Does anybody here share an interest in Racing when not betting?

Personally, I feel that the racing game has become increasingly more dodgy since the dawn of the recession , I still maintain an avid interest , but the percentage of my punts on other sports has definitely increased over the last number of years.

Couldn't agree more toby,But it's still possible to be knowledgeable about the game even if you never have a punt.

it's why there's such a one eyed view on horse racing,Because if you have a bet your only concentrating on the one horse through out the race.

They do go hand in hand but it is a great interest with many facets,there is the breeding aspect,the personnel and the thrill of the racing whilst I love a bet it is not necessary for my enjoyment.

i would take an interest in the flat regardless of punting cause i think it is the real game and is all about class and power whereas the jumps is just a little bit of fun for the country bumpkins isnt it............

a good thread cheltenhamroar , lets hope it remains so ....i have a huge interest in breeding , the complexities i find compelling to say the least ...

im with you on that wr,find the breeding side of the game fascinating,although i'll admit i don't know as much as id like to know about it,
i just think a rather large percentage of people who bet on horse racing will only ever watch it when they have money riding on it,
Sad really,as i watch it every day and wouldn't need to have a bet to keep me interested in it.

i was a student in the INS many moon ago , hence my interest in the breeding side....

Would breeding be a major factor you take into account when having a punt wr?

I rarely ever bet on the horses these days, but I do have a deep and long standing interest in the breeding aspect. This I share with quite a large number of friends and other people that I know, some of whom are incredibly well connected, which makes the whole thing even more interesting. Not saying that as a boast, just a statement of fact.

Most of the bets I have these days are on football across the major European leagues, which again is really interesting and quite lucrative.

CheltenhamRoar can I make the observation too that as a relatively new poster on here it's refreshing that your threads are always about the sport and the debate surrounding it. I'm not being patronising, it's just refreshing to read your views in amongst the morass of utterly pointless and negative diatribe that gets put up on here.

A thread like this one reminds me of previous days gone by, when the Irish Forum was about healthy debate and respect for the views and opinions of others.

chelt , it certainly would be a huge influence on my betting especially on the flat ..off out for a couple of hours talk later.....

Cheers sof,it's what the forum should be about,unfortunately there's always going to be a few attention seekers/trolls about to ruin it for the majotiry.

I would ignore handicaps and the all-weather.

Seems to suit me better.

If I can't find an angle on a race, I'm happy to watch it, if the horses in it are reasonably interesting.

Only interested in NH, flat doesn't/rarely has interest me, but would still watch most saturdays bet or no bet.

I'll always like horse racing stress horse, do not ever ask me to give any of the humans involved the time of day.

I feel the people who cannot separate gambling from racing a missing out an awful lot on the fabric of the sport despite betting being an important aspect. I think breeding is of paramount importance when looking at racing. It's not an exact science but it is quite enthralling and is very useful from a punting perspective too. I would say that it's nigh on impossible to get an edge betting wise (outside of inside info) without a knowledge of breeding.

Flat and NH , breeding , training , betting , schemes , gambles  , winners / losers .  All part of the rich tapestry of horse racing which is part of our heritage .  Plus atmosphere on course which I loved in the old days .  Unfortunately the atmosphere nowadays  apropos betting is relatively  dead compared with yesteryear , so the other aspects of the industry have to step forward .  That is OK at premier meetings , but at the lesser meetings there may be a downward spiral I fear .

We are lucky to have some of the best tracks and horses in the world on our doorsteps  , only other sport here with that amount of international standing is golf ( and latterly rugby can make a good case for being well organised and successful ) . Horses are in the psyche of most Irish people , we understand the complexities of the animals and skills involved in getting the best out of them .

And we have good grass with the benefit of centuries undisturbed growth and nurture . Roll on 2013 ! Could be a good year !

You would have a job to get me to go to a racecourse if I wasn't working.However I can go to a point & not have a bet.Go for the craic & just have a day out with like minded folk,with only the occasional bet.I come over to Dingle quite often & I know nothing about the nags there.Just to be in that field looking out to sea & watching the racing is enough for me.When I go out for a drink on an evening the last thing I want to talk about is the nags themselves although I do enjoy listening to all the tales about whats going or has gone on.As for atmosphere on the courses the N.H. crowd especially at the smaller tracks are different class.We virtually all know each other so there's always good craic even when working whereas the flat crowd are that far up their own ar ses sensible off the cuff craic is virtually impossible with them.

Anyone on here who hasn't attended a point to point should rectify the situation as quickly as possible,it is a great day out and as others have said you don't have to bet.Also if you want to enjoy a no frills race meeting go to Thurles this Thursday,great viewing and a crowd of knowledgeable country men in attendance,it will be easy to move around,if you don't mind bigger crowds Gowran Park next meeting is the famed Thyestes Chase day and is always a great day out.
At the start of every flat season I used to list all the sires and write under them how their stock fared on differing grounds,this paid a decent dividend,obsolete nowadays as a computer does it all for ye though sadly I still use my old system.

Some intriguing points made above lads,ive never been to a p2p but would love to attend one very soon,i suspect thats where you'd find the proper nh folk,Those at the heart of the sport,What would be the closest p2p to Dublin?Thanks in advance.

FAIRYHOUSE AND PUNCHESTOWN RACECOURSES HAVE P2P's but having never been couldn't comment,some others on here will know more.Tallanstown outside Castlebellingham near Dundalk isn't far from Dublin or you could come north where quite a few are close proximity to Belfast well have to keep the flag flying

the breeding side of the game has a lot to do with my punting..e.g..if a race is a bumper were none have run but one or two are related to bumper winners who go on the ground then obviously you will pay them more attention..thats how i work anyway., as someone who prefares the jumps ..i have only been to 1 ptp!..i will endeavour to go to one near me soon as i loved the one i went to..buckfastleigh...

google irish p2p ..they have all this years fixture there with course locations ...tatts have a meeting across the road from fairyhouse racecourse thats quite good , but i think its much later in the year ...tinahealy also have p2ps ...have a look at that site you'll get all the info you need....

google irish p2p ..they have all this years fixture there with course locations ...tatts have a meeting across the road from fairyhouse racecourse thats quite good , but i think its much later in the year ...tinahealy also have p2ps ...have a look at that site you'll get all the info you need....

Cheers wr

no problem chelt....

One of the nicest setting for a point to point is Tyrella in the County Down,enjoy the drive to it as the scenery is wonderful and if you want to bring your wife stay over at the Slieve Donard hotel an incredibly beautiful spot.

Point in Limavady every Easter, only been once, but great old day out esp if the weather holds.

Does the Route Hunt still operate in Portrush ? First p2p I was at , and I had not reached double figures age wise .  Used to be at Easter as I remember , not sure of events these days though .

Tyrella excellent , as is the Slieve . Anyone doing that should pack their golf clubs , because even if you dont tackle the RCD links , the Anneseley ( No 2 course) is very good and well presented ( and a lot cheaper ). Learnt a lot of my golf there  , as well as on the big course .

portrush long gone now,the easter mon/tues fixture is held in templepatrick now

Pointing for me has no place on a racecourse.you want to be free to go where you want at a point.I avoid those racecourse points like the plague.(Only go to them when I have to)

the ROUTE p2p is in LIMAVADY

Jan 15, 2013 -- 8:32PM, DECALEC wrote:

the ROUTE p2p is in LIMAVADY

yip,used to be on easter monday with the 4 mile national............

WAS THERE BOUT 7 YEAR AGO 4M NAT WAS ON SAT

THAT ONLY TIME BEEN THERE

on sat 13th april this year

allpoints 15 Jan 13 19:53
Pointing for me has no place on a racecourse.you want to be free to go where you want at a point.I avoid those racecourse points like the plague.(Only go to them when I have to)

Is the Tralee pt going ahead (on the Ballybeggan racecourse) ?

is tralee still raceable?id love to go,when is it on..pleasant memorys.

heres something of interest lads ...this is the track mount benbulben won his first race ...well worth a visit.....a really smashing track right up there with the best for viewing.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=682mCyBHpLc here it is....

kavvie 18 Jan 13 11:06
is tralee still raceable?id love to go,when is it on..pleasant memorys.

No idea, just saw it on the Pt. fixtures list for 20th Jan.

kavvie tralee is on tomorrow .....

i like it aside from the betting.

I even get nervous in some cases when i want horses to win so bad. sts arc, kauto , frankel etc.

Always check the sat results too if im not at home. love when we good horses taking each other one for the 1st time too, esp if they are unbeaten.

you at that meeting in our old parish yesterday ilwab.....if so what side did you take.....

An avid follower since I first saw a race, although I haven't played UK & Irish meetings for many a year now, still watch everything daily, can't get enough of it, albeit the a/w dross or a top nh/flat meet, a glutton for punishment perhaps...!