Wednesday 2 January 2013

THURSDAY JANUARY 3rd RACING POST 2013. CHANNEL 4's EXCITING NEW YEARS DAY LAUNCH FULL OF PROMISE



RACING POST THURSDAY JANUARY 3rd 2013
WEEK MONDAY DECEMBER 31st to SUNDAY JANUARY 6th 2013




PREVIEW TODAY'S CARDS


Take a look through these 5 races and note down how many British riders are in action today, follow up by reviewing the results.

These races are being run on the All weather surface TAPETA: STANDARD







 
GOING: TAPETA: STANDARD.
 



WELCOME TO THE EQUUS ZONE

Our very own Queen Elizabeth's Equus Zone


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HiHOvsCh8M&feature=player_embedded



 
 




MARIE MCCABE

Weblog: The wife of leading all-weather trainer Alan McCabe with her weekly diary.
 
Rain, rain, go away!

It's a beautiful day up here at Averham Park. The wind has slowed to gusts of 60-70mph and the rain has abated to become more of a steady drizzle.

From my sitting room window I can see for miles in all directions and it looks as though the great town of Newark-on-Trent ought to be renamed Newark-on-Sea. Where fields once surrounded the town there now lay huge expanses of deep, reflective water with tides, currents and ducks. I think there may be a few fish lurking, too. Please read the rest on this join up link


 





REVIEW WELCOME - EQUUS ZONE
C4 CLARE BALDING DEBUT LIVE ON NEW YEARS DAY 2013
WE MEET UP WITH THE NEW C4 RE-STRUCTURED HORSERACING TEAM
 TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEW FORMAT PRESENTATION USED BY BALDING AND FITZGERALD  
Due to weather conditions, and meetings having to be abandoned due to flooding with Cheltenham out as well this day. Things were far from easy on Tuesday. However Musselburgh saved the day and C4 were able to bring us 4 live races from there.
 
Due to the fact that it is estimated that 95 percent of all people worldwide are bloodhorse
illiterate, the spotlight  presented by Clare Balding and Mick Fitzgerald on Tuesday, centred upon the home environment within the Valley of the Racehorse Lambourn, and at Nicky Henderson’s in particular ‘ Seven Barrows’  at home where all the work is done to prepare these horses for competition on the racetracks. Team Henderson employ 46  bloodhorse literate handler riders to care for the 150 horses in training all belonging to different owners.



 A mighty lot of horses to care for everyday. All have different needs according to character, temperament and athletism. We met up with SIMONSIG who is found to be quite a shy horse,  quite a loner,  but so wonderfully talented, allowed to develop, grow and learn due to one key factor- ingredient a true bloodhorse literate environment, an environment that settles horses and helps them to feel at home, happy, confident and safe.  Bloodhorse literate understanding and caring from all those working with him and around him every day. The Racing Post have published some great photographs of SIMONSIG as well recently partnered by BARRY GARAGHTY, a mighty bloodhorse literate talent in his own right, possessing a greased lightening in tune spontaneous reaction from the saddle, picked up fast, and understood fast, no messing by every racehorse he partners.
 
Clare and Mick introduced us to several of the stables superstars, and the Bloodhorse literate handler riders’ who care for their every day needs including their athletic needs. We meet up with ALBERT (‘Corky’) BROWN a key Equus Bloodhorse Literate (Group 1) achiever in his own right. Corky has worked with Nicky Henderson within Team Henderson ongoing over the last 46 years. Corky brings the six year old chaser CAPTAIN CONAN along to show us, the horse he cares for every day himself. The winner of his last two chases, a lovely big talented horse to follow.
 
 
 Then Nicky and Corky show us their tack room with all the saddles, bridles, rugs, quarter sheets, all the various gear used every day with the horses, all has to be kept clean, safe and ready for use. Saddle soap and hoof oil ready for use every day.

 
Nicky Henderson sent out many runners from Seven Barrows, to compete at the four day 2012 Cheltenham Festival, Seven of those horses won. ‘Team Henderson’ and the organization behind this one Cheltenham week alone, was massive. Without the back-up support of such a top team that task, that work load, would be impossible. To achieve seven winners at the Cheltenham Festival,  in any one year, is an outstanding achievement of bloodhorse literacy in action at this highest of all jump racing level. The 95 percent bloodhorse illiterate general public will become aware that there is far, far more to the sport of horseracing than is at first apparent. How long that penny will take to drop is another issue of intrigue ....



Promising launch for a show that can only get better.

 
Lee Mottershead says "There was more to like than to dislike amid the excessive technology and unidentified finger stabbing. Promising launch for a show that can only get better.
 
“One week on from Christmas day and parents will no doubt emphasise with Channel 4. Countless mums and dads paid small fortunes for expensive presents only to see their little treasures instead spend the morning playing with a cardboard box.

 
“For Channel 4 and its new racing production company IMG, the wrapping paper came off a giant touchscreen table only for the great gizmo of  New Years Day to be overshadowed by a very big window.
 
“The window worked superbly and the table less so, and all things considered this was a highly promising start to Channel 4’s rebirth as racing’s exclusive  terrestrial partner. Clare Balding, based at Seven Barrows with Mick Fitzgerald, was as excellent as Clare Balding always is, while Nick Luck, Jim McGrath, Tanya Stevenson and new recruit Graham Cunningham were all impressive. We knew they would be. The people involved, both in front and behind the cameras, are quality performers.

 
"The table, essentially a giant iPad, did not always react to persistent prodding in the  way it should have done. Even when it did, one could not help but wonder what was the point of its existence. When it functioned properly, we saw an aerial shot of an unidentified digit – probably Luck’s, but possibly sometimes GC’s-pressing the screen to bring up a piece of footage that could just as easily have been cued up by a director in the gallery.

 
“The interview window with Isobel Tompsett featured at Oaksey House was exquisite

“Also the interview window with Daryl Jacob about the 2013 Grand National on Saturday, April 6, an effort to remind those that Aintree will not be broadcast by BBC 1 any longer.
“A huge studio truck in which Luck and co were based will be a huge asset

“The decision to send Balding to Lambourn was a message of intent.
“Another message of intent might have been to send someone to Musselburgh, where the track’s excellent on-course commentator Darren Owen ought to have earned himself regular Channel 4 appearances.
“THE many advertisements for William Hill, together with the in-vision Paddy Power promo, highlighted  that racing is now a product from which Channel 4 can make money, and justifiably so given that it is a commercial public service broadcaster. Compared to the vast majority of other sports, racing remains exceptionally blessed."

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2013
 
Fixtures and Tickets The Festival 12th - 15th March 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 







 

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