(Source: SIA Cup)

Then again, even international racing pundits gave these wins scant mention preferring to focus on their country’s horses and the reasons for their failure.

But that’s how racing has been and how it plods along and wonders why it is still not a “glamor” sport that attracts celebrities, big name sponsors and strong partnerships involving branding.

(Source: E7 Sports)

Until this mindset is changed, until the stupidity of TVN in Oz, for example, that stops fans from uploading videos of their favorite races alleging this to be a breach of contract and so stops the sharing of information just as music companies unsuccessfully tried to stop the sharing of music, racing will always be in the Dark Ages.

(Source: Daniel Crommie)

It will continue to be a very insular sport for the elitists and the hardcore punter whose universe centers only on racing- the betting side of the sport.

(Source: Tip Tele)

In Hong Kong, the city is going through immense change.

The natives have not only got restless, the lunatics are hell-bent on taking over the asylum and driving out the corrupt politicians, greedy landlords and anyone and everything associated with greed. Gordon Gekko is dead.

(Source: American)

In a very fast-paced city like Hong Kong, heroes are always very hard to find as those wearing the black hats and the white hats become very grey. Like actor Jackie Chan who has quickly fallen out of favor.

(Source: FJDH)

Especially in Hong Kong, this is a void that can be filled by racing- and promoting those personalities behind the sport.

It has been done- but to a captive audience. The same old audience that will bet on a cockroach race.

(Source: Weekend Notes)

Unlike many other racing jurisdictions, the HKJC has been able to make racing seen as fun, entertaining and not only about gambling. Want gambling, go to Macau.

It’s a combination of all three USPs plus those Happy Wednesday Nights held in the most unique racecourse in the world.

All this is a very giant baby step towards creating a new “version” of the sport to a new generation of consumers born into a world of online gaming, who have embraced social media and are looking at old things in new ways- and enhancing and changing these to fit THEIR lifestyles.

THEY will lead and they won’t follow leaders and they’ll watch their parking meters.

(Source: Mind Body Green)

While TVN in Australia bans the uploading of their racing videos and squirrels them away along with their nuts, the HKJC do all they can to get their videos out, work with social media companies, marketers inside and out of 1 Sports Road, Search Engine Operatives (SEOs) and various new platforms to reach as many different customer segments as possible.

(Source: The Social Media Training)

Where there is a stumbling block is in traditional media.

Traditional media is like the hardcore punter: Set in their ways and immovable beasts. It’s the elephant in the room thinking of the past.

(Source: Silverlining)

The wins of Military Attack and Lucky Nine last Sunday at Kranji, were more that fodder for the racing pages and where the wife or girlfriend says, ” Here, take your section.”

These wins were the positive fillip Hong Kong people needed to feel a sense of pride, competitiveness and achievement at a time when the city is very splintered regarding what the next steps in its future will be and if there are plans for a Brave New World.

(Source: SIA Cup)

(Source: SIA Cup)

It was a Good News Day just like that wonderful day when the great Silent Witness won in Japan and all of Hong Kong celebrated the victory like a song by Kook And The Gang.

These victories on the weekend should have made the Main News Reports on television.

(Source: SIA Cup)

Bars should have been offering free shots with names like Military Attack, The Zac Attack, Moore The Merrier and Lucky Nine.

(Source: SIA Cup)

The Chief Executive who needs all the help he can as his popularity sinks faster than the Titanic, should have applauded these victories.

(Source: Deviant Art)

The winning teams should have been given the keys to the city.

Come now, even so-called American Idols get keys to their cities.

(Source: Island Packet)

IF the above was done, it would have been heard about globally- and no one knows who this might have attracted and where this could have led. Now THIS is making something truly go viral.

(Source: Jrcel Ski)

This is where one can see quite radically different views on the global image and marketing of horse racing surfacing.

The old guard remains set in their ways and happy to watch while Rome burns around them whereas others are pushing the envelope to douse the fires and accelerate Change and bring the sport in line with the times.

No prizes for guessing which side we’re on.

(Source: Logo Fury)

(Source: SIA Cup)

As an aside, having a race like this follow the Cup race is a bit like a attending a Rock concert and the supporting act coming out to do an encore after the main act has left the stage along with the audience.

The programing is all wrong. In fact, it’s very Duh Duh stupid, Einstein.

(Source: Scientificlliteracy)

Getting back to the ‘live’ simulcast from Singapore, what was promised and reported in the media was that six races would be shown, starting from 5.30pm on ATV.

Nothing more- simply ATV- and which makes us wonder if those even promoting these broadcasts understand how it all works- and know the various ATV channels. We’re betting that they don’t.

(Source: Wiki)

So, we switched to ATV World, the English channel, at 5.30 and watched a few minutes of Wolfie Bear or something like that. ATV Home, the station’s Chinese channel was showing what looked like Dragon Ball.

As time went by and much channel surfing plus having to endure Michael Chugani on Newsline screeching at some bloke about whether he is a patriot, came a voice-over announcing that the races from Singapore were on next.

(Source: The Who)

This was now 8pm and on appeared Jo McKinnon and Michael Cox who greeted viewers- and mentioned the incredible win of Lucky Nine.

(Source: Perth Now)

Earlier, tweets from Oz gave the same news. Some even tweeted us that great win long before the race was repeated on ATV World.

Ironically, many in Hong Kong never saw it- ‘live’. They were trying to find where the hell this OTHER simulcast was being shown in Hong Kong.

Later, after the horses had bolted, we learnt the races were shown on ATV HD. Huh? There is an ATV HD? Where? With Carmen Santiago?

(Source: Share TV)

Meanwhile, JoJo and Coxy were professional, informative and very good, but why they were made to be seated inside a Barbie tea party set made their hard work look amateurish.

(Source: Twitter)

Hell, it was the same cramped set where JoJo was plonked behind two tatty oil drums during the simulcast from Dubai.

(Source: Patterson Oil)

Like The Thunderbirds Are Go set from where The Trio Los Amigos give us their thoughts via Racing To Win, these sets, possibly designed by a school for the blind, they must go.

The colors- garish, the zig-zag designs, the Barbie sets- take so much away from the content. One’s mind becomes a Rubik’s cube and nothing clicks together.

(Source: Photo Bucket)

Hell, there are days when we expect Barney to come out for a knees-up with the Trio Los Amigos and Willy Wonka be seated next to JoJo along with his Ooompah Loompahs.

(Source: Energy Burrito)

The HKJC have two great sets in their venues Adrenaline and The Gallery.

(Source: Tac Table)

Both “say” racing. Lighting is no problem. Why not have these broadcasts recorded here along with any ‘live’ simulcasts?

(Source: Next Hospitality)

Also, instead of dealing with those trolls at ATV, have this programming made available online with ‘live’ streaming.

(Source: Calhoun Adventist Church)

This can also bring in HKJC blue chip sponsors- and give them added value- and not the tatty commercials for brands of condoms etc shown during the breaks of those ‘live’ broadcasts on ATV Home.

For the HKJC it means total control of its content.

(Source: Market Cues)

It also means a new revenue generator and, over time, new concepts to also cater to those newcomers to racing who still have no idea how to place a bet- but would like to- but first need to “understand the game” for fear of looking “silly” when amongst the hardcore crowd.

(Source: Clker)

(Source: SIA Cup)

John Moore got that monkey off his back along with his safari suit by winning on foreign soil with one of his runners. And what a win it was, too with Zac Purton launching a brilliant Zac Attack on Military Attack in the Krisflyer International Cup which practically jogged home- not that this was a sit and street job.

This was Zac Purton, a truly world class jockey, in the zone, the best jockey riding in Hong Kong and totally in sync with a brilliant horse.

(Source: SIA CUP)

Where to next for Military Attack? Anywhere really and let’s not forget that John Moore quinella-d the race with the very consistent Dan Excel. That’s the good news.

(Source: SIA Cup)

What isn’t good news is that many in Hong Kong never watched the win of Lucky Nine and the launching of another Zac Attack on Raziyya Sydney for Michael Freedman.

(Source: Perth Now)

When advertising or reporting that these ‘live’ simulcasts will be shown on ATV, specify which ATV and if it’s this mysterious ATV Digital, tell us where it is. Don’t turn it into Where In The World Is Santiago.

(Source: Share TV)

As a terrestrial station, ATV is not exactly a station that attracts a great audience. And to watch its programming on ATV World from 5.30pm as reported and to finally see JoJo McKinnon and Michael Cox appear on screens and tell us what we missed seeing- especially the win of Lucky Nine and Caspar Fownes and Brett Prebble also flying the Hong Kong flag in the Krisflyer International Sprint- is short-changing local racing fans and quite loony.

Days like this don’t happen every day for Hong Kong racing and to miss out on one of its two great successes is sloppy promotion and amateurish communications.

(Source: Dan Dare)

She is intelligent, attractive and the daughter of Rob and Gai Waterhouse.

(Source: Zimbio)

As the Fashion Editor of a leading magazine that deals in all things fashionable and coming from Australia’s first family of racing, she has been her own person.

(Source: Magic Millions)

Have you noticed how the name Kate Waterhouse has not been dragged through all the horseshit of the Singo-Gai horse opera that has now surely run its course in Australia? We have.

(Source: Style Bistro)

Like Francesca Cumani, Kate Waterhouse is or can be leaders of the new generation of racegoers who are changing the sport from a two-bit mugs game to one that is re-shaping it and giving it a sense of class it never had before.

(Source: Zimbio)

With a global sponsor like Longines, surely both Kate Waterhouse and Francesca Cumani make such obvious racing ambassadors for the brand- along with the fabulous Faye Wong from Beijing.

(Source: Xiami)

The moody model is a dead ringer for jockey Zac Purton. Agree? Agree he could look absolutely Zacalicious in this gear?

Should be especially worn when facing the Stewards for refusing to wear daggy silks.

(Source: Zimbio)

(Source: Mass Appeal)

(Source: Mass Appeal)

(Source: Mass Appeal)

(Source: Mass Appeal)

(Source: Mass Appeal)

(Source: Twitter)

We call her JoJo just as we call Gai Waterhouse Lady GaiGai and no one seems to mind.

Of course, JoJo is extremely well-known to racing fans in Oz where she was with Sky Sports and did a sterling job keeping everyone aware and abreast of news.

(Source: Courie Mail)

Then, alas, Cupid struck when she met trainer Richard Gibson aka Gibbo and The Ballad Of JoJo and Gibbo was sealed.

(Source: SCMP)

Today in Hong Kong, JoJo pops up hosting all simultaneous broadcasts of international races and makes these shows more stimulating.

Professional, knowledgable and almost bubbling over with enthusiasm when describing Gibbo’s charges- and why shouldn’t she get a charge outta them?- we often watch to see the backdrops JoJo is plonked in front of to give these shows more pizazz.

Our favorite to date were the tiny used oil drums used as a prop for JoJo and her co-host during the simultaneous broadcast of the races from Dubai. It looked like Alice’s tea party in Lilliput.

(Source: Shiratdevorah)

For a while there, we even thought that JoJo, bored with the whole thing, would stand up, beat that drum like Sheila E and dance the Watusi around it.

(Source: Tumblr)

Alas, no, this didn’t happen. Guess she saves that for Gibbo. Lucky man.

(Source: Peplums)

……………………………………

Jenny Chapman

(Source: Racing Diary 2009)

A former DJ when in Oz- she’ll tell you this every time you meet her on the dance floor at Spicy Fingers- and from a racing family, Jenny From The Dock- as in Paddock- is one of our favorite people in racing.

(Source: Racing Diary 2009)

Thoroughly professional, to the point and extremely knowledgable, her paddock parade selections- and running around that paddock looking at the horses, making notes, giving her comments must be one helluva workout- are followed by many as the odds are they’re spot on.

If she’s had a bad day in the paddock, Jen drags hubby David to Spicy Fingers in Wanchai where she cuts loose on the dance floor like, well, Mustang Sally.

David tries to keep up and makes like Tarzan doing the Hully Gully, but it doesn’t really work: She Tarzan, he Jen.

(Source: Observatory Blog)

……………………………………

The Trio Los Amigos

(Source: Armatucoso)

Actually, Darren Flindell, Clint Hutchison and Brett Davis, these are the co-hosts of the show Racing To Win which has been going on for about three decades in Hong Kong and way back to the days of Jim McGrath, Wadey, Parkey and, good gawd, David “I LOVE myself!” Raphael.

(Source: Twitter)

These Los Amigos take a more laid-back approach to the show which, apart from some speed maps and random snippets of music, plods along like a Class 5 galloper tired of it all. But what MORE can the Los Amigos DO? Break into song? Break wind?

(Source: Art Flakes)

Despite one idea to dress the trio up like a Barbershop Trio and have them sing their tips, this was quickly snuffed out and we’re back to the yacht club ‘look’ with Brett playing the role of the Harpo, Darren being Groucho and Clint as Chico.

The show has had a bit of a setback since the departure of Tim Clark. The interviews with The Hobbit were much appreciated as he practically screamed out, “IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE IT IS DRAWN OR IF IT RAINS, I THINK IT WILL WIN.”

We’re now back to, “Yeah, whatever it does tomorrow, it will improve him” and, “Yeah, it should run a big race if everything goes its way.”

(Source: Carty Googles)

(Source: Bonza Sheila)

There’s a cloud hanging over Tiger Woods’ comeback which would have been unthinkable some years ago. Finding a new girlfriend, showing he’s mended his errant ways, chipping away and recently winning the Players after three years in the bogey man’s wilderness is stuff of fairy tales- but there’s a sting to this particular tale with doubts emerging about the golfer’s integrity and The Incident On The 14th Hole of the Final Round.

(Source: Telegraph)

(Source: Daily Mail)

Tiger Woods? A cheat? Surely not? Then again, didn’t we dismiss allegations of Lance Armstrong being a cheat for years?

(Source: Delsquacho)

After all, here was this great American hero who had battled cancer, had singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow for a girlfriend and was simply being hounded for years about using performance enhancing drugs by those silly, jealous French and his rivals.

For years he was asked if he ever were and for years he denied he denied he had never ever been a drug cheat. We believed him and supported him until the truth slapped us in the face.

Suddenly, all those yellow “Lancelets” we wore with pride to support his charity became dirty.

Sheryl Crow left him- what a story she must be able to tell- and Oprah who once fawned over him was now interviewing an admitted drug cheat who still bent the truth even while sitting there with his pants down.

Meanwhile, in the gentleman’s game of cricket, we have seen how easy it is, especially in the 20/20 game and the One-Dayers, to fix a game and where in the sub-continent one can bet on the outcome of every ball bowled.

So, want a bowler to throw down a no-ball exactly in the fourth ball of the eighth over, easy- and it has been done and the cheats caught.

The big question is how many cheats have NOT been caught- in all sports where wagering brings out the rotten apples- and where and how and will it ever end?

(Source: Granitegrok)

The new band of sports gypsies and thieves makes Don King look like a saint and boxing almost legit.

(Source: Guardian)

In horse racing, the question of integrity has reared its ugly head many times in the past few weeks and with the Gai Waterhouse-John Singleton circus taking centre stage.

Who made this circus become the comedy of errors that it’s become?The rabid Aussie racing media.

(Source: Wiki)

If this weren’t Gai and Singo, household names Down Under, and the other two-bit players in cameo roles, it would have died a death instead of still gasping for air and going on and on until no one really cares and want the whole damn this to just go away.

(Source: Daily Telegraph)

Again, horse racing is in the front pages around the world for all the wrong reasons and non race-goers are “helping” underline the image of the sport as being a mug’s game.

As for the Gai-Singo sideshow, it will quickly fade away with a few obligatory fines and it will be business as usual with winners for both though the image of horse racing in Australia has been kicked in the nuts and has become a joke- globally.

(Source: 3D Total)

It’s also business as usual for Lance Armstrong. He has repented to America in front of Oprah and can now get more millions for a book deal and movie Rights for his wretched story.

Tiger Woods will continue to swing and win- unlike Sinatra- big boys Seth Blatter and Bernie Ecclestone will never be caught despite all the charges and talk of bribery hanging over them.

They are way too powerful and with armies of loyalists around the world on their side to protect them from ever being caught at slips.

(Source: Metro)

(Source: Guardian)

They are untouchables. And as in any sport or other business that involves big money, even the untouchables have bigger untouchables behind them and so, the corporate financial food chain will not be broken. The rich will continue to get richer.

It’s like Hollywood and the sexual preferences of Tom Cruise, John Travolta and, say many, Will Smith.

Some of us have seen Cruise’s two marriage Lists and who were on them. But there is big money behind Tom Cruise,action star, and though the truth might be out there, it has always been snuffed out. It can never be outed as it would be bad for business.

(Source: Old Bitter Balls)

Looking at all of this and the names mentioned, in comparison, the Gai-Singo horse opera is like one of those old Spencer Tracy-Katherine Hepburn romps- a lovers tiff between two rather dramatic people that should never have received the publicity it has as the plot was so damn razor thin in the first place.

(Source: The Great KH)

This kinda drivel passed off as “breaking news”- it’s more like breaking wind- should be saved for TMZ and their exclusives on Lindsay, Miley, Britney and Singo’s mate Tara Reid.

(Source: Daily Telegraph)

Forget what’s happened in the past and who did what and when as the past is the past and there is no point going back as it will change nothing.

(Source: Cartoon Stock)

Having said that,THIS enquiry has taken on a daftness all its own. It’s also removed from the glare other racing stories that are far more sinister.

(Source: News.com.au)

Apart from the doping of the winner of the Tamworth Cup, the speed and quietness in which allegations of race fixing in WA was “solved” by Richard Burt and his executive committee is farcical.

We’re betting this won’t end here and might actually go from “Eastsiders” all the way to Singapore and Malaysia.

(Source: St Georges)

It’s a shifty world, one which Mr Burt should know all about from his previous gig. Credit where credit’s due, right?

And so, now what? Storm Le Bastille? Blow the lid off it all? What LID?

If there IS a lid to blow off this surreal version of Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner With Gai and Singo, isn’t this the job of the Stewards and Peter V’Landy’s and John Messara? But will they? Of course not.

Why kill the golden goose who, like the “non-punting stable” of Chris Waller are good for business.

(Source: Daily Telegraph)

Should we do it for them- make a song and dance that won’t get us two cents? What for? To be stupidly brave?

The days of whistleblowers and investigative journalism ended with Woodward and Bernstein and Deep Throat plus Nixon and Watergate- and Norma Rae.

Where is the return on investment for going out on a limb and “blowing the lid” off anything- and with what army? There’s no one behind you.

(Source: Guardian)

What’s in it for you or me? Some disjointed, half-baked moralistic crusade to be like Don Quixote on drugs and fighting half-arsed windmills?

For once, Bowie is wrong- at least when it comes to trying to right the wrongs of the racing industry: There’s no point trying to be a hero for even just one day.

Horse racing- and where there is as much racing as in some countries- is wide open to all kinds of rorts and with even some in racing clubs involved and “rorten” to the core.

Horses being pulled, horse getting off to bad starts, jockeys taking inside runs where there are none, texts sent to those behind the barriers when a big bet has been made, online bookmaker warfare, hacking into accounts etc etc, the list is endless and the solutions to rid these poxes from the sport is wishful thinking and the result of playing with the pixies for too long.

(Source: Cartoon Stock)

As passionate racing people, what we CAN do is enjoy the ride as much as we can, never fight other people’s battles and do what we can to bring about positive change to the sport by working with the handful of people who see The Big Picture and leave the penny ante shit to the usual suspects who cannot see because of tunnel vision.

That’s the past. The future is not behind you except for learning lessons and never repeating them or having them repeated.

(Source: Spiritually Directed)

(Source: Dazzle Junction)

For years, we have brought up the similarities between the music and racing industries- the ominous similarities as we all know that the music industry has gone down the crapper through arrogance and refusing to see that the natives aka as music fans were not just getting restless, these lunatics had taken over the asylum and more than one had flown over the cuckoo’s nest.

(Source: The Right Of Reply)

What went wrong? Especially when technology took over, most music companies focused on new hires- many times, wrong hires from the digital world who were allowed to sit there for years, keep their heads down, produce nothing and yet, were not just kept on, but were actually promoted for their incompetence.

(Source: Cartoon Stock)

Racing clubs and music companies both suffer from this disease of often terrible hires, an old boys network notorious for feathering their own nests at the top of the heap and an inability to be in sync with today’s new generation of consumers.

Both try to embrace social media today because everyone else does despite knowing all their “social media” efforts have all the impact of a flea trying to have sex with an elephant.

Social media and the effective use of it has to do with being a good marketing person. With no understanding of traditional Marketing 101, and social media is just twittering in an SEO flap and pissing in the dark.

(Source: Digital Trends)

But what’s “trending” today- and far more dangerous to the image of horse racing- are anonymous whistleblowers.

(Source: Risk Management Monitor)

The music industry has, of course, gone through its share of whistleblowers who huffed and puffed and brought the house down on payola paid to disc-jockeys to play certain records.

They also put an end to CD manufacturing plants secretly financed by music executives when music cassettes were about to be eased out as new hardware was introduced, revealed under the table money made by television executives plus fake and rigged awards and talent shows and the exorbitant spending on useless meetings held at 5-star hotels, plus flooding cheaply manufactured records from places like Malaysia into Europe to make up their numbers.

(Source: The Daily Omnivore)

All this helped- to an extent- clean up -and scare an industry that needed cleaning up- and executives needing to be held responsible for their P&L, quarterly sales results and lavish spending.

Just ask Guy Hands, the private equity buffoon who went from refurbishing toilets on the Autobahn to purchasing EMI Music- and going bankrupt in the process.

(Source: Guardian)

Having said this, the industry has also had its share of trouble-making whistleblowers with only empty air accusations, various axes to grind and busy being annoying just out to waste everyone’s time with no proof in their souped up jealous puddings.

As someone far smarter than us always says, jealousy is something that needs to be earned.

(Source: 4 Girl Gamers)

The latest racing jurisdiction to be hit by a whistleblower is Western Australia – an anonymous whistleblower, but aren’t they all?- and where five jockeys have been accused of alleged race fixing and working in cahoots with a betting syndicate made up of “Eastsiders.”

(Source: Cartoon Stock)

Listening to Richard Burt, Chief Executive of RWWA, being interviewed on Perth’s Racing Radio’s The Big Breakfast, he wasn’t a happy camper- and why should he be?

(Source: Yahoo)

After all, now begins all the work in the name of Integrity to see if there’s fire where there’s smoke or if this is another wild goose chase strictly for the birds.

However, in his position, Richard Burt, who appears to handle himself very well, knows there is a need to err on the side of caution as the integrity of racing in WA is at stake.

Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise as Burt has an opportunity to clean house once and for all as WA racing has been dogged by dark shadows stretching to Singapore and Malaysia for way too long.

(Source: Wendy Loves jesus)

With everything else that has unraveled over the past few weeks in the UK and Oz and played out in public like that Don Henley song about Dirty Laundry- and everything that has not made the news- racing, in general, needs this latest controversy like a hole in the head- but WA racing, especially, needs to tackle this problem head on.

(Source: Ink Cinct)

The irritating point is jumping at shadows and following up on Chinese Whispers means needing to go running after every piece of gossip or innuendo thrown one’s way.

Perhaps, this is where common sense must prevail and where some things need to be thought about twice to ensure it doesn’t result in any time wasting knee-jerk reactions and protracted investigations.

Either that, or put two and two together, crack email URLs, name these ankle biters, drag them in and get it over with quickly- one way or another.

No one needs a Lance Armstrong cloud hanging about like a bad smell that refuses to go away.

(Source: Toon Pool)

Again, the music industry learnt about time wasting the hard way when lawyers took over music companies and Sue The Bastards became the only solution for way too many years to new media “enemies” like Napster.

Napster could have been the industry’s greatest ally, but blinkered thinking and old-fashioned arrogance took over instead of thinking things through and re-reading The Art Of War.

(Source: Gigaom)

Today, the online music world is grey and no matter what highly-paid entertainment lawyers might say, there are no laws and it’s all about commonsense coming into play- and calling those corporate bluffs.

(Source: Tomasino Web)

Threats, veiled or not, are challenged today by music fans and artists. They know that the genie popped outta the bottle almost ten years ago and legal u-turns are long gone. It’s all become a mess as commonsense did not prevail.

(Source: Sowetan Live)

The racing industry can learn from all this and re-look at laws and rules such as jockeys not being able to bet- but their families can.

Puhleese, folks, does this make sense in 2013 and does anyone with a brain believe that this rule is not broken wherever there is a race?

Perhaps- just perhaps- changing or “massaging” an old rule in racing like this just might help the image of racing from a long-term point of view and rid the sport of a problem that keeps popping up like a zit.

(Source: Acne Treatment)

————————————–

WHY RACING NEEDS A SIR ALEX.

(Source: Business Insider)

Sure he has his detractors who fob him off as a “good manager and not a “visionary”, but the incredible outpouring of disappointment at the news of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement as the Manager of Manchester United- and the Man U brand- at the end of July goes beyond the world of football and football fans.

(Source: ESPN)

It shows how the world- sporting and non-sporting- respects men with character- men with huge balls who stand up for their beliefs and always support team players perhaps even in spite of themselves.

It’s to do with going with gut instincts and realizing that no one is perfect.

(Source: Channel New Asia)

It’s like the respect we have for the very few leaders of racing clubs- one?- who is leading the racing world out of the twentieth century.

This is by realizing that the hardcore punter is an endangered species with the need for new ways to entice those standing on the sidelines, watching and wondering if they should jump in with both feet and commit to the sport like their parents, aunts and uncles have done- or if there are better ways of spending their time investing in the new buffet table of opportunities placed before them.

(Source: CNN)

Especially in Asia, these are VERY cash-rich men and women in their Thirties and Forties who always want added value for their business investments- and, to them, horse racing is a hobby and an investment.

(Source: Akaz)

Even when attracted and committed to horse racing, they need to be constantly pampered through new venues, ease in betting facilities and being around and inter-acting with those who share their interests.

Watching a race for a few minutes every half hour is not enough for this Milenia Generation that needs to have something to interest them every nanu second.

Serve them the same dish all the time and you’ll be lucky to see them twice a year and which is why the marriage of racing clubs and sponsors must never be taken for granted. Sponsors stray if they feel they’re not getting enough bangs for their buck.

(Source: HKJC)

Apart from working with sponsors, mentoring his young players and being there to build up the Man U brand, Sir Alex is an extremely staunch horse racing fan who has had long friendships with the likes of the late, great horse trainer Ivan Allen, the legendary Lester Piggott and Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of the HKJC.

The friendship between Ivan Allan and Sir Alex must have been a fascinating one. Both were and are men’s men who wouldn’t suffer fool’s gladly and, yes, they could be described as bullies. But when armed with the courage of one’s convictions, there is a time and place for “bullies” who know they are being stopped from soaring with the eagles by being surrounded by turkeys.

(Source: Racing Memories)

Just as Sir Alex could see a football player who had potential that was yet to be realized- someone who would one day learn to Bend It Like Beckham- Ivan Allen could see raw talent in a jockey- and support it- even one as mercurial and difficult as the ever-so-gifted Eric Saint Martin who could have been anything but was bogged down with a huge chip on his shoulder.

(Source: RB)

And though Eric The Terrible would shrug his shoulders and walk away from other trainers with a mumble of merdes, he always stopped and listened to Mr Allen. We all did. He commanded respect.

(Source: HKJC)

In any sport, in any industry, leaders might not win any popularity stakes or go out of their ways to be liked, but they are respected for their results in this results-driven world.

Ivan Allen and Sir Alex Ferguson always delivered. They were respected even by their enemies, they are and will be missed, but they have inspired many.

Those in the racing world who knew both men have learnt much being in their company- the pressures that come with the territory, whom to trust, when to dig one’s heels in with zero tolerance and in the case of Sir Alex, building a brand as global as Man U.

(Source: Sulekha)

Mentors like these don’t come around every day.

Thank you, Sir Alex.

(Source: The Sun)

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GOOD GUYS DON’T ALWAYS COME LAST.

(Source: SCMP)

When local trainer Peter Ng retires at the end of this season, Hong Kong will lose one of the real gentlemen of the turf who has always gone about his business in a truly professional manner.

(Source: Sina)

Ironically, this, his last as a trainer as he has reached the compulsory retirement age, has been one of his best in many years and even gaining new runners to his stable.

(Source: Apple Daily)

Perhaps it’s suddenly dawned on many everything Peter Ng achieved with champion galloper Quicken Away, a regular ride for the very good New Zealand jockey Nigel Tiley.

(Source: Racing Memories)

Today, the HKJC is said to be raising the bar when it comes to granting trainers licenses.

This is to be applauded when one thinks of bona fide trainers like John Size, Richard Gibson, John Moore, Tony Cruz, Caspar Fownes, Dennis Yip, Tony Millard and the rest.

(Source: Sonoma)

Sure, there have been the hard luck stories that have affected some trainers, but life is not fair.

It’s the luck of the draw and, bluntly put, there are those with trainers licenses who might be lovely people with whom to have a Tsingtao, but who are battlers clinging to their gigs and when they do train a winner, punters go through a brain freeze.

It’s a bit like, Who WAS that masked man?

(source: Johnny Deep Web)

We have no idea where all this might lead, but we just want Peter Ng remembered for his great service to Hong Kong racing and his mighty successes with the great Quicken Away.

(Source: MOB)

They really should consider renaming Randwick’’s new Theatre of the Horse, the Theatre of the Absurd after the events of this week pertaining to the grossly tiresome coverage of the dust up between John Singleton and the Waterhouse family.

(Source: News.com.au)

It was and is like a film noire version of “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” and no one knowing who was playing the Sidney Poitier role.

(Source: Wiki)

The Stewards inquiry should have been held at the Theatre of the Horse aka the Theatre of the absurd at Randwick and not at Racing NSW’ headquarters at Druitt Street. It would have been the more appropriate venue by far and which would have brought back memories of Monty Python to many- and Fawlty Towers.

(Source: The Writing Baron)

The name calling, the insults, the rumour and innuendo by the cast representing Sydney’’s so called racing royalty was just too fucking pathetic for words. If this is racing royalty, then bring on the racing republican bowel movement. And they wonder why racing has become irrelevant, and why it is FUCKED?

(Source: Comics Reporter)

Buried somewhere in another week of shame for the racing industry are some critical issues, which sadly will be glossed over deliberately by the powers that be- issues which are crucial to restoring the confidence of those that matter- – the politicians and legislators, the community and vitally important and highly influential and successful lobby groups, and the racing industry itself.

For an industry whose integrity is grasping for oxygen and whose image is almost at levels which challenge restoration, the More Joyous inquiry was, and is no longer a soap opera. Racing NSW, through its Integrity department and chief Ray Murrihy, and through its Board and management and executive has a unique and unparalleled opportunity to implement a blueprint to restructure the rules of racing and demonstrate that the NSW racing industry is capable and serious about righting the many wrongs that have underscored the demise of racing and the crisis of confidence that has plagued the racing industry.

(Source: Daily Telegraph)

For too long, NSW racing has allowed too many form reversals to go unexplained. When trainers have been called in to provide explanations, they have read from the same hymn book providing the same excuses which even a simpleton with the lowest IQ would know just doesn’t stack up.

(Source: Photo Bucket)

There is absolutely no respect for the rules of racing among its participants. The rules are meant to be broken, or worked around. The medication rules are an absolute farce. Full Stop. If More Joyous had heat in her neck, and that in itself is a separate story, on the Thursday before she was scheduled to race and had to be treated with antibiotics on the race eve on Friday, why and how in heaven’s name was it not reported to stewards?

(Source: SOD Ahead)

Forget the bullshit about whether it was relevant or not. The bottom line was that More Joyous obviously had a health issue which required veterinary treatment on race eve sufficient enough to raise doubts both in the stable and on the racing grapevine to suggest that she was a massive risk in the race- – a risk that clearly favoured the satchel swingers and their corporate mates, irrespective of whether her problems were common knowledge or not.

And yes, we all know after she raced and finished second last that she just could not have won the race.

It matters not whether the veterinarians gave her the green light to take her place in the race, that is all they could do. Was she capable of winning? Clearly not. And the punters, who seem to have been treated with contempt and continue to be kept in the dark about both health issues and form reversals, are again the losers. And let’s get one thing clear: wagering on thoroughbred racing is declining at an alarming rate.

It is easy to blame the economy and avoid shooting the messenger, isn’t it?

Stewards and racing administrations have got it right with their obsession to eliminate drug cheats from racing. No problem with that. Go as hard as you can to rid the industry of drug cheats.

But, and this is where the whole integrity of racing has a gaping hole in its consistency: go equally hard at race fixing and plug the loopholes that enable full disclosure to be avoided.

Sydney racing is plagued with consistent examples of form reversals, of lesser credentialed stablemates beating the more fancied who often drift in the betting while the eventual winner, be it the stablemate or best backed to win the race, invariably salutes. And there are always excuses or reasons for the “unexplained failures”, aren’t they?

(Source: Michigan Zone)

Week in week, week out, there are some very, very dodgy rides on short priced drifting favourites. Sure there are form analysts and form experts whom often correctly identify horses who are either “over” or “under” the odds. But what about the ones that even leave the expert analysts tearing their hair out? Let’s use the More Joyous case as an example.

(Source: Punters Paradise)

According to evidence provided by Singo at the inquiry, his form analyst declared More Joyous a good thing, so much so that Singo contemplated having a $100,000 on her to win. That is until he heard the “Chinese whispers” which may or may not have been embellished, that she was “off”.

(Source: Req Test)

Now had Singo’’s form analyst known that all was not well with the mare, he may have revised his analysis of the race. Is it any wonder Singo went into meltdown, irrespective of whether he had consumed several yard arms of amber fluid or not? No, it does not excuse his public spray of Gai Waterhouse in the confines of the “theatre of the absurd”. It was a bad Tara Reid moment.

(Source: Brisbane Times)

If Racing NSW is serious about transparency and fixing up the mess, then it must stop spinning with all the platitudes that are spewing out of the mouth of its Chief Executive and impose penalties that will hurt and will send a clear message that racing not only expects, but demands transparency and disclosure.

Then again, where IS the Chief Executive and The Not So Great One in all this mess? They are the Invisible Men. Or Dumb and Dumber.

(Source: Daily Telegraph)

It matters little whether a horse has been given the green light to race, if it has been treated for an ailment or for an injury on the eve of a race then the racing public has a right to know.

What they do with that information in terms of their wagering decision is then entirely up to them

After all, why do we make it mandatory for trainers to inform gear changes and the application of particular types of gear on horses? Presumably to keep punters better informed.

NSW racing has been brought into disrepute by this whole sorry saga. Reputations have been damaged, some irrevocably, and some deservedly, the sins of the past have come back to haunt some of the major players in this saga.

Brands have been trashed, But it is the one vital sector in racing- – the sector which keeps underpinning the financial health of racing that has been treated with contempt – and that is the punter.

Racing has turned its maltreatment of the punter and mismanagement of its relationship with punters into a virtual art form.

It pays lip service to disclosure and transparency, preferring instead to hire spin doctors at grossly usurious hourly rates to deliberately “spin” their way out of crises and protect their incompetence and failure to act decisively or worse to cover-up these deficiencies or rorts.

(Source: English Blog)

There are no winners out of this sordid More Joyous saga, only losers. Every member of the cast is a loser, but more importantly, racing is the loser, at a time when it can ill afford another unwanted potential scandal and headline grabber for all the wrong reasons.

——————————————–

FIX THE RACE FIXERS

(Source: Cartoon Stock)

The ogre and stench of race fixing in Australian racing just won’t go away. This time it is the turn of the wild west – with the integrity of Perth racing under the spotlight following a letter to WA’s peak racing body Racing and Wagering WA (RWWA) identifying five races since December 2012, which the author alleges the outcomes of which were manipulated by “Eastern States betting syndicates with 10 WA jockeys on the payroll”, according to a story in the West Australian newspaper by reporter Gary Adshead under the dramatic headline “Informer Outlines Race Fixing”.

(Source: Brian Heasley)

According to Adshead’’s story, the West Australian newspaper had obtained a copy of the letter, which makes some sensational allegations, not unlike similar allegations published by the Fairfax and News Limited media in Melbourne over the past year relating to race fixing in that State.

Adshead alludes to speculation identifying the author as possibly being a jockey.

““The past 12 to 18 months in WA, racing has been the worst I have ever known for race manipulation, I should know as I have been directly involved”,” the letter allegedly states.

It goes on further to describe the betting syndicates as “well oiled machines” that used teams of jockeys to set up wins for horses that have been the target of significant betting plunges”.

The letter even goes on describe a particular method used by the syndicates to organize jockeys to allow a horse which naturally leads out in a race to stay in front and win. Adshead reports that “in one example given, the price for the horse shortened significantly before the start and the horse was a surprise winner.

(Source: Cartoon Stock)

Interestingly, according to Adshead, the letter identifies races which have been fixed along with warnings by the author that if its contents and allegations were not investigated by RWWA they would be referred to the Corruption and Crime Commission. “

“The information that I have accumulated isn’t just the races that have been fixed, I also have the list of individuals and the mobile telephone numbers associated with most of those individuals”,” the letter alleges.

(Source: Tickle The Wire)

RWWA Chief Executive Richard Burt responded with a straight bat, and according to the West Australian stated that the allegations were taken seriously and investigated by an expert panel which found no evidence to substantiate the claims after studying video evidence of the races.

“We treated it at the highest level and believe the claims are inaccurate. We would argue the races were in accordance with the rules of racing”, he is quoted as telling the West Australian.

However in the report, Burt is said to have acknowledged the role of whistleblowers in racing and to committing more resources to protect the integrity of WA racing.

(Source: Media Freedom International)

For the integrity and public perception and standing of racing these types of allegations of race fixing are recurring on a regular basis. They are “too close for comfort”.

Sure, racing has always had its dark side. It has always had its own “underbelly”. The difference is that today’’s society and environment has a much lower degree of tolerance to match and race fixing and all forms of corruption in sport.

(Source: Urban Pundits)

Just ask the questions of cricket, soccer, athletics, cycling, the AFL, the NRL. Need to any further?

As difficult as it might be to prove that a horse or horses are “pulled up” or “not allowed to run on their merits”, racing authorities must throw the necessary resources – manpower, technology and the necessary regulatory and legislative changes to stamp out what clearly can and is taking place on racetracks and in racing.

It is a lot easier to test for drugs in horses than it is to nail a jockey or jockeys for race fixing.

The rumours and allegations about race fixing are far too strong to be ignored or swept under the carpet.

(Source: Deadly Clear)

If racing authorities are serious about a level playing field, then they must extend that level playing field from trainers to jockeys.

The pint sized wascals have continued to fly under the radar for too long. It’s time to apply the blow torch to the belly of some of these low lifes who should be driven out of the industry.

(Source: Copy Cat Effect)

——————————————–

YOU’RE “OFF”, ANDREW JOHNS!

(Source: News.com.au)

One of the most irritating aspects of the More Joyous saga has been the involvement of NRL legend (and we use the word very, very advisedly!) Andrew Johns.

Andrew’s evidence next week at the stewards inquiry is shaping up as one of the most important pieces of the jigsaw that has emerged out of this saga.

(Source: Wiki)

It would be fair to say that if Johns had refrained from big noting himself and repeating bits and pieces of a conversation had with Tom Waterhouse to a gaggle of his mates, this whole saga and the stench surrounding it would have avoided- particularly as it appears Johns is in overdrive retracting what he allegedly claimed he was told by Tom Waterhouse, or to use Singo’’s words, that he might have embellished what Tom Waterhouse told him about More Joyous’ health and winning chances in the All Aged Stakes last Saturday week.

(Source: I Want Closure)

It all centres around the use of the word “off” by Andrew Johns and which he attributed to Tom Waterhouse, in a conversation the two had relating to the chances of More Joyous in the race. Now pleading, as Johns’ good mate and prominent rugby league commentator Ray “Rabbit” Warren has that Johns may not have fully understood the context of the word “off” as it applies in racing, are just bunkum.

(Source: DVDs Release Dates)

Andrew Johns should and does understand racing. He has owned racehorses, mixes in racing circles regularly, has a stack of close racing mates and is known to have a bet.

So it is more than a bit rich for “ Warren to mount such a feeble defence.

Andrew, what don’’t you fucking understand if one of your mates told you a horse was “off” in a race? We know most NRL players are simpletons- – all brawn and no brain, but give us a break.

(Source: Wikia)

Perhaps being a rugby league commentator is a tad out of your depth. You might be better off working as a doorman at your mate Eddie Hayson’’s famous Sydney brothel.

(Source: 2 Oceans Vibe)

The racing world is not just made up of little people riding horses, it’s also made up of some of the most colorful- and even just plain weird- people around- owners, trainers, racing pundits, heads of racing clubs and others who, we hope are taking the sport further or, at least, giving the sport some new oomph instead of more oompah loompahs.

(Source: Cami-6th Graders)

Here, in no particular order of importance, is part one of our list of Who’s Who’s and we’ll carry on from here -and see where it leads. Perhaps Kansas, Dorothy.

(Source: Weird Fiction Review)

Andrew Bensley

(Source:Tab Info)

He is the Walter Kronkite of Australian racing who has his finger on the pulse of everything happening in racing every second of the day in what must be one helluva thankless gig.

(Source: Lunch Break Comics)

Currently camped inside Lady GaiGai’s hat and giving fans a blow-by-blow reportage of vets, racing, who said what and when to whom and news from the combat zone on the Misadventures of Singo, Andrew “Hoss” Bensley has been given a veritable bonanza buffet of news from which to feed on for the next few months. Yummy!

(Source: Bear Mythology)

—————————————————

John Yuen

(Source: Hurun)

Eccentric Hong Kong horse owner who consults his feng shui master before making any decisions on his horses- especially the now finally retired Good Ba Ba- and wasn’t that retirement handled oh-so-quietly?

(Source: Sina)

This pre-occupation with feng shui has resulted in numerous stable changes, retiring horses, taking horses outta retirement and ordering jockeys to get rid of their bad luck by going to the temple and shaving their heads.

(Source: Eadon)

Currently undergoing bad feng shui as all his new horses have been real duds, here is a total knob who should never be allowed to own a horse.

—————————————————

Francesca Cumani

(Source: Herald Sun)

Racing analyst, horse woman, daughter of horse trainer Luca Cumani and host of CNN’s Winning Post program, the gorgeous Francesca Cumani makes grown men melt and suffer from severe whiplash as she strides purposefully across racecourses throughout the world.

Articulate, down-to-earth, Francesca Cumani, should be a Group 1 brand by now with her own line of fashion accessories etc, but seems content to keep on doing what she’s doing, whacking a few polo balls in the process and traipsing around the world looking abfab and making men go Radio Ga Ga.

(Source: Perth Now)

—————————————————

Gai and Singo

(Source: Fox Sports)

The Odd Couple and Sonny and Cher of Australian Racing with one being Gai Waterhouse, the country’s First Lady of racing and the other being John Singleton, aka Singo, one of the most powerful owners in Oz, a former ad man, the Hugh Hefner of racing, and one of the few men we know seen fawning over the has-been that is “actress” Tara Reid.

(Source: Brisbane Times)

The Lady GaiGai and Singo partnership has been a volatile one, somewhat like the movie, Whatever Happened To Baby Jane with the horse opera surrounding the poor showing by his More Joyous and all the tit for tat and vet, vet, vet reports, making Baby Singo look fuglier and more senile as the days go by.

(Source: Movie Poster Studio)

Someone, please stop the horror being wreaked on Oingo Boingo Singo by Lady GaiGai!

Her line, “She’s (More Joyous) a seven year old mare, John, maybe she’s old, like you” plus her Bette Davis-type put down of former jockey Allan Robinson, described as a “little trumped up jockey” by the Lady, brothel owner Eddie Hayson whose obscenely expensive Stiletto and its ladies is more like Flats these days, plus NRL football player and part-time sci-high fiction writer Andrew John, who all put in a no-show at yesterday’s enquiry, was classic ” tough Hollywood broad” stuff which Davies, Bacall and Hepburn would applaud- along with Rock Hudson.

(Source: A Look Back In Anger)

The Lady GaiGai onslaught on an old ad man who seems sadly stumped for words is getting scarier than watching Jack Nicholson in “The Shining” screaming, “Heeeere’s Johnny!”

(Source: Quotes Worth Repeating)

—————————————————

Douglas Whyte

(Source: SCMP)

Hong Kong’s Champion jockey who has won the Jockey Premiership for twelve consecutive years and ridden over 1500 winners in the city.

(Source: Thorough Bred Worldwide)

South African-born and raised and nicknamed The Durban Demon, Whyte is the consummate professional, who loves his wines, cigars and Tom Ford clothes and is a very tough competitor who raises his game and parts of his anatomy every time anyone says his time’s up. It’s not.

(Source: HKJC)

—————————————————

Aaron Kwok

(Source: HKCNA)

Hong Kong actor- he has one look- contemplative- singer, dancer with a wardrobe that would make Liberace look bland, Aaron Kwok is also a rabid racing enthusiast.

(Source: Sina)

A recent horse owner, he even brought his equine friend onstage at his recent series of concerts which is one of the more outrageous publicity stunts we have seen by any of these 50-year-old Canto-pop “idols.”

(Source: Oriental Daily)

Sheik Mohammed

(Source: UK Student Life)

The Sheik Mo and Godolphin brand took a beating recently when one of his key trainers- Al Zarooni- was suspended for eight years for the illegal administering of steroids to their horses in training.

(Source: Mirror)

This has opened up a can of worms with conspiracy theorists wondering how long this has been going on and if the suspension of Al Zarooni is only the tip of the sand dune and whether what happens in Dubai has always stayed in Dubai and if past successes have been kosher.

(Source: Lopek)