I say he's spot on. We see obviously what the stewards fail or refuse to see. Day after day there are non triers , a lot from top yards who NEVER seems to get pulled in.Not Every race or race day has them mind, but some stick out like a sore thumb.To say such a small number of races only deserve to be looked at is farcical. Stewards needs changing as most of them are friendly with trainers, so you'd hardly expect them to come down hard on them.

racing journo isn't he attached to the Obrien yard,not averse to pulling a few strokes themselves

Its only recently he's joined Joseph's yard, all the more kudos for speaking out imo.

none triers  .. bring the game into disrepute .. that's why the  race course stewards don't want to know... big brush too sweep it under the carpet.. that's the easy route .and they take it.. Kevin Blake  included...........

tbf to them, much easier to spot a horse that is trying

on a slightly different note or maybe not, when everyone watching new for one reason or another the acapella bourg race last year stunk to high heaven,blake trotted reams of stats to say the horse could be the next Pegasus and the jocks behind couldn't keep up even if thry wanted do,blah,blah,same horse hasn't beat the stable cat since

I walked away from Navan racecourse that day in total disgust 1st time, that race for me said everything that was wrong with Irish racing. More than Kevin were deceived that day by the winner .

point been if there,d been a stewards and kevin was on the panel,he,d have produced reams of stats to say nothing to see hear,so if kevin can produce stats,reasons to say that race was ok,there,ll be someone able to give a reason why every race has nothing to see

I think the integrity of Irish Racing has been diminishing for many years now, and I for one have ditched many of their big races - the  results were repeatedly shocking yet no enquiry. And they were before the fiasco of Geraghty/Noble Emperor; the Exchange dealings concerning Faugheen in the last Cheltenham Champion Hurdle - investigation still pending after over a year; the Dublin Festival concerning the runnings and performances of Yorkhill and Melon, plus a few others.

I think the Irish Horse Racing Authority have yet to acknowledge the integrity of Irish Horse Racing is being undermined and no appropriate action undertaken to correct it.

Soon, horse racing in Ireland would be deemed so "bent" by punters (here) especially that it is prudent to steer clear as nothing will be done despite a blatant misdemeanor on track has been perpetrated.

should the stewards be looking at edwulphs win at leop or does kevin think the form of that race can be taken at face value,bearing in mind he said on the day he was gobsmacked at the result

Big Boss  one last one.
the Betfair Betting Will  point out the  buzzers last 3 mins.... that's when the real money goes down...ok they are not always right
but re the none buzzer  they are very  rarely wrong ...
couple of  bets win for me today at  Dubai     most races  worth winning prize money wise....so  get on

kevins been on a one man tirade since leopardstown.  those 3 mullins drifters, and the way they ran, have riled him beyond belief ...

and edwulph winning from his yard riled others just as much

Ist time, tbh I think you are going a little over the top, U.K. racing is worse imo, everyday people on here are blowing their top over certain rides, Havlin yesterday for instance. U.K. stewards are too busy bowing to the Sirs and Baronets.

he must have got the wrong me mo that day but as an alleged successful punter must have got the correct memo enough times

Going for a walk in the snow, I need to cool down and what better way than a nice stroll in a blizzard.

well kevin blake is saying you cant trust yourself to have a bet on the best horses in Ireland,trained,ridden by the best in the grade 1 races, with the eyes of the racing world looking in,cant see how you can go over the top
imagine standing up and saying if you want a bet in Ireland avoid the grade 1 racing it cant be trusted,whilst in the uk the opposite is said,

if the fobts are limited there will be big trouble

the books have run down their racing teams and punters have left racing in droves partly due to the points highlighted here

trying to get that punters back with a tainted product will be very difficult

It pays not to engage in the daily run-of-the-mill races as they are the quickest and surest way to join the destitute community, I firmly believe.

Could Blake have been financially compromised by the alleged offenders at the recent Dublin Festival? Barney Curley caused a mega enquiry into the riding of Robin Goodfellow by G Bradley, did he not and one or two others prior too? Dermot Browne on Brown's Gazette in the "Champion Hurdle"? That was not kosher either.

the trick to successful punting in Ireland especialy surely doesn't lie in the formbook but what is and isn't off so if someone like blake makes it pay he must be getting his fair share of nods,dont suppose he,s to bothered about having stewards in races in which he,s cleaned up in, but others looking at the bare form have never been in with a chance

you could have a stewards before the race is run.  7/2 at the bookies but if you ask paddy and mick nicely they'll do you 14/1 


tailed off ....

Impossible raises a good point. Is the only reason Kevin has complained because he lost money on these races? I think he is a decent guy in general but of all the other races he thinks should have been looked at, how many has he commented on on atr? Why doesn't he ask about Elliot's many dodgy runners in the past, is it because Gary is connected to the stable he says nothing? Pundits who hide behind the idea that you can't say anything or you won't get interviews etc are imop helping with the downfall of racing. And getting paid a fee to do so. Are they any different to the bookies reps?

Fair play that he's tackled it. Very hard to police though when McManus showed he could throw unlimited resources at it if he's horses are involved.

Also want to say Kevin messaged me about the drugs/vet issue and I appreciate he disagrees with me on that subject rather than he is dodging the issue. Thanks to him for that.

1st Time, conveniently forgot a certain Mr Bradley have we ? or even Mr Aherne.

Indeed - workrider

Graham Bradley, Dermot Browne, Deano Mckeown,  A Culhane, G Carter, 'Betfair' Eddie  - and a myriad of others, many still, miraculously, still holding a Jockey's LICENCE.

Savvy Form Students, and consequent Punters, were aware of their nefarious activities - well before the relevant Authorities knew what the christian names were.

But the self-serving 'Holier than thou', 'we know best', delusional attitude of Racing Administration has always pervaded - despite that approach actually being it's Achilles Heel.

most of those have been banned from racing at one time or another

Impossible raises a good point. Is the only reason Kevin has complained because he lost money on these races?

Well he did say Yorkhill was one of the most talented horses in training and should be running over 2 miles. Plus he was talking him up on ATR as if he was unbeatable that day against Min. I guess he probably backed him.

The lack of professional and committed stewards in both the UK and Ireland is an embarassment to the sport. I think the large field novice hurdles in Ireland take the prize for being the worst, not even a pretence of an effort on a fair percentage of runners. But there's plenty of rank non jiggers in the UK in similar events at the likes of Taunton and Chepstow.

Did Dean Mckeown not ride Cool Enough (Easterby or Chapman, I think)? I was flabbergasted when there was no stewards enquiry but I cannot remember which race it was as then I was only a laxed punter/follower of horse racing; the next day 'Sportinglife' race summary was not complementary.

To be fair I like listening to Kevin Blake when he is talking horse racing, that Final Furlong Podcast can be hard at times with the other lads stupid laugh but I do like some of the angles Blake comes up with. However I think the fact that Yorkhill was one of the drifters and ran like a hairy goat may have something to do with why Kevin Blake is so vocal here, he hasn't stopped talking the horse up as the second coming for ages and has been banging on about him being a 2 mile chaser and wanting him to aim at the Queen Mother. Now maybe I am wrong and being cynical but it's very co-incidental it was then he decided to speak out.

Non triers are, and always have been, part of the game - you can't honestly expect every single horse to be 100% fit and trying it's heart out every time it runs.
Would make the game far less interesting imo.

I'm sure there will plenty of Irish (and British) handicap runners at Cheltenham that run far better than their recent form would indicate - hasn't it ever been thus?. The challenge is seeing through the smokescreen - all part of the fun of betting for me. YMMV.

Yeah Yorkhill made Kevin look a proper ****.

The aussies seem to run a good show.

ffs conflating theres always been nons to 3 dodgey looking races within an hour in the top graded races,with some of the top horses in the uk

Alright lads?

Quiet day here with the snow, so I thought I'd make a few points in response to all of this.

Firstly, it is amusing and annoying in equal measure that racing journalists get so much stick about being gravy trainers and never rocking the boat, yet when an article such as the one in the original post appears that confronts the authorities and makes arguments that are in the interests of the betting public and integrity of the sport, much of the comment focuses on whether the writer is merely pocket talking or has some other self-interest.

For what it's worth, I didn't have a bet on the race. I was very hopeful that Yorkhill would be well suited by two miles, but anyone that knows the horse at all could see from the very early stages that the horse wasn't himself for whatever reason, which is why it was so frustrating that the stewards didn't investigate his run on the day. He was just one of a number of horses I highlighted on the Sunday Forum the day after the race that I felt the stewards should have asked questions of.

While hulk23 has said I'm on a "one-man tirade" about the Mullins drifters, that is not the case. I have only publicly mentioned those betting patterns once (briefly on the Sunday Forum) and have focused my comments on the failure of the stewards to ask questions of their connections to explain their poor runs on the day. I wouldn't be comfortable making public comment on the betting patterns until the results of the investigation are revealed.

p_r_e_m_i_e_r__f_a_n_t_a_s_y has questioned whether I only spoke out about this issue as I had a big interest in Yorkhill. Those that read my weekly column will know that the above piece is only repeating views on the stewards that I have been expressing in print for many years. I am only on ATR once or twice a month, so it is rare that such a high-profile case plays out in front of me that allows me to express those same views on air. That this case involved a horse that I am very fond of in Yorkhill was indeed a coincidence.

Regarding 1st time poster's comments about what I wrote about Acapella Bourgeois, I'm not sure how you drew those conclusions from the piece. In fact, I again used that opportunity to question why the stewards hadn't asked questions about it, even if I didn't believe any great error was made by the riders on the day: http://www.attheraces.com/blogs/kevin-blake/20-February-2017

Finally, I know that it can be frustrating for viewers watching the likes of ATR when presenters/pundits don't question rides that seem odd or worse. Of course, some don't have any interest in rocking the boat, but plenty would love to speak their mind and are simply shackled by legal concerns. Those that work in the racing media have to play within the lines of the defamation laws and trust me, you'd be amazed about how seemingly fair or innocuous a comment can result in big problems. I do my best to call it as I see it whilst staying on the right side of the defamation laws, but it simply isn't always possible to even hint at what I really think in public. Writing about the likes of non-triers, stewards inquiries, betting restrictions and drug cases are fraught with legal landmines, but I do my best to cover them and hold the authorities to account as best I can with the interests of the betting public in mind, as at the end of the day I'm a punter myself.

Good luck!

if we,re raising, asking questions,eyebrows about the top horses,top races,top trainers,top jocks luck doesn't come into it,

Kevin fair play for making the points. However it still smacks of not rocking the gravy train in most people's eyes. While it can be easy do get done for defamation, surely a comment like ' probably wasn't the smartest way to ride the horse' cannot result in defamation, yet you do seem to be at pains to defend rides instead. Gary is a brilliant presenter imop but would never question a ride. Too many pundits/presenters are connected to jockeys and trainers hence say nothing. But if someone is willing to take payment for doing a job then they should do it honestly and not be there just to make excuses for bad/rancid rides.

MJK,
The thing is, and I'm being 100% straight with you here, whether I'm talking on TV or making my own private notes, I very rarely find myself being critical of riders. Of course, there are always little things that riders could have done (with the benefit of hindsight) that might have resulted in them doing better, but personally, my focus is always on the horse and their performance. The comment I most often find myself making on air is only the lines of "if Jockey X could ride the race again, he might have did Y differently", but that is generally as far as I'll go with it. As you point out, I often find myself defending rides, but rather than being out of any allegiances to jockeys, that is because I often feel observers are too quick to criticise rides when there are more pertinent points to take from the race than that. Some will interpret that as being unwilling to criticise riders, but rightly or wrongly, that is genuinely the way I analyse the sport.

*along the lines of

ok Kevin thanks for the reply, as I said maybe I was being cynical due to the coincidence but take your word that was not the case

Just finished listening to The Final Furlong Podcast Kevin another Great Show,i never miss it.

whats the point in concentrating on a horses performance after its tripled in price,think the point been made that in top races in Ireland especialy that one race has nothing to do with their following race and in most cases the betting tells us beforehand when top horses are going to underperform,rightly or wrongly no one expects the form of the 3 leop races plus the edewulph race tobe upheld when the same horses meet again,and hores that drifted like barges last time will start at ridiculous odds comparative to their last run,people say its all part of the game but eventually punters will say the game aint worth playing, already think the conclusion drawn is anyone betting before 10 mins before the off is just guessing, imo, which in theory would exclude everyone bar setious punters from getting a run for their hard earned

Kevin thanks for reply. I think it's a case of everyone being tarred with the same brush to be fair to you. You get so fed up with hearing the likes of Mapletoft, Weaver etc constantly defend jockeys that you assume everyone does it for the same reason.

It is good of Mr Blake to gave his point of views nevertheless, if being constrained by legalities maybe one has to consider seriously whether one is inside or one is outside the horse racing fraternity especially if the constraints are too insurmountable to allow one to voice one's opinions freely and succinctly and free from contractual restrictions; either one is in or one is out, sometimes one cannot have it both ways.   

Sad but it is true Horse Racing in Britain and Ireland are getting progressively non-aligned to a horse's ability (proven or not), and the regulators seems unwilling or capable of dealing with it given the increasing number of injudicious rides by experienced jockeys (not amateurs or apprentices) on show on a regular basis. As a result I cannot bet with confidence thus no longer choose to partake in the majority of races.

If any entity or individual feels I have infringed their legal environment I'm all ears and ready to defend my views in any court of law, if necessary; free speech must be a given regardless, I firmly believe, and must not be guided/constrained by one's affiliation to any entity or profession.

impossible,
It is nothing to do with contractual restrictions or being inside or outside the horse racing fraternity. It's about being bound by the law of the land. I am a fresslancer and if I use a public platform to state that Jockey X has stopped a horse, even if I'm 100% correct, it is 1.01 that I will both have legal proceedings commenced against me and that I will end up losing. I could tell you stories about journalists and broadcasters that have ended up having to pay damages to jockeys/trainers for comments that would be considered by many to be fair comment. It's just worth bearing those constraints in mind when commenting on a broadcaster or writers apparent lack of willingness to "tell it like it is."

never heard of chris froome threatening any of the many foreign journo,s accuse him of using performing enhancing drugs, no wonder racing is a free for all for skulduggery

Irish Whisper

Thanks for your prompt reply. I can see where you are coming from, and fully understand your stance and predicament.

Unlike you I'm not a freelancer, and neither am I reliant on an income form horse racing (finally). Nevertheless, I still get a bit if grief if my posts here were of differing views to some others, but that is part and parcel of posting one's views on a platform like this one. To me, horse racing is only a game and it encompasses many factors, the main one being opinions.

Good luck, and thanks for your reply.

rather ironic that Lydia hislop turns out to be the only racing pundit with a pair of balls,

Lydia Hislop is ballsy alright, that's why I read and listen to her comments and contributions; the others especially those at the Racing Post...a waste of time and space. They are usually younger but believe they know it all even though it is wholly one-sided, inaccurate and lacking experienced.

1st time poster,
You may be familiar with Lance Armstrong. He successfully sued David Walsh and others for defamation, despite the fact that their accusations of his use of performance enhancing drugs were correct. Thankfully, they got it all back when he subsequently admitted his guilt. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/aug/25/lance-armstrong-settles-sunday...

were basically been told if pundits see jockstrainers stopping horses they wont comment on it, even worse concentrate on the horse and tell us other reasons why it was beaten,or am I missing something, bet you deli ali wish,s he was in the horse racing game

I am and I,m also aware of sam alladyce still waiting to serve writs on bbc reporters over 10 years ago,hardly suprising most people seer racing as bent, when jockeys,trainers no even if people think there up to no good they wont bring it to the public,s attention

enlightening to read your thoughts ,opinions whisper but anyone reading them who thought okay I thought that race,ride was a bit suspect but come on it was a grade 1 race,trainer,jockey etc I must be getting paranoid,will now be thinking no I,m not paranoid their at it and no one,s prepared to speak up out of fear of retribution,was reading similar opinions about cooper been intimidated on another thread who no,s maybe there true

fair play kevin.  certain irony that on the same forum you used to request the stewards to do more ted chose to roll out his after dinner anectode about turning up at a meeting and being instructed to finish last to preserve the horses handicap mark. 

maybe times have changed ... maybe not

This forum and all social media outlets are full of complete tools who assume that just about every horse who doesn't run up to form has been stopped, that any horse who finds trouble in running was a deliberate act etc etc. There are even some who assume that when an outsider wins the most prestigious steeplechase run in Ireland then it must have been a stitch up by the trainers and/or jockeys concerned.

There's little or no point in trying to reason with idiots who keep insisting that racing is rotten to the core, but yet they never seem to miss a day of it. Why do they bother if this is what they will always believe?

no visor this forum is full of people that no grade 1 horses,in grade 1 races trained by the best are been laid at 3,4 times their forecast price by people who no they arnt going to perform, vcopmpletely different argument to horses arnt machines etc

Personally, I'd help crowd-fund a knowledgeable individual who publicly rightly criticises a jockey who regularly rides injudiciously (knowingly or unknowingly) without punitive consequences from the appropriate body as I believe that is my right, as a follower of the sport and backer, to expect professionalism and fairness in the game. However, any racing journalist (freelance or not) would find that difficult because their livelihood and/or integrity could be at stake.

Yes ftv, agreed, but on the other hand when rogues like Charles Byrnes come out and confess that they can only make their business pay by gambling, one realises that his previous history only speaks for itself!

instead of a list of about 50 jockeys,trainers,owners who,ve all been banned for one reason or another ,were talking as though someone who accuses someone is the 1st to do it,previous bans already tells us its rife in the game

visor.  it was kevin himself that was looking for the stewards to speak to connections of the horses that didn't run up to form. 

does that make him a 'complete tool' ??

Can someone please provide the list of clean sports where the governing bodies have never had the need to issue fines, bans or suspensions.

Hulk, no of course not. I'm talking about the tools who are watching racing all day every day but who never miss an opportunity to tell us how the game is fcuked, going down the tubes, people are leaving in their droves etc. They apparently believe there was a time when horse racing was predictable and making it pay was easy, but not any more!

well whispers argument is that only looking into 2o 0dd races is a joke ,so he obviously thinks the stewards should be looking into many more ,so maybe the so called tools are far more clued up than you visorm
the game is fooked,punters leaving in droves are facts in most racing peoples minds, and if you think the opposite which you must ,think the word tool fits perfectly

if someones on here laying all the hotpots from a certain stable for anything you want and they then run like stink then maybe the game is fcuked ...

The same stable, at the same meeting, had a heavily backed favourite and another huge drifter ( 8-1 to betfair sp of 32-1) in the bumper. The drifter won. But nobody wants to talk about this - why?

My guess is that whoever it was that laid Melon and Yorkhill walked away losing money that weekend.

On the FF podcast Blake was rather distancing himself somewhat from the prospect of anything underhanded going on during the Dublin festival of racing, with regards to "alleged" betting irregularities.

^
that's the impression I got anyway.

I still don't understand how there hasn't been more noise about the Yorkhill performance in particular, Mullins summing up was quite frankly laughable, "he showed he couldn't go 2 mile pace over fences", how does he know? the horse who takes a tug as a matter of course looked half dead before he'd gotten over the first!!!!!

That needs an investigation all on its own if you ask me!!

which is why the whole thing kevin was advocating is a complete waste of time - if the stewards haul the trainer in and ask wtf was that joke of a run all about it was knackered before it got to the first fence he just says "he showed he couldn't go 2 mile pace over fences".  they note the explanation, end of.

listen Kevin, there are some f----n idiots on here who criticise a jokey even before the race. good luck trying to give an honest opinion. cheers.

jockey, sorry. cheers.

yes a complete nonsense.

Freudian slip bairn?

yes Duffy, it quite amused me after I noticed it. cheers.