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10 Aug 14
22:50
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Date Joined:
30 Nov 10
Enjoyable days racing despite the weather there today with two highlights.
The day showed the genius of two men,Aidan OBrien and Chris Hayes.
The first race lost one of its stars by the withdrawal of Portage but had the much vaunted John F Kennedy.
He apparently went berserk in the pre parade ring at Leopardstown so I went to the Curragh pre parade ring,a nice looking horse but they were all there,a man either side with Aidan in charge,in fairness he behaved like a Christian.
When he went into the parade ring he started nodding his head and whinnying but again Aidan was there almost reassuring him,often we talk of his attention to detail but here was a classic example.
In the race itself he looked a different animal and won in a canter,Dunquin didnt like the ground and might not have stayed,may have been a poor enough race.
I liked the run of Bosphorus Prince will come on plenty.
Many have commented on how good a jockey Chris Hayes,today he gave a master class in the one mile handicap 5.05.
He was drawn 15 of 16,he came out of the stalls and went straight,the eventual second Gone Viral was in 16 he followed him for a second and then joined the others,Hayes just pressed on was on better ground eventually the rest of the jockeys cottoned on and crossed over in pursuit.
The original move won him the race.
Just one sour note and a recurring theme,the giving out of inaccurate ground descriptions.
Originally the ground was given as Good To Yielding downgraded to Yielding,obvious to most it was far worse than that,it seems they are trying to fool people into running their horses don't know why as it never seems to work.
The day showed the genius of two men,Aidan OBrien and Chris Hayes.
The first race lost one of its stars by the withdrawal of Portage but had the much vaunted John F Kennedy.
He apparently went berserk in the pre parade ring at Leopardstown so I went to the Curragh pre parade ring,a nice looking horse but they were all there,a man either side with Aidan in charge,in fairness he behaved like a Christian.
When he went into the parade ring he started nodding his head and whinnying but again Aidan was there almost reassuring him,often we talk of his attention to detail but here was a classic example.
In the race itself he looked a different animal and won in a canter,Dunquin didnt like the ground and might not have stayed,may have been a poor enough race.
I liked the run of Bosphorus Prince will come on plenty.
Many have commented on how good a jockey Chris Hayes,today he gave a master class in the one mile handicap 5.05.
He was drawn 15 of 16,he came out of the stalls and went straight,the eventual second Gone Viral was in 16 he followed him for a second and then joined the others,Hayes just pressed on was on better ground eventually the rest of the jockeys cottoned on and crossed over in pursuit.
The original move won him the race.
Just one sour note and a recurring theme,the giving out of inaccurate ground descriptions.
Originally the ground was given as Good To Yielding downgraded to Yielding,obvious to most it was far worse than that,it seems they are trying to fool people into running their horses don't know why as it never seems to work.
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Rotten day for punters with a host of outsiders and very hard to have made any case beforehand for a lot of them.
Stunned by John F's performance,couldn't see that coming yesterday,maybe his last pre race shenanigans took a lot more out of him then i thought possible but that was a devastating run yesterday,if anyone said after last time he would win the Derby i,d have thought there was grounds for sectioning(then again last month it would be a similar senario in regards Mcilroy winning all before him as well), D1ck Whittington could also join that lot on what he has shown previously to come out and win a G1 next time.a sobering card for results.
Stunned by John F's performance,couldn't see that coming yesterday,maybe his last pre race shenanigans took a lot more out of him then i thought possible but that was a devastating run yesterday,if anyone said after last time he would win the Derby i,d have thought there was grounds for sectioning(then again last month it would be a similar senario in regards Mcilroy winning all before him as well), D1ck Whittington could also join that lot on what he has shown previously to come out and win a G1 next time.a sobering card for results.
The Curragh is a total kip......a disgrace to Irish racing......flat headquarters my hole......a swamp when the ground is soft.....shocking facilities......awful catering......heard there was a leak in the roof yesterday.....with water flowing into the hall......and buckets being placed strategically to take the water......only in Ireland would this happen.....
The Curragh is probably the best race track in the world,the going was soft but certainly wasn't a swamp.
There was a deluge there on Saturday night leaving the ground soft (despite the Good to Yielding they claimed ) there was then some monsoon like showers during the racing,the ground was soft soft to heavy by the fifth race but they got through it ok.
Paulies team must have had a bad day there but overall I would guess the Curragh is a happy hunting ground.
There was a deluge there on Saturday night leaving the ground soft (despite the Good to Yielding they claimed ) there was then some monsoon like showers during the racing,the ground was soft soft to heavy by the fifth race but they got through it ok.
Paulies team must have had a bad day there but overall I would guess the Curragh is a happy hunting ground.
How is the Curragh the best racetrack in the world wilddan......its a glorified point to point......with a galvanised shed as a stand.....and the local chip van supplying the grub......
a racetrack where the ground softens in the blink of an eye.....a racetrack where there is a huge draw bias in sprints.....if you are drawn low its nigh on impossible to win in any kind of a biggish field.....a racetrack where the straight mile goes round a bend.....only in Ireland that one......and a racetrack where the ground is softer on the straight than it is on the round track.....now that's just the track......don't get me started on the fred flinstone facilities.....
a racetrack where the ground softens in the blink of an eye.....a racetrack where there is a huge draw bias in sprints.....if you are drawn low its nigh on impossible to win in any kind of a biggish field.....a racetrack where the straight mile goes round a bend.....only in Ireland that one......and a racetrack where the ground is softer on the straight than it is on the round track.....now that's just the track......don't get me started on the fred flinstone facilities.....
must agree with paulie here.its a total kip.i was there recently after not being there for 3/4 years.there are way better facilitys in any of the low grade nh tracks in england ie plumpton bangor or cartmel...it lacks atmosphere because its always 1/4 full at most(except derby day) and i wont be returning any time soon.
The ground doesn't soften in the blink of an eye,I dealt with that issue in the opening post.
Nearly all tracks have a draw bias,its less extreme on the Curragh than all the others.
Its a great course because its fair,very few hard luck stories at the Curragh.
Its a great course because it has plenty of land,can race on a new strip of ground every day.
Its a great course because you can trust the form of the Curragh races.
The stands are dilapidated,they had some grandiose plans striped the Aga Khan for millions to help but this is now gone.
The HRI seem to be giving grants to racecourses all over the place,deliberately leaving the Curragh out with some forlorn hope that they will be able to go to the government presenting them with a demand for some mouth watering sum over and above their normal grant.
Racing has changed,we all watch the racing on screens,is there now a need for an expensive stand at all.
I know I will get jumped on for this,try a racecourse with no grandstand,who now watches racing from a grandstand,who now uses binoculars at a race meeting,only timers like myself and I'm even changing.
Nearly all tracks have a draw bias,its less extreme on the Curragh than all the others.
Its a great course because its fair,very few hard luck stories at the Curragh.
Its a great course because it has plenty of land,can race on a new strip of ground every day.
Its a great course because you can trust the form of the Curragh races.
The stands are dilapidated,they had some grandiose plans striped the Aga Khan for millions to help but this is now gone.
The HRI seem to be giving grants to racecourses all over the place,deliberately leaving the Curragh out with some forlorn hope that they will be able to go to the government presenting them with a demand for some mouth watering sum over and above their normal grant.
Racing has changed,we all watch the racing on screens,is there now a need for an expensive stand at all.
I know I will get jumped on for this,try a racecourse with no grandstand,who now watches racing from a grandstand,who now uses binoculars at a race meeting,only timers like myself and I'm even changing.
The Curragh is a kip, ain't been in years and don't plan on going back any time soon
Some original thinking there.
Paulie calls it a kip.
Kavvie repeats the kip line,doesn't bother to try and use another word.
Premier Fantasy comes on with the same unoriginal statement,I wonder is it subliminal.
Paulie calls it a kip.
Kavvie repeats the kip line,doesn't bother to try and use another word.
Premier Fantasy comes on with the same unoriginal statement,I wonder is it subliminal.
When was the last time you were at the Curragh?
Why not call it a dump,when you all use the same word it makes you sound sheeplike.
Why not call it a dump,when you all use the same word it makes you sound sheeplike.
Kip, dump, sheethole etc...... What difference does it make which word I use, the place is what it is and that is not nice
The Curragh probably is a great racing surface but it is certainly no great racecourse. I have a serious problem with privately-owned racecourses in Ireland and the complete lack of transparency for bodies that regularly receive tens of millions of public funds and the Curragh is by far the worst example. (Banging my usual drum I say every body in Ireland receiving public funds should be compelled to publish its accounts-are you listening Angela?)
Years ago, before the advent of such widespread media coverage, the Curragh was a fantastic place to visit and you had great opportunity to watch races from your favourite vantage point to try to spot the non-triers and the unlucky-in-running candidates. A few of us used to buy all the videos from the metropolitan tracks to try to gain the edge. I never had any meas on the facilities and the champagne bar on Derby Day was an abomination to a regular racegoer. (And there was always the "top tier" where we could only imagine who the demi-gods were)
If the Curragh published its financial results we might know where we stand with regards to the funding of facilities and whether its the tight-fisted Thurles executive or the uber-privileged Turf Club members I would not give them a bean of public funds, including prize money, unless their accounts were available for scrutiny.
The Turf Club (who own and run the Curragh) represents, to me, one of the few nakedly west-brit organisations that we seem to be unable to rid ourselves of and anyone in the industry who has a bullocks notion of himself aspires to this top table.
Some say that the Curragh is being allowed to decline intentionally to twist Government's arm-perhaps its simply part of the row between HRI and the Turf Club but, one things for sure, giving public funds to this private club would be a scandal unless there's a complete change of focus internally and only the Minister of the day can change this but such matters were completely ignored in the Indecon report so.................fat chance!!!
Here are the "elected" TC members who will help determine the future of racing at Ireland's "premier" racing venue:
Curragh Committee
G. V. Magee (Chairman)
John P.Byrne
Maxwell Morris
H.de Burgh
Noel McCaffrey
John Weld
No Mick Kinane, Mick Winters, Ted Walsh or Brian O'Connor on that list I notice.
Years ago, before the advent of such widespread media coverage, the Curragh was a fantastic place to visit and you had great opportunity to watch races from your favourite vantage point to try to spot the non-triers and the unlucky-in-running candidates. A few of us used to buy all the videos from the metropolitan tracks to try to gain the edge. I never had any meas on the facilities and the champagne bar on Derby Day was an abomination to a regular racegoer. (And there was always the "top tier" where we could only imagine who the demi-gods were)
If the Curragh published its financial results we might know where we stand with regards to the funding of facilities and whether its the tight-fisted Thurles executive or the uber-privileged Turf Club members I would not give them a bean of public funds, including prize money, unless their accounts were available for scrutiny.
The Turf Club (who own and run the Curragh) represents, to me, one of the few nakedly west-brit organisations that we seem to be unable to rid ourselves of and anyone in the industry who has a bullocks notion of himself aspires to this top table.
Some say that the Curragh is being allowed to decline intentionally to twist Government's arm-perhaps its simply part of the row between HRI and the Turf Club but, one things for sure, giving public funds to this private club would be a scandal unless there's a complete change of focus internally and only the Minister of the day can change this but such matters were completely ignored in the Indecon report so.................fat chance!!!
Here are the "elected" TC members who will help determine the future of racing at Ireland's "premier" racing venue:
Curragh Committee
G. V. Magee (Chairman)
John P.Byrne
Maxwell Morris
H.de Burgh
Noel McCaffrey
John Weld
No Mick Kinane, Mick Winters, Ted Walsh or Brian O'Connor on that list I notice.
Its a racecourse,the reason most of us go racing is to bet and watch horse racing.
I accept the Curragh is rundown but do none of ye accept it gives us great racing,that should be its main function.
I have raced all over England and always went for the racing,loved Fakenham and both Newmarket courses entry far more expensive than here but each track has its own uniqueness.
It seems some here go racing for something to eat,in Irish Guys case he wanted to get it for choice as a man who once had a share in a horse,he wanted free entry,free card and a host of other complimentary gifts as well.
Paulie is obviously brought along to a few meetings where he is given his dinner,he thinks this dinner should be of the same quality as some top class restaurant,this is unreasonable.
I accept the Curragh is rundown but do none of ye accept it gives us great racing,that should be its main function.
I have raced all over England and always went for the racing,loved Fakenham and both Newmarket courses entry far more expensive than here but each track has its own uniqueness.
It seems some here go racing for something to eat,in Irish Guys case he wanted to get it for choice as a man who once had a share in a horse,he wanted free entry,free card and a host of other complimentary gifts as well.
Paulie is obviously brought along to a few meetings where he is given his dinner,he thinks this dinner should be of the same quality as some top class restaurant,this is unreasonable.
wildman you seem to not get it.were all of the one thinking.its not a good experience going to the curragh.last time i was there there was a shower of rain.4 of us went inside to see a race,there was no sound on a little small portable telly up on the wall..small things like that shouldnt happen.its supposed to be the number one track in ireland.id put it last..its a joke and a disgrace.
What exactly are your complaints,it rained the food is no good,Rin Tin Tin doesn't go anymore.
Not one of you has mentioned the racing,is it not top class.
Royal Academy makes some very valid points but I wish he wouldn't pick on my two favourite tracks.
Not one of you has mentioned the racing,is it not top class.
Royal Academy makes some very valid points but I wish he wouldn't pick on my two favourite tracks.
Not looking for top quality wilddan.....just looking for tasty reasonable food.....it doesn't have to be Michelin star stuff.....but it doesn't have to be garbage either......I always say one thing......get that poxxy racing manager at each track and force the cretin to have his dinner with his wife/partner in the place the paying patrons are eating.....and see what he makes of it.....
You wilddan are in the camp who would eat stones....the "its not so bad brigade"......or the "it could be worse" mob......I myself think it isn't unreasonable that when you get to a a racecourse that you could expect something decent to eat....the boss of HRI is hardly sampling such tucker now is he......you can be sure there is no bucket taking water in his lovely plush office.....and you can be certain when he plonks that humongous hole of his down at the dinner table.....hes not eating that trash that the public are given at Irish racecourses.....
You wilddan are in the camp who would eat stones....the "its not so bad brigade"......or the "it could be worse" mob......I myself think it isn't unreasonable that when you get to a a racecourse that you could expect something decent to eat....the boss of HRI is hardly sampling such tucker now is he......you can be sure there is no bucket taking water in his lovely plush office.....and you can be certain when he plonks that humongous hole of his down at the dinner table.....hes not eating that trash that the public are given at Irish racecourses.....
Let the actual racetrack out of it...... just facilities alone.....on a scale of 1-10.....id give Cheltenham a 10 and the Curragh might get a 1.....that is when the roof is fixed and they clean the jax......
You can't really leave the racetrack out of it or indeed the actual racing.
We all agree its rundown but none of ye have commented on the racing,that its main function.
We all agree its rundown but none of ye have commented on the racing,that its main function.
I do agree that The Curragh is one of the best and fairest tracks in the world. But, to be honest Wildman, even its flagship event has become a joke of late.
Of all the Grade Ones, a hell of a lot of them have very small fields/long odds on favs in one sided contests.
Its a shame because as a track it is on a different planet to Epsom, which is a gaff track, but it needs a hell of a lot of work done on its facilities, and also some thought put into how to rescue its main event, which is in danger of becoming another irrelevant Derby
Of all the Grade Ones, a hell of a lot of them have very small fields/long odds on favs in one sided contests.
Its a shame because as a track it is on a different planet to Epsom, which is a gaff track, but it needs a hell of a lot of work done on its facilities, and also some thought put into how to rescue its main event, which is in danger of becoming another irrelevant Derby
Can you not remember when you were last there ?
If you go racing to eat,if you go racing to drink,if you go racing to defecate and urinate then its a " kip " but if you go to back horses and watch racing then its one of the best racecourses in the world.
If you go racing to eat,if you go racing to drink,if you go racing to defecate and urinate then its a " kip " but if you go to back horses and watch racing then its one of the best racecourses in the world.
Agree with regards the Derby but its worth going to for the maidens alone.
Her indoors is very fussy about toilet facilities and the like and I daren't bring her anywhere that is not top notch in this respect.
I don't see anything wonderful about the racing....plenty rubbish group 1's there.....and plenty of sub standard classic winners.....they even have the cheek to open up the leger to older horses.....and still call it a classic...again only in Ireland can a horse win a classic 4 or 5 times......trading leather...treasure beach..frozen fire..soldier of fortune..grey swallow...are 5 duds who won the Irish derby in the last 10 years.....the 2000 gns role of honour includes the mighty Bachelor Duke...indianhaven.. araafa..black minaloushe...rodeic o connor...power..magician....and the 1000 gns is a laughing stock with finsceal beo andpossibly attraction giving the race any credibility in the last 20 years......even last sunday Dick Whittington winning a group 1....and magician winning the tattersalls gold cup....what a joke .....dick Whittington couldn't land a blow in the Chesham....and he wins a group 1 in the Curragh.....give me a break wilddan.....id say the racing in the Curragh is on the same level as Baden Baden....or maybe even below it....
But surely Irelands Premier racetrack shouldn't have maidens as its main selling point??
I hope they can sort it out, as the Derby was once the 3yr old middle distance championship. And whereas as Epsom, you would have hard luck stories, and maybe quesstion the form/result, what would unfold at the Curragh was definitive. But I find it very hard to see how they are going to turn it around. I used to go every year, but the last time I was there was Soldier of Fortune. Its just not a venue that sells itself very well to many racegoers, whether they are casual or seasoned.
I hope they can sort it out, as the Derby was once the 3yr old middle distance championship. And whereas as Epsom, you would have hard luck stories, and maybe quesstion the form/result, what would unfold at the Curragh was definitive. But I find it very hard to see how they are going to turn it around. I used to go every year, but the last time I was there was Soldier of Fortune. Its just not a venue that sells itself very well to many racegoers, whether they are casual or seasoned.
Plenty of duds win all classics.
The maidens are great betting events
The allowing the Irish Leger become all aged was a break with tradition something I am generally against but it worked.
The Irish St Leger has produced some fantastic races in the last few years,including a fantastic effort from Paulies favourite jockey.
The maidens are great betting events
The allowing the Irish Leger become all aged was a break with tradition something I am generally against but it worked.
The Irish St Leger has produced some fantastic races in the last few years,including a fantastic effort from Paulies favourite jockey.
The last 5 runnings of the leger has produced winners who were glorified handicappers..... failed hurdle horses have won it in the past.....give us a breather dan ffs......
I think we have established that the place is a dive and the racing is rubbish.....but apart from that its the best racecourse in the world.....I think I will call it a day at that.....because dan is the best returner of serve on here.....and as everybody knows is a hard man to argue with.....
I think we have established that the place is a dive and the racing is rubbish.....but apart from that its the best racecourse in the world.....I think I will call it a day at that.....because dan is the best returner of serve on here.....and as everybody knows is a hard man to argue with.....
The failed hurdlers victory was some race,he then went on to win in Ascot.he should make Jonjo feel ashamed though.
The dead heat was another great race.
**** catching Scorpion
Vinnie Roes four victories
Oscar Schindler Vintage Crop and Kayf Tara other great recent winners.
The dead heat was another great race.
**** catching Scorpion
Vinnie Roes four victories
Oscar Schindler Vintage Crop and Kayf Tara other great recent winners.
Voleuse Du Couers.. Jukebox Jury..Sans frontiers...alandi ...septimus...dan stop please...
I was there 2 months ago one sunday and im still receiving counselling for my experience in the jax there.....the stench was overpowering and one im having huge difficulty forgetting.....ive tried lots of things.....but nothing seems to work....
I accept there were bad ones,but if you look back on any race you will see horses that now appear useless on the winners list.
was there for st jovite dr devious etc..some atmosphere them times.the irish derby has declined spectacularly in recent years due to its timing and the french derby changing...
There is something childlike about Paulie.
Years back when I was bringing my troops off for a day out or a picnic you wouldn't be gone ten minutes when one would want to go to the toilet,you wouldn't be gone another ten minutes when another would be hungry.
Hardly surprising they don't bring Paulie with them that often,this latest episode when he emerged from the Curragh jacks saying " I'd give that five minutes if I were you " and forgetting to flush has put the kibosh on anymore free trips.
Years back when I was bringing my troops off for a day out or a picnic you wouldn't be gone ten minutes when one would want to go to the toilet,you wouldn't be gone another ten minutes when another would be hungry.
Hardly surprising they don't bring Paulie with them that often,this latest episode when he emerged from the Curragh jacks saying " I'd give that five minutes if I were you " and forgetting to flush has put the kibosh on anymore free trips.
wildman take a course down south like killarney.well run, vibrant atmosphere.competitive mostly low grade racing.healthy crowds.loads of good facilitys food drink.music after racing.it works.its not rocket science
I love Killarney magnificent racecourse,mind you a nightmare to get out of.
I agree with WMFB, I don't go racing for the grub or the drink, I want to go and watch top quality racing. Comparing Killarney with The Curragh is like comparing prime fillet beef and Tesco hamburgers. Killarney is a low grade track with gaff horses running. The Curragh has hosted some of the greatest equine heroes who have ever graced the turf.
I personally love The Curragh, there's a sense of magic in the air especially when watching the two year olds and speculating whether there is a potential superstar in the line up.
I personally love The Curragh, there's a sense of magic in the air especially when watching the two year olds and speculating whether there is a potential superstar in the line up.
One of my favourite places in the world ... sat on the top level, wind blowing through the gaps in the balcony, Dessie's dulcet tones announcing "the white flag is raised". I'll be spending a good few £££ next month to go there rather than an hours drive up the road to Doncasters appalling Leger meeting, as I do every year.
My favourite racecourse for watching racing.
Facilities are no worse than many English courses and the entry fees are half and less. Staff are pleasant, unlike the t0ssers at, say, Ascot. Viewing, parade ring are great, unlike, say, Cheltenham. Form stands up unlike, say, Epson, Ascot, Goodwood.
Don't disparage the place, you are lucky to have it. Shame it rains a lot but I don't think the Turf Club can control the weather.
My favourite racecourse for watching racing.
Facilities are no worse than many English courses and the entry fees are half and less. Staff are pleasant, unlike the t0ssers at, say, Ascot. Viewing, parade ring are great, unlike, say, Cheltenham. Form stands up unlike, say, Epson, Ascot, Goodwood.
Don't disparage the place, you are lucky to have it. Shame it rains a lot but I don't think the Turf Club can control the weather.
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