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Ramruma
16 Apr 24 04:30
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Date Joined: 11 Dec 02
| Topic/replies: 16,256 | Blogger: Ramruma's blog
The Daily Telegraph has a long piece about cocaine use by racegoers at Aintree. That is about the gist of it but one throwaway remark caught my attention:-

It follows Charlie Brooks, the former jockey and trainer, using his Telegraph Sport column this month to complain “cocaine-taking Peaky Blinders” – young men clad in similar garb to the violent gang from the BBC drama – had “completely changed” the atmosphere at Cheltenham Festival since the coronavirus crisis amid falling crowd numbers there.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/racing/2024/04/15/cocaine-grand-national-crowd-aintree-peaky-blinders/
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Report Ramruma April 16, 2024 4:32 AM BST
Cocaine rife at Grand National meeting as racing’s drugs problem deepens
Exclusive: Telegraph Sport found substance present in almost 40 toilet cubicles as racing struggles to control problem of drug use at course

Cocaine use appears to have been rife among those attending the Grand National, a Telegraph Sport investigation into racing’s “Peaky Blinders” drugs problem has found.

The class-A substance was present in dozens of toilet cubicles examined during this year’s festival, despite organisers declaring beforehand anyone carrying illegal drugs would be denied entry to Aintree.

The apparent scale of cocaine use at one of the most prestigious events in the sporting calendar has cast major doubt on racing’s ability to tackle the problem, sparking calls for the Government to act.

It follows Charlie Brooks, the former jockey and trainer, using his Telegraph Sport column this month to complain “cocaine-taking Peaky Blinders” – young men clad in similar garb to the violent gang from the BBC drama – had “completely changed” the atmosphere at Cheltenham Festival since the coronavirus crisis amid falling crowd numbers there.

After seeking assurances the world’s greatest steeplechase would not suffer a similar fate, Brooks was told organisers had “zero-tolerance approach” to illegal substances that included the use of sniffer dogs, body and bag searches, and amnesty bins.

But confidence in those measures are in danger of being eroded by the results of tests conducted on surfaces in almost 40 cubicles in 10 public toilet blocks at Aintree using small wipes that turn blue on contact with cocaine.

The drug, which has become cheaper, more freely available and deadlier in recent years, has long been linked by police to a serious rise in football hooliganism.

That has led to a change in the law to ban those caught in possession at matches from attending future games.

Responding to the Telegraph’s findings, Dame Caroline Dineage, the chair of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, said: “Last year, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee warned of the growth of drug taking at sporting events. To date, the Government’s focus has been on football, but the Telegraph’s inquiry into horseracing underlines that this is a growing issue across spectator sports.

“The committee recommended the police and the Government should be doing more to understand the prevalence and impact of drug use at sporting events, and the relevant authorities, including those in racing, must step up their efforts to tackle it.”

The Jockey Club, which operates both Aintree and Cheltenham racecourses, also said it would “actively” support legislation that helped combat all forms of antisocial behaviour.

A spokesperson added: “Tens of thousands of people enjoyed the three days at Aintree last week while behaving perfectly safely and responsibly.

“Unfortunately, cocaine use is an increasing societal problem, and this is something racing has been working hard to combat, with The Jockey Club taking a zero-tolerance approach to illegal substances across all its racecourses.

“A range of measures were in place at Aintree, including detection dogs, bag searches and pat-downs in operation at all entrances as well as amnesty bins. Anyone found to be attempting to access the site in possession of illegal substances last week was denied entry, given no refund on their ticket purchases and reported to the police.”

A Government spokesperson said: “The relationship between drug abuse and criminal behaviour is clear which is why we take a zero-tolerance approach to drug offences and have sought to expand the police use of drug testing on arrest.

“Our 10-year Drug Strategy set out ambitious plans, backed with a record £3 billion funding over three years, to tackle the supply of illicit drugs and build a world-class system of treatment and recovery to turn people’s lives around and prevent crime.”
Report Ramruma April 16, 2024 4:33 AM BST
Special report: Cheaper cocaine and fans after a buzz: Inside Aintree’s drugs problem

It is 7pm on Grand National day at Aintree and I am Maximus has long since galloped to victory in the 176th edition of the world’s greatest steeplechase.

Yet, time is only now being called on the party in the racecourse’s “Festival Zone” for those not to have had their fill of one of the biggest sporting, and social, events of the year.

For the majority, it has all been good, clean fun – as has been the case for most of the three-day meeting in Liverpool.
But for what appears an alarming number of the 129,817 who attended the festival, a dance or two, after a race or three, a bet or four, and a drink or five, did just not deliver enough of a buzz.

That is judging by the amount of cocaine found at Aintree by an investigation into what former jockey and trainer Charlie Brooks used his Telegraph Sport column to dub the sport’s “Peaky Blinders” drugs problem.

Brooks’ decision to sound the alarm about similarities between characters in the BBC drama – a “violent gang from Birmingham who shaved the sides of their heads, wore chavvy caps, took loads of drugs and unfortunately went horse racing” – and “cocaine-taking” racegoers at Cheltenham Festival sparked a fierce debate.

That will only intensify following an investigation by the Telegraph that found use of the class-A drug appears to have been rife among those attending the Grand National.

Not just on the day of the big race itself but throughout the Thursday-to-Saturday festival, during which multiple tests were conducted on almost 40 cubicles in 10 separate public toilet blocks at Aintree using small wipes that turn blue on contact with cocaine.

They included control tests carried out before the gates opened each morning in order to rule out the drug already being present in those same cubicles, which had virtually no trace at the start of day one.

By the end of Grand National day, almost all of the cubicles had shown significant evidence of cocaine, with white powder visibly present in several of them.

All this is despite race organisers the Jockey Club reassuring Brooks before the event that anyone carrying illegal drugs would be denied entry to Aintree.

As at Cheltenham, the “Peaky Blinders” look Brooks linked with “edgy groups of young men” was among the many fashion choices made by those attending this year’s festival at Aintree.
Report Ramruma April 16, 2024 4:34 AM BST
Just two arrests related to drug possession were made

But the focus of one of its biggest ever security operations was on stopping a repeat of last year’s storming of the course by animal rights protestors that delayed the Grand National by almost 15 minutes.

Indeed, Merseyside Police confirmed on Monday there were just two arrests at this year’s festival related to drug possession on the course, with one man also detained at the main entrance on suspicion of possession with intent to supply white powder that was seized.

The force did not respond to questions about whether any of the 13 men and one woman it said on Saturday had been arrested over the course of the event had been cocaine-tested.

Most of those held were in relation to violent offences, something with which the drug has long been linked.

And while the majority of arrests during the festival were over isolated incidents, Ladies Day on Friday did witness a five-man brawl in which racegoers threw punches at each other in front of stunned onlookers.

The police and Aintree operator The Jockey Club would not reveal whether they had conducted any prevalence studies of their own into the use of the drug at the Grand National or other races.

The Racecourse Association (RCA), the trade body that brings together the nation’s racecourses, including Aintree, confirmed it had never carried out such a study, despite previous media investigations finding evidence of widespread cocaine use at its venues.

The scores of arrests of protestors at the National 12 months ago render a comparison with this year’s figures largely redundant but there was still a marked increase on the four people who were held in 2022, the first festival with spectators since the pandemic.
Report Ramruma April 16, 2024 4:36 AM BST
Drug is becoming cheaper amid cost-of-living crisis

Cocaine has long been linked by police to a serious rise in football hooliganism, leading to a change in the law to ban those caught in possession at matches from attending future games.

The drug is one of few products to have become cheaper amid the country’s cost-of-living crisis, with a single gram having fallen from £140 to £87 between 2019 and 2021, according to the most recent United Nations data, despite an increase in purity and potency.

The number of cocaine deaths in England and Wales have also increased for the last 11 years, rising to 857 for the 12 months ending March 2023.

Several jockeys have tested positive for the drug, with the Professional Jockeys Association previously admitting the use of it had become “a problem”.

At the end of last year, parliament’s the Culture, Media & Sport select committee published a report following an inquiry by MPs into safety at major sporting events.

Among its recommendations were: “The increasing use of Class A drugs at sporting events is something that police and clubs should both be taking more seriously; We recommend that further work is undertaken by the police to understand the prevalence of drug supply and possession at sporting events; Alongside legal deterrents to drug taking at sporting events, we recommend that the Sports Ground Safety Authority includes guidance in the next edition of its Green Guide on measures to discourage drug use at sporting events.”

In a response published last month, the Government said it encouraged police “to use all available tools at their disposal, including the Drug Testing on Arrest powers to test for the presence of cocaine following an arrest at a sporting event”.

It added: “Underpinned by £300 million investment, we will reduce drug-related crimes, deaths, harms and overall drug use. Through the strategy, we are implementing an end-to-end plan to disrupt the supply of all drugs, at every stage of the supply chain, from source to street.”

In response to the Telegraph’s investigation, both the chair of the DCMS select committee, Dame Caroline Dineage, and the Jockey Club both issued statements of concern about what the latter branded “an increasing societal problem”, with each indicating a need for further ministerial intervention.

The British Horseracing Authority added: “Cocaine is a wider societal issue at present, but it is also an issue for sporting events, and therefore sports must take action to deter its use. We are aware that our colleagues at British racecourses are working hard to reduce the instances of its impact on racedays and we support those efforts.”
Report Ramruma April 16, 2024 4:46 AM BST
So there you go. 1800 words to say that a few racegoers were coked up. Here is the URL (again):-
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/racing/2024/04/15/cocaine-grand-national-crowd-aintree-peaky-blinders/

What next? A handful overcome by lager or champagne?

The problem with cocaine is not its use by jockeys or racegoers but the appalling trail of criminality its supply leaves across the country as gangs fight to control the trade, with even children drawn in at all levels from lookout to stabbing each other.
Report Manoleeds April 16, 2024 7:55 AM BST
Yet they have a 100% success rate in detecting  and removing  Greggs sausage rolls and cans of Tizer .
Report second again April 16, 2024 8:25 AM BST
If the price of coke is dropping and a pint is £7.50 is anyone surprised?
Report sparrow April 16, 2024 8:33 AM BST
second again 16 Apr 24 08:25 
If the price of coke is dropping and a pint is £7.50 is anyone surprised?




And I'm not surprised the attendance is dropping as well.
Report windsor knot April 16, 2024 9:47 AM BST
its a big worry for the summer flat meetings if you  see enough sockless charlie merchants at the jumps in march and april . i even noticed the blinders bellend crews at leopardstown last year .
Report MJK April 16, 2024 10:45 AM BST
Windsor I have been making this point re Leopardstown since Covid. Always has been the meeting I look forward to most, now I question whether its worth the bother going anymore. Just gangs of the Peakys with little interest in the horses themselves.
Report top2rated April 16, 2024 11:04 AM BST
Back in 2019 the Jockey Club was trying to attract them - you just couldn't make it up!

Report top2rated April 16, 2024 11:06 AM BST
2nd time lucky...

Report dambuster April 16, 2024 11:55 AM BST
All 5 days at Royal Ascot are a cocaine party, especially in the boxes, i've been invited in them lots of times and the amount of times people leave the box for the Khazi is amazing, they can't all have weak bladders. If the police went around the boxes with drug dogs, i guarantee half of them would be empty if the police arrested the users.
Report Manoleeds April 16, 2024 12:02 PM BST
And Wetherby https://www.wetherbyracing.co.uk/peaked-cap-and-pearls/
Report 1st time poster April 16, 2024 1:18 PM BST
can understand the reasons
buy why do you get removed/stopped from entering if your carrying a CLASS A drug ?
if i turn up trying to get in with an AK 47 or a 6ft machette ,am i just refused entry or are the police called
not much of a dterrent if the penalty is just to be turned away .get rid and return
Report Somerset Sam April 16, 2024 2:08 PM BST
Peaky Blinders cap on display by Jonny Ward at Naas today, along with sunglasses.Laugh

I'm sure the baby Joseph is also partial to a flat cap.
Report SlippyBlue April 16, 2024 3:07 PM BST
Agree with Dambuster, it's hardly a new occurrence.
Sniffer dogs this coming R.A. would be the way forward.
Report 1st time poster April 16, 2024 5:14 PM BST
when your target audience is pishheads,cokeheads and knobheads dont think they,ll be trying to hard to clamp down on it especially if its as rife as they say
Report impossible123 April 16, 2024 5:16 PM BST
No chance until a serious crime has been committed eg a stabbing due to gambling and drug use; the drug users pay the bills or associates/friends of the bill payers eg big serial losers of bookies.
Report 1st time poster April 16, 2024 5:20 PM BST
racing will be hoping its legalised so they can sell it behind the bar at a large premimum
Report impossible123 April 16, 2024 5:24 PM BST
That's outrageous. Cocaine and fobt at the same meeting? That would be interesting for racegoers and non-participants.
Report EastLower Gooner April 16, 2024 5:44 PM BST
They can’t have it both ways.

Either you accept low crowds or you let people have good time.

A bit of Charlie ain’t done anyone any harm.

I noticed this started at Cheltenham ie some CRY BABY / Grass / Snitch came away from there very upset by the use of Charlie and it’s now their mission to bring this up every time.
Report barstool April 16, 2024 5:45 PM BST
Where did Cocaine Rife finish?
Report Somerset Sam April 16, 2024 6:08 PM BST

Apr 16, 2024 -- 5:44PM, EastLower Gooner wrote:


They can’t have it both ways. Either you accept low crowds or you let people have good time. A bit of Charlie ain’t done anyone any harm. I noticed this started at Cheltenham ie some CRY BABY / Grass / Snitch came away from there very upset by the use of Charlie and it’s now their mission to bring this up every time.


I see most days through work the harm that this and other so called recreational drugs cause. The attitude its just a bit of harmless fun just isn't true, sorry.

Report impossible123 April 16, 2024 6:11 PM BST
Just a nostril ahead, I believe. One more intake he'd have been a nostril infront. I think the owner will not repeat the same mistake again; over-indulged a certainty to avoid disappointment.
Report shiny new shoes please April 16, 2024 6:25 PM BST
politicians
jockeys
Trainers
Commentators
Exempt Laugh
Bless
Report sparrow April 16, 2024 6:27 PM BST
Agree totally with Somerset and the ruination of this country.
Report werbie April 16, 2024 6:49 PM BST
Marching powder at the races = hallucinations, arguments , poor decision making.



And that's just the stewardsShocked
Report EastLower Gooner April 16, 2024 7:39 PM BST
Life is far too short to go around policing people like you guys want to do.

Pathetic.
Report sparrow April 16, 2024 7:54 PM BST
Will be too short for the idiots that take that stuff.
Report nineteen points April 16, 2024 8:02 PM BST
Dont worry problem solved today.Tabs banned now so rest easy.
Report Somerset Sam April 16, 2024 9:48 PM BST

Apr 16, 2024 -- 7:39PM, EastLower Gooner wrote:


Life is far too short to go around policing people like you guys want to do.Pathetic.


You can argue all you like, I suspect you may be a frrquent visitor to toilet cubicles such is your defensive nature on the matter. What's pathetic is how sticking whatever up your nose in attempt to brighten a day and provide entertainment has seemed to become the norm.

My heart will always go out to the poor families that are left behind by continued acts from family members that are just outright selfish and quickly spiral out of all control and all for a quick hit and to fit in with the norm. Families left with more questions than answers, a mixture of heavy and continued grief and guilt. But hey no harm in it apparently. That's the truly pathetic part of things as I see it.

Report JayRogers April 17, 2024 3:37 AM BST
Windsor monday night last year, frisked, you got any class A on you son, nah mate I'm clean.   -    See my mate round the corner - he's got some.
Report BoosterRooster April 17, 2024 6:37 AM BST
Just say no.
Report FATTIEWHITEYSLOVEADRINK April 17, 2024 8:07 AM BST
I saw revolution bar on tv
Looked like Ibiza club
That’s where racing gone wrong as it ????
Bring in extra pennys
Bring extra trapping night life to race course

Getting on it is what a lot folk want to do now
Marching stuff is as popular as it’s ever been
Report FATTIEWHITEYSLOVEADRINK April 17, 2024 8:09 AM BST
Have nothing but tweed clan attend racing, no events
Courses will close I’m Afraid
Report spyker April 17, 2024 10:28 AM BST
I was a member at Newbury until about 10years back and pick a toilet, run your finger on whatever the flat surface was and there would def be white powder - pretty sure it wasn't leftover cif. They then proceeded to turn parts of the course into a nightclub making it worse, obv to anyone with half a brain. Didn't stop going because of that but not been back since.
Report BoosterRooster April 17, 2024 11:07 AM BST
Racing should do a Grange Hill style ‘just say no’ campaign and release a song to warn racegoers about the dangers of sniffing cocaine.

Frankie Dettori, Ray Dawson, Marco Ghiani, Callum Rodriguez, Kieran Shoemark, Tommy Dowson and many others can all sing in the junkie choir to help raise awareness of this issue.
Report 1st time poster April 17, 2024 11:23 AM BST
i just about get the excess drinking ,but even when i went with gangs of lads the drinking was an add on to the racing talk,discussion about the horeses,reading post,race card etc, it wasnt a get pished as quick as we can attitude,but why would you want to be fair discussing racing with someone high as a kite,loud as a brass band,is it purely for the bravado off been ready if anything kicks off
Report BoosterRooster April 17, 2024 11:34 AM BST
Never been much of a drinker or cocaine user, though the two seem to go hand in hand these days.

Don’t see the appeal myself, I’m intense enough as it is. Think a lot of them see it as an aid to keep them going, bit of a boost to assist with the all day drinking. Obviously, that doesn’t always end well.
Report parispike April 17, 2024 11:35 AM BST
The OP should have omitted "at Grand National" from the title
Report G Hall April 17, 2024 11:48 AM BST
Cocaine suppresses the appetite which is why jockeys take it.
Report BoosterRooster April 17, 2024 12:02 PM BST
Maybe if the courses lowered food prices, all the racegoers wouldn’t feel the need to suppress their appetites too!
Report halcyon days April 17, 2024 12:06 PM BST
The Jockey Club has long since sold there soul for the filthy lucra ! Be in the car park after a Cheltenham Festival day to see the state of some of our young un's ! Decent standards of behaviour are not necessary in the pursuit of ££££££££££££££££'s !

If you want to enjoy the sport ''stress free'', stay at home & watch the goggle box !
Report Trident April 17, 2024 12:12 PM BST
If you suspect anyone near you taking that white poison, please stay way from them. Mixed with alcohol, it could be a deadly combination. Why are Aintree not using the sniffer dogs? I'm going to write to them.
Report GLASGOWCALLING April 17, 2024 12:25 PM BST
At the moment all the disorder we have seen can be considered Minor, nothing much will change

untill someone is seriously hurt or worse.
Report GIB2712 April 17, 2024 12:58 PM BST
IRONIC EH Apparently there are rumours going round that Charlie (ironic eh) Brooks old school Eton has a history of Cocaine filled ex-students running round causing havoc in Government buildings where Cocaine was also found on toilet seats (ironic eh) and no arrests made? Also that Cocaine is rife in and around meeting places for the Chipping Norton set and rumours have it that this set is closely linked to a group who gained media attention in the wake of the News International phone hacking scandal, which directly involved members of the group including Charlie(ironic eh) Brooks who forked out 600k for being as his own defence said , his lawyer called him "foolish," "stupid" and "not academically gifted". One character witness, Sara Bradstock, told the court how he drank a pint of washing up liquid to get rid of a hangover and he openly befriends former leaders of the Conservative Party who admit Cocaine is something they enjoy using.........question should we actually take any notice of this person when he makes any statements when he openly admits to telling lies to try and gain popularity and should he really be allowed to write columns for any reputable paper which we believe to be telling the truth…….oops sorry only just noticed he writes for the Torygraph and they openly employ(ed)the Cocaine users IRONIC EH
Report timberman April 17, 2024 1:14 PM BST
As a racing fan its bad enough been beside some well oiled punters but been beside coked up yobs is a bridge too far, time to stop going racing if drug addicts are going to spoil the occassion for the rest of us, drugs have destroyed our towns and communities and now iots destroying going racing Plain
Report SlippyBlue April 19, 2024 5:49 PM BST
If you wish to see this practice at close quarters then Epsom this coming Tuesday is a RTV free entry club day. The nose candy pi$$ed up ferals, Peaky Blinders caps and all, will be out in force.

I went to the meeting two years ago, it was a grim experience to put it mildly...
Report ImSoLuckyLucky! April 19, 2024 6:21 PM BST
Going to Newbury tomorrow
Im expecting the same especially with a after band concert
NB
Im not staying for that
Laugh
Report comingupthehill April 19, 2024 6:44 PM BST
Racings problem is.

20 lads on an all dayer,all coked upped,buy 10 pints.

20 lads on an all dayer,can’t get coked up,buy 5 pints,throw up,leave with 2 races left.say not going there again,too much hassle.at 7.50 a pint.

Racing like landlords just needs to deter it,make it safe,arrest or throw out anyone caught.but shouldn’t obessevively hound its customers determined to find someone on coke.

If you see it stop it,if other race goers see it or their day is ruined by it,then stop it.but don’t hound every young lad presuming he’s up to no good.

Racing does pretty well,there’s sniffer dogs at every meeting I go to,there’s toilet cleaners permanently in the toilets all day.ive never openly seen it ,but the odd time suspected it,2 lads in a cubicle probably ain’t a good look.

Whenever there’s a fight,they blame drugs,never beer,cos they sell it.
Report Ramruma April 19, 2024 7:24 PM BST
The other third of the cocktail besides booze and coke is roided up gym rats.
Report unitedbiscuits April 19, 2024 8:08 PM BST

Apr 16, 2024 -- 11:06AM, top2rated wrote:


2nd time lucky...


Ha ha, that is great.
Can't speak for Aintree but was appalled by racegoers on Gold Cup Day - when there is a too big crowd you need give and take between people moving about; but the prevailing spirit was "don't get in the way of me having a good time." Not sure how much was drug or alcohol fuelled but acting like an adolescent barely in control of his emotions is a never a good look for grown-up people.

Report 1st time poster April 20, 2024 9:43 AM BST
throw a few out,  warn a few,its a class A drug what if they start taking/ bringing heroin instead , its a possible jail sentence not a clip around the ear,
its this response to drugs which is where we are,bordering on been acceptable as long as you dont upset.annoy anyone else
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