| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| alistair leslie |
Posted - 20 Feb 2010 : 09:59:12 AM
At the time the racing split was very corrosive to the Society and Arabs in general .
The Council had to go with the members vote to stay in the AHS which caused the majority of owners to set up ARO .
At the time I was appalled by behavior of some but eventually came round to the view that the right decision was to be ONE organisation (I E a combined remodelled system .)
Racing Arabs has frankly gone off the radar of the general public yet it potentially could be the engine to drive the owning and breeding of Arab horses
I say this because the cost of buying a good Thoroughbred is out of many peoples pockets but one could buy and race an Arab quite modestly.
This would mean the ordinary person could race Arabs
What a glittering prospect don't you think . |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| guisburnfeefee |
Posted - 26 May 2010 : 08:36:23 AM
I used to love the arab racing - my friend was a small scale trainer in the north west but we went all over the country racing. was great fun and at the time - probs 25 years ago - he had the fastest anglo arab in the country! i used to show him a bit and we were placed at haydock under saddle in a class of 21 horses in the gelding class! we did a bit of dressage too when pre caprilli was around - back in the day.....
Loved it and wish it was still as active as it was then. |
| Moosie |
Posted - 25 May 2010 : 9:32:42 PM
Paul(Sundance!) you are of course right that its better to address concerns directly to the ARO office but the problem seems to be (for me anyway) that they dont reply! I have recently sent two e mails asking for simple things (which we have always had up to now and which dont cost anything! - you can pm me if you like) and another question to which it would be good to have an answer before submitting constructive comments re the race plan - no acknowledgement or reply so inevitably this will result in uncertainty and a degree of frustration. Im not trying to "cherry pick" races (have never been in the sort of position to be able to do that!) but am doing some endurance as we have literally nowhere to race - and if theres dressage or sj on am doing that too |
| paul_brown_arabs |
Posted - 25 May 2010 : 11:08:38 AM
Great news Adam - not sure why its not been publicised more widley ?
Ohhh... if only i were one of the "hounoured" Moosie, wouldnt that be something.
Brian your right there ought to be more realism and a good dose of it, or those of us who love the sport will see it disappear, rather quickly.
Paul - I'd also like to know who's been complaining and slating the sport and administrators - its certainly not been on here as far as i can see. and your right one mans improvement in the plan will be a worsening for another - and so it goes on. The race plan isn't the problem. The only sensible/business like improvement in the race would be to put more open races for TB on - but no one who races Arabs really wants that.
It looks (maybe not reality-whatever that is) as though everything is being being done behind closed doors again - and still we await the race conditions calendar for June, as at 25th may.
open, frank and sensible discussion/ideas is the only way forward and should never be dissuaded |
| BOULTONS |
Posted - 25 May 2010 : 10:30:06 AM
"The main problem with our sport is we have lost many good horse, riders, owners and trainers to endurance and even now experienced trainers and owners are focusing on this sport rather than racing which I find very sad although I guess enevitable" Does that not prove it is not about prize money
"All the people who race still have to pay to register horses with both the AHS and Aro so I believe there should be more collaboration to bring two organisations who both wish to promote Arabs closer together now and again." I do not think that you do have to register with AHS. Horses can be registered just with WAHO
. Having built up a healthy sport with over 600 registered Arabs the AHS then were challenged by ARO who set up in opposition to them despite a vote against that so I do not think they owe ARO anything. Putting our thoughts on a forum that only Arab enthusiast are likely to read is not going to harm racing - a refusal to see that the sport is declining and has less members nationally than most clubs have locally will (IMO!!!) do more harm. |
| Sundance |
Posted - 25 May 2010 : 12:01:55 AM
Hi All,
Whilst I can sympathise with some of your concerns mentioned here, I am not entirely sure of the purpose of slating our sport and the people who adminster it will achieve on this forum. As my learned friend Linda says lets be pro active and feed our comments back to ARO, yes it is under new management and yes they are learning so perhaps we can give them the benefit of the doubt. There is a consultation period re the race plan so feed your comments in via e-mail.
We are extremely lucky to have our sport and 11 dedicated race meetings with a variety of races, handicaps and distances to chose from, and the prize money has remained the same in spite of low sponsorship and the effects of the recession; all of which we should be greatful of. No the race plan isn't perfect and I do echo peoples frustration, I have a horse who doesn't stay a yard over 6f is rated 60 and hates Wolverhampton, so the only race for her is at Taunton in September, well it would be if adopted a neagitve attitude. In the old days of Arab racing people would experiment over a variety of trips and run off top weight and low weights, it seems to me that people are cherry picking their races and demanding the race plan is structured to suit their needs. When the race plan is re designed again to please those who have complained, it will no doubt frustrate others who it currently suits.
I suggest people stop complaining continiously, especially those who continue to lament the demise of the AHS involvement, whats done is done and is the past, the sport has moved on and we either move with it or we lose. For info the AHS News will be covering Arab racing this year and I have been in touch with the editor, it is covered in The Magazine, a USA Based Mag, the IFAHR site and on the racing section of this site, it is highly visible I would argue.
The main problem with our sport is we have lost many good horse, riders, owners and trainers to endurance and even now experienced trainers and owners are focusing on this sport rather than racing which I find very sad although I guess enevitable.
Paul |
| Moosie |
Posted - 24 May 2010 : 8:48:39 PM
Paul you must be one of the "honored few" Ive most certainly never had anyone from ARO enquire if Im going to be racing or not!!!Btw we dont have any races for our two horses either - prob till late August but then we knew that when we registered this season - obviously we couldnt have foreseen the demise of Taunton and that meeting was to have been our "racing" until much much later. So I am now looking for suitable endurance rides till then. |
| adamnew |
Posted - 24 May 2010 : 5:55:41 PM
Paul I know that Aro have been allocated 50k from 2 different sponsors, which will hopefully fill the gap left by loss of jebel ali.
So sponsorship as I said is better than thought. |
| paul_brown_arabs |
Posted - 24 May 2010 : 5:11:14 PM
thanks adam - some sensible comment - sympathyse with your problem - in past years ive had to run horses at wrong end of the handicaps, distances, unsuitable ground and courses hundreds of miles away just to get a run in, multiply that by 9 and i see your plight, even if its not new for some of us.
i had thought there was a race planning committe with trainer and owner reps to avoid this sort of thing, and charlie/georgina were always active preseason trying to find out who was planning on registering what horses etc which probably helped avoid some of this.
the aro/ahs thing has been done to death - those of us who fought for the ahs to carry on racing at the time can take little/no pleasure from the current predicament.
i am worried about sponsorship though, the loss of the jebil ali series coupled with the virtual withdrawal of Godolfin/His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum from arab racing in the uk is a real blow.
hey ho - hopefully the racing calander for wolves will be out in next day or two-unlesss we get a bit of rain soon we wont be racing anywhere this summer (had a horse injured jumping at fakenham esterday!). |
| adamnew |
Posted - 24 May 2010 : 11:59:43 AM
Just wanted to say I don't believe ARO are struggling any more than normal with sponsorship. As for the race plan speaking for myself the season is only five months long anyone with horses registered would obviously like to race during the whole season otherwise it becomes expensive having horses ready to race and no where to go.
I have around 9 in training of varied ability and no races for any until July, in the last 5 years we have hardly missed a meeting so to find this season a race plan that only suits my horses for the last two months of the season is ridiculous.
I know other trainers with the same amount as me with the same problem, and smaller trainers with a couple of horses who also have no races.I think roughly 20% of the horses registered with no suitable races in terms of handicap band and distance.
Two of my horses have only 1 or 2 races the whole season!
As far as ARO are concerned it's new people running it and they would have had no experience in spotting the big holes in the current plan and they did speak about the whole plan rolling over to next year as it is which would effectively exclude that 20% of horses from having the equal opportunities to race.
Hence they have asked for constructive feedback from its members to try to find out what's wrong and hopefully get some ideas to help the plan this year and also to let people know they are listening.
Which can't be a bad thing!
I know nothing of the original split so can not comment but I believe it would be a good thing for the AHS to be involved a little more, even if it was sponsoring an AHS related race series to try to bring them a little closer to ARO.
All the people who race still have to pay to register horses with both the AHS and Aro so I believe there should be more collaboration to bring two organisations who both wish to promote Arabs closer together now and again. |
| alistair leslie |
Posted - 24 May 2010 : 10:05:19 AM
There should be a coalition of interests
It could be a million dollar industry in this country if the will was there .
Compare what is happening in the USA where Arab racing is flourishing to the fractured thinking here
could do better ...
|
| paul_brown_arabs |
Posted - 24 May 2010 : 09:48:11 AM
just really want to know if there's a serious threat to racing this year or not (do they have the financial support or not) - but cant seem to get a straight answer anywhere
all the individuals i knew and trusted at aro have now gone - i havent even been contacted this year to see if im going to join register or race, in past years someone from aro has always been in contact from feb onwards - get the feeling no one is really bothered
hear what your saying lin123, but no one should be afraid of public forums as long as everyone is straight, obays the rules and upfront - in my experience only keeping things private and within small groups/clics do we get rumour and misinformation being spread around.
this forum isnt an aro sales pitch or marketing forum - everyone wants the same thing - arab racing to continue in the first instance and for it to grow - that needs as much input from members/prospective members, as possible.
if this were a proper "consultation" and ive been involved in them at government level - the full results/views of all respondents would be fully published and aired with recomended actions - i see no such commitment in aro's statement but would be nice to think thats what would be done.
better still an online questionaire probably would have provided more quantifiable info iro race plan if thats really the issue.
ps appologies for typos - had operation on the eyes last week and vision a bit blurred
pps lin123 do feel free to pm your views if you'd prefer they stayed off the public forum - im really very interested in what is really going on, but guess i'll just need to hold off for a while longer |
| Lin123 |
Posted - 23 May 2010 : 11:44:03 PM
One voice in the wilderness has no effect whatsoever, been there in January this year before the season started with no effect, any concerns HAVE to be raised by united persons with the same concerns in order that (hopefully) someone will take note and try to resolve the issues. As to "confronting" ARO, why is that worrying if the issues to be raised are valid ones? Surely all of us that truely have the future of the sport at heart will do everything we can do to ensure it continues.
Gill, sorry I did get your e-mails but my mum is not well at the moment - 85 years - and I've been up and down to her. Will e-mail you xx |
| firstlady |
Posted - 23 May 2010 : 11:24:28 PM
I'm sure that peoples opinions on here will be noted (they generally are !)
but you are quite correct in that questions and concerns sould be raised and put to ARO directly in order for any possible change(s) to take place
but I do find the words "banding together in a united front" and "confront ARO" a bit worrying
|
| Moosie |
Posted - 23 May 2010 : 11:22:31 PM
I dont think anything was really "black and white" and whats done is done.I believe there were factions inside the AHS who were very "anti" racing and there was misinformation given out. There were also those who were determined to carry out their own agenda whatever - prominent AHS members in fact!!!- and ARO was the result at that time. Times do change regardless (unfortunately sometimes!) Speaking as a "genuine" small owner/trainer (who is perfectly happy to compete against the bigger operations)I agree totally with Linda. BTW Linds did e mail you but dont know if you got it? |
| Lin123 |
Posted - 23 May 2010 : 10:57:00 PM
In that case DO something about it WITHIN the sport and not on here where no-one will hear your concerns. If enough people are "unhappy", and I also have my concerns on certain issues, band together in a united front and confront ARO to try and resolve the issues. |
| firstlady |
Posted - 23 May 2010 : 10:47:59 PM
"If you are not happy with racing under ARO then don't do it...simples." Lin123
Clearly and sadly people aren't !!!
which doesn't bode well for the long term future of arab racing.
agree with 'Boultons' that there has definately been a decline in the O/T/J (you can now count them on one hand )
and the balance altered considerably from the one or two horse owner
to the more 'proffesional' set up
So where is it going ?
What can be done to get the interest of the average arab owner to return ?
Do the powers that be want 'the smaller person' to be involved ?
Interestingly the TB races seem to be well supported - which is great for the TB's (not so good for the anglo's though )
|
| Lin123 |
Posted - 23 May 2010 : 9:54:46 PM
My response to the above posts....I hear what you are saying and you are more than entitled to voice your opinions as are we all living in a democratic society, but if this is a sport in which you still wish to participate do you really think that these kind of comments on an open forum are beneficial to Arab Racing?? Why don't you take your concerns in-house?? If you are not happy with racing under ARO then don't do it...simples. |
| BOULTONS |
Posted - 23 May 2010 : 7:20:05 PM
IMO!!! It has been gradually dying since the meeting in London where we were asked to vote whether we wanted to stay with the AHS or go with a new club. The vote was to stay with AHS but a member of the ARO board stood up (p.m. me for who as I do not want to kill of this thread) and said they were setting up anyway. Gone were the days of large crowds of family coming to support the individual Arab owner/trainer/jockey and the move towards the more professional started. 700 + registered horse to just over 100. |
| paul_brown_arabs |
Posted - 23 May 2010 : 4:39:26 PM
Anyone know what's going on at ARO -
Taunton Abandodned - race plan consultations - no racing calander/conditions for next entries at wolves - eveything giving off v bad vibes here - was just abt to post reg papers and cheque off as well-may hold off for now cant afford to lose that amount of money.
Who's been moaning about the race plan?
Any ideas anyone? |
| Sundance |
Posted - 27 Apr 2010 : 11:59:44 PM
Alistair - you are right they are cheap. Also there will be a very very very small pot of Arab race horses to choose from next season and I think people will have to start going back to those wonderful Russian and Polish lines for horses to race, but its lovely to see some unusual bloodlines on the race track this year. I have been doing this breeding lark for 12 yrs now and the prices I was charging for viable racing horses is the same now as it was 6 yrs ago, and I expect the rest of the Arab horse world will agree prices for Arabs have been static for a number of years now and I believe production has decreased. The impact will be seen in the next 3-4 yrs though which does worry me especially as I do not think there will be an Arab Race Sale at Ascot this year.
Paul - fascinating article on Arab racing in Iraq thanks for posting, its amazing to see that on the BBC site, we can't even get UK arab racing back in Horse & Hound!!
|
| alistair leslie |
Posted - 21 Apr 2010 : 4:07:01 PM
I feel that if it could all have been kept as one body then fortunes would be better all round .Arab racehorses are comparatively cheap compared with T/B and could have been a stream of revenue for many in the Society if there was not the division . |
| paul_brown_arabs |
Posted - 21 Apr 2010 : 09:56:24 AM
hi brian - your in the lead 1 point :)
any more old videos out there?
bumbed into martin harriss commentating at towcester last night-simon walker was also riding - was nice to catch up.
interesting article and video on bbc about arab racing in iraq - more prize money available in iraq than here in uk!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8626325.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8631267.stm |
| BOULTONS |
Posted - 18 Apr 2010 : 3:25:20 PM
Paul, that is Dave Shepherd winning on White Minstrel. Alistair, no I do not think it was the right decision - racing could have been ring-fenced and be run by the AHS. |
| Sundance |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 9:15:11 PM
Hi David,
Looking forward to seeing the boys at Huntingdon especially my favourite Monty all grown up now and strapping 4 yr old. Think Sky will be out at Taunton hopefully, but not sure she'll be ready in time, we'll have to see. As for Sammy my 5 yr old, Kevin rode her sat and she went beautifully in the school for him, I rode her Sunday and she seriously thought about dropping me.....but then to be fair I weigh I fair bit more than a jockey.
Paul - The Curragh Arab race has been requested by the sponsors and is very valuable event, hopefully will attract a good field, sadly it won't include either of my girls as they're not quite good enough!
Paul |
| bxps |
Posted - 29 Mar 2010 : 11:02:19 PM
Unfortunately wew won't be ready for Wolverhampton - something to do with losing money getting out of the pub game, BUT we are underway with the training so hopefully by Huntingdon El Buba (Rocket), senor Dublecheck (Monty), Mahbishai ( Willow) and Notid will be ready to reappear.
David |
