Thomass

Oh that's right...you couldnt even read RESULTS that a 5 yo could understand... ...then came out fighting like a 5 yo who couldn't take the TRUTH... ...So of course you'd support him...

And I'm just about to enjoy watching the tennis...

What that he can't read? But he can say my posts "are shit"?

John McCririck and Alastair Down on TV duty at Royal Ascot in 2013 Edward Whitaker 1 of 1 UPDATED 7:59PM, JUL 7 2019 Alastair Down pays tribute to his former colleague and friend John McCririck Over the last couple of years I have watched an oh-so-steadfast friend corrode and erode from the inside, a man dying before one's very eyes. That vast flamboyance stuttering inexorably to the conclusion universal to us all, like some once unassailable ocean liner declining from the regal to a rusted hulk. But the manner of John McCririck's slow fade to grey was also the stuff of inspiration because this most singular and underrated lover of racing died as he had lived – drenched in bravery. Was there ever a word of complaint? A scintilla of self-pity? Even the faintest tinny echo of 'poor me'? Not a bit of it. As he withered in the fire, he never faltered. Tied to the stake as the rifles were raised, he was unblinking and, trenchant to the end, would have told you where to stuff your blindfold. Perhaps there is a touch of the roseate in my recollection of him, but excuse that please. He first burst over my horizon in March 1981 when I walked in tremulously on my initial day at the Sporting Life. In the subsequent 38 years I cannot recall a single occasion on which he let me down. Of how many can that be said? Yes we argued on occasion – we had an armed truce never to discuss his appearance on that scourge of our times, reality TV – but he was magnificently honest and even-handed. When he thought you had done well he would ring and tell you, and if he believed you had erred the inevitable 'Fat Al' would be followed by a tirade of corrective advice. But it was done with kindness – there was a compassion to Mac that ran deeper than the Mariana Trench. It is a sadness that few people could see beyond the buffoon and that was his fault. He was to an extent the prisoner of his own carefully cultivated persona, but those who chose to look beyond the superficial found their own reward. John McCririck: his use of tic-tac attracted attention Edward Whitaker He was an intensely personal man. Details of his life were hard to garner and it was always my feeling that he was forced to rise above something of an unhappy childhood. But rise he did, not least because he forged an alliance of steel with a woman who was very much the making of him. The Booby was always Mac's lioness – while the male of the pride sits around trying to look magnificent it is the woman who goes out to hunt, kill and provide. And why The Booby? As he once exultantly explained a definition he had read: "A dim, flightless bird ridiculously easy to catch." There are few mysteries as complex as other people's marriages, but should you require a textbook definition of devotion look no further than Mr and Mrs John McCririck. Christ she could be tricky, but only ever in his cause. I tremble for her now without the mad rock of her incarnation, but if any consolation can be found she might turn to the words of the great Philip Larkin, whose extraordinary poem An Arundel Tomb closes with the climactic line: "What will survive of us is love." Please god may it be true. For Jenny most of all. Memories? Well hello and welcome to a flood tide. Walking into The Ivy for lunch and seeing this be-fezzed loon ensconced on a wide banquette, chosen as he found a chair mildly restrictive after a course or four. On the table in a bucket of vast proportions, a magnum of champagne. "Now Fat Al, I am two glasses ahead of you but I am sure you will catch up." He endured mixed relations with his mother in law, who he habitually referred to as the Reptile. On one occasion after a long day at the races, John had repaired to bed after his "tosh" – bath to you and I – in order to watch his beloved Newcastle on the box. The Reptile, whose views on her daughter's choice of man can only be guessed at, repeatedly knocked on his door to tell him that his customarily splendid dinner was about to be served by Jenny. Mac, deep into the 90th minute, told her where to go. Eventually after ma-in-law's 80th entreaty he said he would be there in a minute. Good as his word he strode in and sat at the end of the table. Stark and bollock naked. As Basil Fawlty once said: "Enjoy your meal!" And years earlier setting off on the countryside march in London, where after about five minutes it became clear this most high-profile of footsloggers would be the focus of vitriolic abuse from those heckling from the pavement. I lacked his utter passion for the cause and moved away from him in the throng. But as things got worse – which he loved of course – I thought "grow a pair Down" and cleaved to his side. And how wrong people invariably were about him. People assumed he was a bigot but that he never was. I had the unquenchable privilege of being raised by parents who simply never made distinction between Jew or gentile, black or white. They had given five years of their life making sure it was thus. And there was a resonance of their views with John. Perhaps more than any man I knew he abhorred racism in its every form and was light years ahead of society. Was he sexist? Absurdly so in public utterance. Yet among the mass of cap-doffing drivel that has poured out in recent days has been the contributions of women who knew and worked with him. Think Alice Plunkett and Tanya Stevenson – yes they wanted to throttle him some days, but they knew he was some man to have at your shoulder in the trench when the foe were closing on you across no man's land. And loved him for it. Big Mac with his co-stars, the Channel 4 Morning Line team Edward Whitaker Irritating? He invented it. But it was done – vast ego aside – because he cared above all for you and I. Folk failed or fabulous who were in thrall to the thing he loved above all – horseracing. In a wonderfully old-fashioned way he cared with unswerving passion for the little man. The punter. Somewhere in the maddening, magnificent maelstrom that was Mac there thumped out a belief in ordinary folk and that he was beholden to stand up for them through tremor and tempest. He knew that the bookmakers regarded you and I as cannon-fodder but nobody else stood up to the red resentment of the guns like John McCririck. Fearless in his views, his courage lay in the fact that unlike the rest of us he felt no overpowering need to be loved. That takes backbone and bottle. He was loaded with both. News of his death came in a call from my one of my daughters, Clare. There were no tears at that moment, but I write these sparse words through a hopeless mist. Soon after came a request from son James to come to his funeral as, at the age of 11, young Jim spent a memorable day at the Oval with Mac when England regained the Ashes. There is TV footage of the pair leaping up and down in the stands – son of the demented cavorting joyously with the pleasingly insane. But John never wanted a funeral. He thought nobody would turn up. Wrong old friend. And so The Booby and a supporter will watch the slow and sonorous slide behind the curtains and the ashes will find their way to the furlong pole at Ally Pally where in John's youth the starter would solemnly intone: "Triers at the front, non-triers at the back." Different days, as they will all be now without the old cuss. I spoke to him often on the phone as the sand ran through the timer. The old roar had grown husky but the heart still pulsed vibrant. Alas no more. There is an old line of song that runs "you don't know what you've got til it's gone". In my inner heart I hope he understood how deeply he was valued by those privileged to be allowed past the public image. Trouper and triumph. RIP John McC.

I'm educating in moi's Punting ashram tommy.... ...but I came across this while I was doing a dunny read..you'll know doubt be able to help being a rabid tea drinking shrew

To grow a sport...one needs to show the 'human interest' side of things... Absolutely appalling stuff then on Saturday...straight after racing at Te Rapa...off to Flemington... ...wall to wall betting...with a constant scrolling stream of betting info along the bottom...even while races are on... G1 Racing even..."get on at the Dipshit dogs" scrolling...while a race like The Derby is on... ...seriously? Rita Rita...lovely Rita...fix it now... thanks

And you can't beat a massive set of ears that makes them go faster...how does that work aerodynamically though?

Double space after a full stop shrew...even moi's princess knows that...and she's as thick as pig bung...best

It's interesting this video has gone global... ...and it's been enormously damaging to the Thoroughbred jumping game... ...now the Irish Greyhound industry has come Nader the spotlight seriously Ireland...get your shit sorted

Oh ffs kopa...change the flippin' record.... ...all of this anti Winn narrative has sent you Doo lah lah... ....go for a walk...hand in hand with your lover...it may be your hand ... ...frolic amongst some Albatross in the hills...or something...any change up is good Just rejoice for a change..in the knowledge Winn and Deano have got this...ok? best

Great input tommy... Go and change your nappy though...same batshit every post...zzzzz

https://mobile.twitter.com/Sandownpark/status/1147517110442237955 What a return after 8 months...not fully tuned up either...looking good for a 3rd Arc...another Treve repeat... Btw..lRunner up last year SEA OF CLASS will never race again after serious colic surgery...sad

Big loss but seeing as he enjoyed Harness more...yea na...onya bike McNamara to return to Australia 8 July 2019 , News By Michael Guerin New Zealand racing is losing one of its rarest talents with leading commentator Mark McNamara returning home to his native Australia. The voice of predominantly Canterbury racing will call his last meeting in this country at Addington on August 22 before returning home to Australia for family reasons. McNamara has been snapped up by leading Australian racing channel Sky and will commentate and present for them starting in September. “I’ll be sad to go but I am also looking forward to the new challenge,” says McNamara. “I’m going home to be closer to family so it is a personal decision but on a professional level I am thrilled to have a role with Sky and looking forward to seeing where that takes me.”McNamara has been commentating in New Zealand for 10 years and the now 40-year-old quickly became a favourite with racing’s fans. While he has the most obvious and important of commentating skills, accuracy, a strong voice and an understanding of racing, his quirkiness helped make racing interesting. McNamara also developed strong ties with both the thoroughbred and standardbred industries, enabling him to add personal touches to his commentaries. “I have loved it here and have worked with so many good people so I really want to thank them,” says McNamara. “And whoever gets the role I wish them the best because it is a real privilege.” McNamara is adept at calling either equine code — his Te Akau Shark commentary in the Couplands Mile this season added fun, hype and a narrative to what was a seemingly obvious odds-on winner. But it was when calling harness racing that he was world class and when feeling at home at Addington he produced some of his most famous quips. “I’ve been lucky enough to call some great, great horses but Terror To Love’s third New Zealand Cup, after he galloped away at the start, that was my favourite race. “And as much as I have loved Riccarton and so many of the other tracks I have been lucky enough to call at, Addington has been my home track so I’m happy my last night calling here will be there on the (August) 22nd.” While McNamara will be missed from the calling ranks Canterbury racing at least has a commentator capable of stepping into McNamara’s shoes in Matt Cross. Trackside, now run by RITA, will advertise the role but it will be a huge surprise if Cross doesn’t secure the role at main Canterbury commentator. While young he has developed into a very professional broadcaster and as a local has enormous knowledge of the industry in the region. To that extent the racing industry may have dodged a bullet as Cross was nearly lost to an overseas job last year and finding a similarly-qualified replacement for McNamara would have been incredibly difficult. Cross would be a deserved caller of the New Zealand Trotting Cup, which sits alongside the Vodafone Derby at Ellerslie as New Zealand’s greatest horse race. McNamara’s move is not the only shift in the South Island commentating ranks with Jason Teaz stepping away from his fulltime job as commentator in Otago and surrounding regions to work on a contract basis. That will see veteran caller Dave McDonald add the Forbury Park greyhounds to his extensive duties in the short-term while former Victorian commentator Craig Rail, who recently moved to New Zealand, will call Forbury Park harness and possibly other meetings in the region as a contractor.

Just remember when you're dealing with some of these ignorami ATA... They also ignore...unlucky runs, wide without cover, track specialists... ...they treat neddys like robots when horses can be in and out of form...who knew? They practise extreme sophistry...when they're actually punces without clothes "I expect my rider to get said neddy into the best position possible" Maybe they think they're betting on Winged Horses?? But that's Phantasy..we know it...but they dont hahaha

An absolute Pommy Punting legend with Personality Plus...passed away We could do with his like here...enjoy F

Oh gee did you two clowns think the takeout was 107%?? Actually that'd probably work on ignoramus Punters like Gen Z... ..and 2 clowns Anything constructive to add?

And he can still place his drink lebels facing the front...like her labels...while all this action is going on.... ...amazing powers

Thank da gods Rafa has the contratative powers of a she devil...and doesn't need Blinkers on!!! ...he can't be human... https://mobile.twitter.com/Punters/status/1146966390110224385

This should be good entertainment...especially if his owners make the trip...scenes https://mobile.twitter.com/Racing/status/1146686783859466240

Yep...Ive got a pin up of 2 shysters.... ...hang it on the dunny wall and throw darts...or whatever you do in a dunny kopa... ...they deserve as much slung at them as possible enjoy

Great new bet type introduced to NSW...this is what we need here to capture the instant gratification Generation Zee...to compete with Sport betting... Hello Johnny..get your boys and girls onto it...ok? ..and the great news its only 107% takeout... Racing NSW have announced a significant prizemoney boost to country racing carnivals on Tuesday with a number of races to now carry a purse of $200,000. Eight country cups, including Port Macquarie, Goulburn, Albury, Wellington, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Scone and Grafton, will be worth $200,000 from next season. Prizemoney for the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton, the Wagga Wagga Town Plate and Scone's Dark Jewel Quality has also been boosted to $200,000. The Coffs Harbour and Muswellbrook Cups will receive an increase in prizemoney to $150,000 each, while the Taree Cup, Dubbo Cup and Snake Gully Cup at Gundagai rise to $100,000. Also, the feature meetings at Lismore, Coonamble, Coonabarabran, Mudgee, Moruya, Bega and Orange have received significant increases for their Cups and support races at these meetings. Another initiative for the feature country meetings is a $50,000 ‘Country Magic’ race which is restricted to country-trained horses only. The total annual prizemoney for country racing in NSW will now exceed $81 million, an increase of $48 million since 2012. TAB, in conjunction with Racing NSW, also officially launched the new bet type 'Odds and Evens' on Tuesday, with hopes the product will fund the $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill. The parimutuel bet type was given a soft launch over the weekend by TAB. TAB's new bet type 'Odds and Evens' Odds and Evens requires a punter to simply select if the saddlecloths of the first two placegetters will be either odd numbers, even numbers or split, where one is an odd number and the other is even. Racing NSW chairman Russell Balding said the product was designed to attract the younger demographic. "The bet type is not only simple, but it is entertaining," Mr Balding said. "Importantly, it is utilising the mobile digital devices that the younger demographic use today. And so we are looking to reach out and access that younger demographic, particularly also those people who may not have access to the detailed race form that a lot of us do have." To maximise liquidity of the new product, the pool is merged with quinella bets. It will be available on all race meetings wagered on through the NSW TAB from Tuesday.

Make that another 3 in a row after that APPRENTICE MASTERCLASS... 13 Races in a row claimed by CDApprentices...and some say 0.1L = 1Kg... hahahaha

Where on Earth do you get your crap info from...Trumps FAKE NEWS?? Downs claimed 3 kgs...taking the slowest part of the BOG...and clearly won due to the allowance... FANNIN claimed as well... As you were...as you were??

No, originally I'd posted it under 'Animal Abuse' but the Chief didn't like that and took it down...perhaps he likes the 'abuse'? Interesting how each society judges things like this...IRISH EXAMINER Look at the end...Irish Integrity? Yea na By Stephen Barry Nothing we saw at Cheltenham came close to matching the final-fence drama of this Cork point-to-point race. The Prestbury Park meeting may have been the highlight of the year for many Irish racing followers, but those at Ballyarthur, near Fermoy, witnessed a truly memorable finish earlier this month. The Village Inn Bar adjacent hunt maiden for novice riders was progressing over the three miles as expected until the approach to the last, as Artic Fever seemed to be the only horse left in the race. We could try to describe the drama of multiple refusals, unseated riders and the possibility of a race with no finisher, but it's best to judge for yourself... In the end, after nearly 10 minutes of energy-sapping racing on heavy ground, Two Sams took the win "by a process of elimination". As the commentator Declan Phelan said, it's a win trainer Michael 'Trixie' Barry and jockey Gary Noonan are "never going to forget" in "one of the all-time great adjacent hunt maidens". Thanks to Kilworth & Araglen Point To Point and IRIS - Racecourse Integrity Services for the footage.

Well with the Trainers Association having a massive influence on NZTR...it's hard to imagine it changing anytime soon.... ...and of course the BREEDERS who decreed there "shall be no G1 Iconic Handicaps...no more ...ok?" So obviously they think PUNTING doesn't have much place in their industry...