tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30525374.post5252396041382907029..comments2024-03-19T09:19:39.519+00:00Comments on Stable Life: TestingJohn Berryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02266884652423059813noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30525374.post-81352532322948539102014-02-28T12:21:45.319+00:002014-02-28T12:21:45.319+00:00Glad you enjoy the blog. Yes, I've always tho...Glad you enjoy the blog. Yes, I've always thought that letting the horses' owners know what is happening and why it is happening is essential, but anecdotal evidence frequently suggests that this is not a view held by all trainers.<br /><br />Re the journey, when I go to Musselburgh I generally leave the A1 at Newcastle and go A696/A68 through Ponteland, Belsay, Otterburn, Jedburgh, St. Boswells, Earlston and Lauder, cutting off to the right on the A6124 down to Musselburgh after going through Pathhead. It's the most direct route, about 10 miles shorter than sticking on the A1, which takes the circuit along the coast. Obviously one's on single- rather than dual-carriageway roads, but there's so little traffic up there that that doesn't matter, and even going through the few towns/villages doesn't hold you up. And the real advantage is the scenery, both in Northumberland and in the Scottish Borders, which makes a long drive far less dull. I generally treat myself to a leg-stretch for a minute or two in the lay-by on top of the Carter Bar (where those rainbow and snow photographs were taken) where the views over the Borders can be breath-taking.John Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266884652423059813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30525374.post-15615152774740150332014-02-27T22:03:06.395+00:002014-02-27T22:03:06.395+00:00I love your blog John. This one is particularly co...I love your blog John. This one is particularly colourful. As an owner/breeder it is great to gain an insight into the life, thoughts and tribulations of a trainer. It is frustrating to have horses in training and have no idea what’s happening to them other than a phone call to say they’ll be running next week or that they’ve broken-down again. If only trainers could be more open with their owners - at the very least.<br /><br />As for the rainbows, where were the photos taken.... from inside the horsebox (if so, who was driving)? Surely not from the hard-shoulder of the A1?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06266368463790458018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30525374.post-47228132020060320082014-02-27T18:16:07.462+00:002014-02-27T18:16:07.462+00:00The jockey analogy is very fair and the way that w...The jockey analogy is very fair and the way that was done was to my mind the best way to deal with a very poor situation<br /><br /><br />As regards running horse from other stables seems to me to a very poor solution as if it were retrospectively proved things were administered to these horses then the furore which would follow isn't worth thinking about<br /><br />This one is probably about leadership have the rulers the balls to say this is unacceptable and ban all horses from the yard - which is what they should do - and risk litigation should all this be unproven . But that demands leadership and that has been in very short supply n recent years<br />Timing is the problem here neil kearnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16361742060525511366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30525374.post-88564001456978290072014-02-27T14:01:34.783+00:002014-02-27T14:01:34.783+00:00Yes, it is very tricky. If one used the analogy o...Yes, it is very tricky. If one used the analogy of the jockeys who had been charged with race-fixing, or whatever it was they were charged with, but the case had not yet gone to court, he wouldn't be able to have runners. Fergal Lynch etc. were not allowed to ride while they were waiting their court appearance, and were paid compensation. And when it was an overseas-based jockey (Kieren) he was not allowed to ride in Britain, while still being allowed to ride in Ireland. I'd say that that is enough of a justification for the BHA to say that the horses can't run at Cheltenham from that stable, but they could run from another stable. And I know that that sounds harsh, but that stable having a winner at Cheltenham would generate a massive amount of bad publicity for racing - and even more if he was then found guilty.<br /><br />The true debacle is that this has come at the wrong time. If he'd been charged in May and the case heard in July, there would have been no worries (well, there would have been some worries, but a lot fewer, because jumps racing is so much more under the spotlight during Cheltenham and Aintree than at any other time. But to have him charged before the Cheltenham Festival and not have the case heard until after it, bearing in mind that he's planning to have runners there, is just a true debacle. If I read it right in yesterday's Racing Post, the reason why the case was adjourned last week was because his lawyers asked for an adjournment - in which case he's got a lot to answer for, as it was so clearly in racing's interest to have the case heard before Cheltenham that he should have done what he could to make sure that it was heard then, rather than done what he could to make sure it was delayed until afterwards.John Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266884652423059813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30525374.post-29881808838113830832014-02-26T21:07:28.321+00:002014-02-26T21:07:28.321+00:00The Fenton situation is an odd one do you penalise...The Fenton situation is an odd one do you penalise a guy who is not yet proven guilty but who if he is is going to cause major hurt to his sport it beggars belief that this couldn't have been resolved before tody and in particular the Henderson model wasn't followed by putting the issue off until the close season<br /><br />I don't think at this point there is a correct or fair decision the authorities can make and hats off to her man for making the decision he has - however I don't think this should mean every one else should be frowned upon for not taking the same decision<br /><br />Have to agree about the borders one of the most picturesque places on our islandneil kearnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16361742060525511366noreply@blogger.com