Monday 30 April 2012

RACING POST TUESDAY MAY1st . C4 JIM McGRATH "HORSEMEN'S GROUP'S SHABBY SCHEME IS DISCRIMINATORY"


RACING POST TUESDAY MAY 1st 2012
WEEK MONDAY APRIL 30th TO SUNDAY MAY 6th 
  

TODAY'S CARDS Ballinrobe (IRE)  (Jumps Turf ) Exeter (Jumps Turf) 
Kempton Park (Flat AW ) Lingfield Park ( Flat AW )
  Sedgefield (Jumps Turf)   Yarmouth (Flat Turf)  


REVIEW YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

VIEWPOINT
C4 JIM (Jimbo) McGRATH  IN BLAST AT OWNERS GROUP
JIMBO speaks out against an initiative that he believes has ramifications for the racing industry as a whole.
HORSEMEN'S GROUP BONUS SCHEME
"Horsemen's Group bonuses were introduced on April 18th covering almost
100 races over Flat and Jumps.

"AS THERE is no rule in racing requiring any registered owner to be a member of one of its constituent bodies, ipso facto no discriminatory action pertaining to racing can take place against anyone on such a basis alone.

"Quite clearly, the Horsemen's Group's bonus scheme, which specifically  targets people (as opposed to horses) who are otherwise deemed 'fit and proper' under the rules of racing, runs
contrary to this and arguably, the laws of the land pertaining to discrimination. Had this instance concerned race, religion or gender, by now it may well have been a national issue and its perpetrators running for cover.


"The Horsemen's Group's wafer-thin justification on its right to flout the rules of racing, at the same time dragging umpteen others along with it, is laughable. It neither initiated the bonus scheme fund (circa £480,000) nor received the money from the Racecourse Association with such an expectation in mind.



"It also failed to carry out an agreed consultation with the RCA and the BHA as to how best the fund could be used to help racing per se. Out of the blue, this grubby scheme appeared. But, anyway, with the opening point very much in mind, all such arguments are redundant.


"Don't think these views have been inflicted  on you without my having attempted to put them before the relevant parties.

"In the case of the BHA, whose chairman assured me the scheme would be discussed at its monthly board meeting on April 17, there has been no response. Why?  If it's all kosher, it would have taken a few seconds for someone at the BHA to let me know how and why.

"Does it not realise this is a serious issue that potentially has wide-ranging ramifications for the whole industry concerning representation and regulation?


"So far as two of the constituent bodies are concerned, Rachel Hood and Rupert Arnold, on behalf of the Racecourse Owners' Association  and the National Trainers' Federation respectively,  issue polite fob-off emails to a letter I sent on April 4, stressing as this was a HG initiative Alan Morecombe, it's chief executive, would reply instead. At the same time, Rachel invited me to come and discuss my "concerns".


"Two weeks later, Morecombe finally responded, his letter more at pains to stress the HG's relevance and status within racing, as opposed to answering any of the specific points I raised with Hood and Arnold.

"But it is Hood and Arnold who should have concerns. They are party to a hostile action by a so-called legitimate group, whose representative sits on the authority that exists to govern racing fairly and in the interests of everyone!


"Interestingly, Morecombe's letter also assured me that non-members of the National Association of Stable Staff will not now be precluded from bonus payments. On the one hand, that's great news. Phew, at last kicking up a fuss apparently means some of racing's lowest-paid workers won't be subjected to the same cynical prejudice as others.


"However, with the other (hand) very much in mind, that's not what it says on the tin or the ROA website.


"In view of the BHA's recent zealous application of the rules of racing in other situations (Notably to Kirsty Milczarek  and Richard Hughes) it is scarcely believable this scheme ever saw the light of day. So when is its 'world-leading integrity' going to swing in to action?  Hundreds of owners, clearly  now without anyone to defend our interests,  need to know and soon.



"The whole absurd, shabby scenario  was put into context at Newbury a week last Friday, when the world's most famous owner, the Queen, patron of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association but, understandably, not a member of any of racing's constituent bodies, was present on an occasion that has now become an annual mini-break for her. Low-key, clearly enjoying herself at the races, presumably with people she both likes and trusts. She is by far the highest profile of the 1,690 'active' owners against whom this Horsemen's Group bonus scheme blatantly discriminates.




 As such, it would be fascinating to know her thoughts. After all, a number beside her  in the paddock then, including some of those behind this, have been guests in her carriage and house parties at Royal Ascot .



"That trainers, via the NTF, are party to an obviously discriminatory scheme surely renders invalid mandatory BHA agreements (which authorise trainers to act as owner's agents, and which every owner has to sign) concerning non-ROA owners. With this in mind, how can, say, Sir Michael Stoute for the Queen, any more than Richard Fahey, Tim Easterby  or Mark Johnston for me, be said to be representing an owner's best interests?



"OF COURSE, the Queen (who neither involves herself in, nor comments upon, situations like this) relies on her bloodstock advisers to take care of racing matters. Some 450 years ago, they wouldn't have needed to worry on her behalf - very likely those responsible would have been found guilty of treason and dealt with accordingly.



"It is possible to have some sympathy for Paul Roy and his BHA board who,  encouraging and helping the Horsemen's Group (it has loaned the HG £500,000) , had this scheme bounced on them without warning. However, the BHA is racing's guardian  and, at the moment, by failing to stop this scheme it is in effect regulating against people who have done nothing to warrent such treatment.



"So what to do instead? Sue our trainers for failing to act in our best interests? Call for a vote of no confidence in the BHA? Seek a referral of the board of the Horsemen's Group to the Crown Prosecution Service for discrimination, misconduct and the misappropriation of funding?



"For sure there are options. But, as the above hopefully illustrates, either individually, or collectively, those affected, including some of the biggest owners in racing, as well as a few of its most generous sponsors, simply shouldn't have to. What a disgrace.



"The whole episode has made me vow never to rejoin any of racing's  constituent bodies. What fair-minded individual wants anything to do with one coming  under  the auspices of the Horsemen's Group. replete with  dubious leadership and politics, selfish, coercive activity  and general abuse of power? Not me, that's for sure."

HORSEMEN'S GROUP BONUS SCHEME
"Horsemen's Group bonuses were introduced on April 18 covering almost 100 races over Flat and Jumps to the end of 2012. Underwritten by an HG development fund,  the scheme features a £5,000 bonus added to races held only at racecourses to have received HG partner status.



"The scheme applies only to winning connections who are members of their relevant Horsemen's Group member associations, whether the Racehorse Owners' Association , National Trainers' Federation, Professional Jockeys Association, Thoroughbred Breeders' Association  and National Association of Stable Staff."     ENDS
















  .....


Sunday 29 April 2012

RACING POST MONDAY APRIL 30th 2012. THE OLDEST TO THE VERY LATEST IN THE BLOODHORSE WORLD


RACING POST MONDAY APRIL 30th 2012.
WEEK MONDAY APRIL 30th TO SUNDAY MAY 6th 2012.



A POWER PACKED RACING POST TODAY DON'T MISS IT

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/results/home.sd?r_date=2012-04-29 

TODAY'S CARDS Kempton Park (Flat AW)  Windsor (Flat Turf) Wolverhampton (Flat AW) 
http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/home.sd

Chantilly (Flat Turf) (Very soft)
http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/meeting_of_cards.sd?r_date=2012-04-30&type=ww


Little Bridge books passage to Royal Ascot
By Jeremy Greene in Hong Kong 6:54PM 29 APR 2012
Report: Hong Kong, Sunday
Sha Tin: The Sprint Cup (Group 2) 6f, turf, 3yo+


WHY HAYLEY'S SWEET ON WILLIAM AT 16-1
"BUICK has confidence and maturity to be in with a title shout."



STABLE TOUR -  MARCO BOTTI
The bright young Newmarket trainer opens his doors in a horse-by-horse guide


THE OLDEST BLOODSTOCK WORLD
TONY MORRIS The bloodstock guru presents the next entry in his new series of Breeding Greats p16
The second in a monthly series celebrating the achievements of ten breeders who have enjoyed outstanding success
William Hall Walker
Follow TONY your chance to catch up with key info on the Breeding front,  passed down from generation to generation.


TO THE LATEST BLOODSTOCK WORLD
THE AGA KHAN'S SHARETA
THE Aga Khan's Shareta takes the first step of a four-year-old career connections hope will reward their decision to keep the Arc runner-up in training.

 



A fantastic adventure that will take you to places you never in your wildest dreams
 believed existed.



SEA THE STARS
B.h. 2006 Cape Cross - Urban Sea
OWNER CHRISTOPHER TSUI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Tsui 


SEA THE STARS first foals sold up to e 850,000



BORN TO SEA (IRE) 3 year old 2012
B.c. 2009 Invincible Spirit - Urban Sea

OWNER CHRISTOPHER TSUI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Tsui
   
URBAN SEA (USA)  Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine and mother to Sadler’s Wells’ best racing son and European leading Sire, Galileo, has died during foaling complications at the Irish National Stud. Urban Sea gave birth to a colt by Invincible Spirit who has been placed with a nurse mare. That foal is named BORN TO SEA the last foal of URBAN SEA born on March 2nd 2009. On Wednesday March 4, 2009 at 07:48am
URBAN SEA died.
http://blog.summerhill.co.za/blog/2009/3/4/urban-sea-dead 

SO can BORN TO SEA win the British 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday? 
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
NEWMARKET 2,000 Guineas Racecard.
http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/card.sd?race_id=548475&r_date=2012-05-05#raceTabs=lc_


BORN TO SEA  -  (half-brother to SEA THE STARS) wins  the
 Irish Blenheim Stakes 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DYgru8L1Ko  
What do you think of BORN TO SEA's style when winning the Blenheim Stakes
as a two year old  last year ?
http://www.the-racehorse.com/racing/news/group_three_next_for_born_to_sea



Cirrus Des Aigles turns Ganay into a procession
By Stuart Riley 2:44PM 29 APR 2012


THE MONDAY JURY

Jo Hughes.Trainer

Steve Jones. Post/Coral naps champion

Mouse Morris.Trainer

Dave Orton. Race analyst

Graeme Rodwell. Trading Post

CAN YOU answer today's 6 questions?

Question 6 is "Give us the Guineas winners?"

NEWMARKET GUINEAS MEETING 2012. 
 SUNDAY MAY 6th
1,000 GUINEAS CARD
to be run at 3.15



CITY V UNITED
THE Premier League title is up for grabs on a monster night in Manchester 4- page special guide

THE BIG-MATCH JURY
Tony Cascarino. Former Ireland strikes

Didi Hamann. Former Liverepool and Man City player

Martin Wilson Boylesports football odds-compiler

Dan Childs RPSPORT football tipster

Kevin Pullein RPSPORTS soccer boffin

Question 6 is "What's your best bet for the match?


THE RICH LIST SUNDAY APRIL 29th  ..... 2012

  WHERE IS THE POOR LIST APRIL 29th 2012?

BALANCE .....? WHAT BALANCE .....?




RACING POST SUNDAY APRIL 29th 2012. HOW TO WIN THE RACING POST TEN TO FOLLOW COMPETITION




RACING POST SUNDAY APRIL 29th 2012
WEEK MONDAY APRIL 23rd TO SUNDAY MAY 6th 2012


TODAY'S CARDS Ludlow (Jumps Turf)  Navan (IRE) (Flat Turf) Longchamp (FR) (Flat Turf) and International
http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/home.sd



RPSUNDAY Brilliant 16-page pullout. Don't miss it.



HOW TO WIN THE RP TEN TO FOLLOW COMPETITION

Eight- page pullout inside packed with advice - including Lester Piggott's picks. Don't forget Lester is the Guest Star next Saturday on C4 Morning Line 
 7.55am to 8.55am every Saturday.



DAVID GOODWIN AT WORK 
 NEWMARKET





TIDAL BAY
SANDOWN PARK 3.10 
"TIDAL BAY (IRE) 11 11-12 partner DARYL JACOB  scores brilliant win in bet365 Gold Cup yesterday as advised by
C4 John (greatest jockey) Francome 9-1



CHINA ROCK
PUNCHESTOWN 3.15

CHINA ROCK (IRE) 9 11-10 partner BARRY GERAGHTY  has his finest hour with Gold Cup win.


PRICEWISE TOM SEGAL
"IF you had told me at the start of the year that NEPTUNE COLLONGES would win the John Smith's Grand National and TIDAL BAY would win the bet365 Gold Cup I would have said you were mad .

"If you had told me that two weeks ago I would have called the men in the white coats, but that is the situation we find ourselves in this morning and surely there has never been a better trainer than Paul Nicholls at keeping all these old horses on the go season after season.


"Martin Pipe could never do it and Nicky Henderson has never been able to do it, but the list of Paul Nicholls staying chasers who keep coming back for more is, in the words of Gary Neville, unbelievable. "


J MARGARET CLARKE TURFCALL COMMENT
Bloodhorse illiteracy has been confusing British horseracing for over 5 decades, confusing punters big time, confusing everyone, confusing professional handler rider and trainers and worst their negligence has badly effected the horses and their owners.   


NEPTUNE COLLONGES is an 11 year old , as is TIDAL BAY both trained by Paul Nicholls. How old is an old chaser? Is an 11 year old an old chaser?
A lot of someone's daily life and work has brought both these horses to where they are now.  It very much depends on who those someone's are.  


Before a horse bred for racing  ever takes his first step out on a racetrack there has been or should have been considerable ongoing preparations up to that point. After that point there is further vital guidance needed throughout that horses racing career. How it is done is paramount to that horses success or failure.





   

Friday 27 April 2012

RACING POST SATURDAY APRIL 28th 2012


RACING POST SATURDAY APRIL 28th 2012
WEEK MONDAY APRIL 23rd TO SUNDAY APRIL 29th 2012


Join Up
TODAY'S CARDS Sandown Park (Jumps and Flat Turf) Ripon (Flat Turf)
Doncaster (Flat Turf) Haydock (Flat Turf)


Join Up
THE MORNING LINE CHARITY BET SELECTION
Keep an eye on these always interesting

Join Up
C4 MORNING LINE JOIN UP
http://turfcallmorningline.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/c4-morning-line.html


JON LEES
"ALL-STAR PARADE AT SANDOWN PARK TO MARK SEASON'S FINALE
Jumping greats and their heirs apparent will parade before racing at Sandown today when the track brings the curtain down on the 2011-12 jumps campaign with a celebration of the season's leading lights ......

RP THANK'S FOR THE MEMORIES
"It's been another vintage jumps season which comes to a thrilling end at Sandown Park
today with the  bet365 Gold Cup at  3.10 a race that has provided many magic moments in racing history.
PRICEWISE has this to say "TWO weeks ago I thought RARE BOB had a good chance of winning the Grand National at Aintree but that fire was quickly extinguished when he was brought down early on - However, if I thought he could win that race, why should I think any different in the 3.10 bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park this afternoon? "




TODAY'S BIG TALKING POINT BAI'S NO SOFTY -

HE NEEDS THE HEAVY GOING.

ANDREW SCUTTS on a top- quality card at Sandown Park with something for everyone.

"TYPICAL. Even when it rains for days on end it's the Flat course at Sandown that turn's heavy, while the chase course is merely soft, with good to soft patches just to rub it in. ....



Thursday 26 April 2012

RACING POST FRIDAY APRIL 27th 2012. PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL DAY FOUR



RACING POST FRIDAY APRIL 27th 2012
WEEK MONDAY APRIL 23rd TO SUNDAY APRIL 29th 2012

TODAY'S CARDS Punchestown (Jumps Turf) Sandown Park (Flat Turf)
Perth  (Jumps Turf ) Doncaster (Flat Turf )   Chepstow (Jumps Turf )
 Plumpton (Jumps Turf)

TV TREAT FOR PUNTERS 5 RACES LIVE ON C4 FROM SANDOWN PARK AND PERTH THIS AFTERNOON



PRICEWISE ISSUES GOING WARNING
"The ground at Punchestown and Sandown is going to be extremely testing today. The GoingStick  suggests Sandown is as soft as it ever has been, which means the result of the bet365 Mile is going to be as much about fitness and being able to handle the conditions as it is about ability......




PUNCHESTOWN RACE CARD TODAY


TRAINER WILLIE MULLINS AT PUNCHESTOWN - REVIEW
Check out how his horses ran yesterday. And check out the horses he runs today.
GOING INSPECTION 8am


REVIEW PUNCHESTOWN YESTERDAY
 QUEVEGA (FR) 8 11-3 partner RUBY WALSH
Battle through the mud at Punchestown yesterday  to win the 5.50 Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle 3m. 11-10f  by five and a half lengths from VOLER LA VEDETTE 
WILLIE MULLINS RACING POST SPECIAL
WATCH the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle 3m live on Racing Post Join Up herewith to see how  QUEVEGA and RUBY tackled their task so bravely to score through the mud.


STABLE TOUR EXCLUSIVE ROGER VARIAN ON HIS IMPRESSIVE SQUAD




RACING POST THURSDAY APRIL 26th 2012. PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL DAY THREE .

RACING POST THURSDAY APRIL 26th 2012
WEEK MONDAY APRIL 23rd TO SUNDAY APRIL 29th


TODAY'S CARDS Punchestown (Jumps Turf)  Perth (Jumps Turf)  Beverley (Flat Turf)
Wolverhampton (Flat AW) Brighton (Flat Turf)

"Against all the odds, racing went ahead at rain- lashed Punchestown yesterday - but today's star-studded festival card featuring supermare QUEVEGA hinges on a morning inspection .....


GOING AT PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL
INSPECTION http://www.racingpost.com/




PREVIEW
PUNCHESTOWN CARD 
http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/meeting_of_cards.sd?crs_id=195&r_date=2012-04-26


REVIEW
YESTERDAY'S RESULTS




TRAINER WILLIE MULLINS AT PUNCHESTOWN - REVIEW
  Check out how his horses ran yesterday. And check out the horses he runs today.
Don't forget that due to the heavy rain no chases will be run today.



DAVY RUSSELL PUNCHESTOWN RP SEQUENCE OF PIC'S 3
"GET ME OUT OF HERE!"

IS THAT YOUR FACE DAVY BEHIND ALL THAT MUD?

THE RACING POST - BE IN THE KNOW

HEARTS WILL BE RACING AT PUNCHESTOWN EVEN IN THE RAIN


"STABLE TOUR TODAY

"DAVID SIMCOCK with the latest news on his talented team.

Horses that is. But where is the reference to the two legged variety that go to make up professionally licensed British trainer SIMCOCK TEAM in the handler rider zone department?



IT IS NOTED IN RACEFORM PUBLICATION 'HORSES IN TRAINING 2011

The SIMCOCK TEAM 578 on page 403- 404 -405 has a total of 82 horses in training. Of which 38 are two year olds, 35 are three year olds, with 17 older horses.

To handle ride and bring along 38 two year olds in training a trainer would need at least 20 top professional Grade A Status bloodhorse literate handler riders to do this job properly.



With the 35 three year olds at least 16 top professional Grade A Status bloodhorse literate handler riders would be needed to do this job properly.  



With the 17 older horses at least 8 Grade B Status bloodhorse literate handler riders would be needed to do this job properly.  



What do owners say when they find out that a bloodhorse illiterate person is caring for their horses in training? Or are most of the owners bloodhorse illiterate as well? A great opportunity to learn how to achieve bloodhorse literacy then.  If the governments can be shaken out of their selfish negligence and greed along with their best mates the bankers that is.





The British horseracing government in attempting to run British horseracing on the cheap over the last 5 decades have totally ignored the key ingredient, Bloodhorse Literacy.


You here people say, racehorses are treated better than people, this is total rubbish, clearly made by the bloodhorse illiterate who are not aware that they are bloodhorse illiterate even themselves .... How sad is that? What does David Cameron or any politician  have to say about the last 5 decades of British government and horseracing government their blatant exploitation of the lower classes?  



How many top professional bloodhorse literate horsemen (Grade A Status) does SIMCOCK employ in his team?



 How many professional Grade A Status Bloodhorse Literate Handler Riders do the British horseracing government stipulate on safety grounds are needed when they are in the process of licensing a trainer?



Do the British horseracing government stipulate anything at all when they license a trainer as to what is an acceptable number of top professional Grade A status bloodhorse literate handler riders thought to  be needed  to ensure safety in the work place?



How many bloodhorse literate horsemen (Grade B Status) does SIMCOCK employ in his team?



How many learner student handler riders aiming to achieve bloodhorse literacy (Grade C Status) does SIMCOCK employ in his team? Do the British horseracing government grant Simcock a weekly financial allowance for training Learner Student Handler Riders?



EG

Football Team Manchester United - Trainer Team David Simcock

BALANCE? WHAT BALANCE?



Wednesday 25 April 2012

RACING POST WEDNESDAY APRIL 25th DAY TWO OF THE PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL 2012

RACING POST WEDNESDAY APRIL 25th 2012
WEEK MONDAY APRIL 23rd TO SUNDAY APRIL 29th 2012


TODAY'S CARDS Punchestown (Jumps Turf) Epsom (Flat Turf) Perth (Jumps Turf) Catterick (Flat Turf) Kempton Park (Flat AW) Hereford (Jumps Turf)
http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/home.sd    

STABLE IN FOCUS TODAY ED DUNLOP AND TEAM DON'T MISS IT

READ WILLIE MULLINS EVERY DAY OF THE PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL IN THE RACING POST

PUNCHESTOWN (Jumps Turf)


YESTERDAY'S RESULT REVIEW
24.04.2012
YESTERDAY AT PUNCHESTOWN
LEE MOTTERSHEAD emerged unscathed from a wet open day of the festival.


RP Headline and Pic 1 in sequence  AMAZING PIC OF DAVY RUSSELL PERFORMING A MIRACLE TO STAY ON GOLD CUP FAVOURITE SIR DES CHAMPS AS THEY SURVIVE A DRAMATIC LAST-FENCE BLUNDER AT PUNCHESTOWN YESTERDAY."
JMC TURFCALL


NOTE in this pic 1 sequence, DAVY'S hands and the gentle lightest contact they still have between them on the bridle with the rein at full stretch, DAVY'S body weight thrown backwards off SIR DES CHAMPS back into the air, but DAVY, managing to keep his balance to stay in true contact with his horse in spite of the desperate predicament they find themselves in, to go on to win their race by 36 lengths.( Mean price though 2-7f )

This is 'Bloodhorse Literacy' in action at it's finest, how would Paul Roy, Paul Bittar, Tim Morris, Jamie Stier and Lynn Williams manage action in the saddle at this level of bloodhorse literacy? Or indeed at any level at all? What help do these 5 men imagine in their wildest dreams their bloodhorse illiterate whip review will achieve?

JESSICA LAMB
RP Headline and Pic 2 in sequence "RUSSELL sits tight to guide SIR DES to first Grade 1 win."
In this second sequence pic we can see how SIR DES CHAMPS kicks away from this fence
holds his head and neck up into DAVY'S chest as DAVY still managing to keep his balance intact with this horse, is now thrown forward out of this pradicament and in doing so this horse helps DAVY get back in the saddle to go on together to win this race.

It can be noted by the pose and expression caught in this pic 2 sequence that SIR DES CHAMPS is well aware of how tricky this manoeuvre had been. If DAVY had lost his balancing link with this horse their race would have been over.
SIR DES CHAMPS handler rider presenter JACK MADDEN
+
ANDREW LYNCH big - race victory on SIZING EUROPE
Another great bloodhorse literate handler rider of the highest calibre

This is 'Bloodhorse Literacy' in action at it's finest, how would Paul Roy, Paul Bittar, Tim Morris, Jamie Stier and Lynn Williams manage action in the saddle at this level of bloodhorse literacy? Or indeed at any level at all? What help do these 5 men imagine in their wildest dreams their bloodhorse illiterate whip review will achieve?


There needs to be a strong bloodhorse literate presence working within the governments if governments have any intention at all of allowing British horseracing to reach its true potential, and for their own financial gain. It seems strange that football team members are so well paid to kick a football around, when horseracing using a live horse to compete, but pays handler rider trainer teams a cruel pittance. How are these governments getting away with such negligence and ignorance?




GRAHAM GREEN
DEATH OF GEORGE WARD
"Racing pays tribute to leading sponsor and owner/ breeder.

"OWNER -BREEDER and successful businessman George Ward , who invested more than £25 million in race sponsorship but was ultimately thwarted from realising his ambition of becoming an influential figure within the sport's  corridors of power, has died aged 79 following a short illness.

"Ward's bulging sponsorship portfolio under the Bonusprint and Trippleprint banners invluding Kempton's King George v1 Chase, the Cheltenham Festival's Stayers' Hurdle ....

"JOHN REID leads the tributes to a great friend of the sport, described George Ward's "absolutely fantastic" influence on his career as he talked about the owner with whom he enjoyed a lasting friendship that far transcended most jockey-owner relationships .....   


EDWARD GILLESPIE TO STAND DOWN  

HOWARD WRIGHT "Gillespie declares at Cheltenham after an unbeaten century....

ALASTAIR DOWN "On a can-do character who did it."