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PJH
New Member
5 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Mar 2010 : 2:10:05 PM
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Have just spotted the photo that Babs posted of Sunray Silhouette in 1986.
The good looking jockey is me(only joking about the good looking) when I was
about 2stones lighter. If I remember correctly the photo was taken at Fakenham.
The good old days.To be fair though I dont believe a great deal has changed in
respect of being able to do well in Arab Racing.Back then it was a fact that if
you got your horse fit and well prepared, and ran it in the right races then you
could succeed.The same applies today. In many ways it is easier to train a winner
today as there are lots of handicaps to run in,which wasn't the case when I started
in 1983.My advice to anybody wanting to have a go at Arab Racing- is just go and do
it.Make sure your horse is as fit as you can get it,and then just go and give it a go
you may well surprise yourself.
Pete Hammersley
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littlearabians
Gold Member
1323 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2010 : 3:32:16 PM
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thank you all.... but I'm the sort of girl that would be VERY cross with myself for not doing the weight... when I used to ride flat racing on TB I even took myself off my own horse as I would have to do +2kg... I don't do +... if I can't do the weight, I'll get someone on board that can.
I have a Prof. jockey friend who is OK to ride him for me, but from what I can read, he wont be allowed too?....so any good race riders that would like to have a sit on my boy next season... please let me know |
www.littlearabians.com
Classic Polish Arabians
Worcester based
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loosefur
Gold Member
584 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2010 : 4:21:46 PM
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| I really will try to get to an ARO meeting this year, unfortunately the meetings often clash with endurance rides. I certainly wouldn't be tempted away from endurance - I can't see myself being a jockey and I enjoy riding too much to give that up to someone else, plus endurance is a really great sport - but I'd love to support arab racing by coming to a few meetings. And I can certainly recommend ex-ARO racehorses as good buys. The one I got from the Ascot sale last year is a complete star - we did our first 20 miler yesterday and he flew round. |
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Sundance
Racing Moderator
England
932 Posts |
Posted - 15 Mar 2010 : 8:48:21 PM
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Thanks David I feel much better, I once put up 24 lbs overweight on Aliesha (she was bottom weight 9 stone and I was 10 and half plus), she was (and still is at 20) a little insane to ride and I don't think she would have tolerated anyone else riding her and fairly sure she would have dropped them on the way to the start. Still I loved riding her in races and miss it, I have also threatened to renew my jockey licence and ride Sky this season if she hasn't won by end of July (got another stone to lose though)......and I can gurantee it will not be a pretty sight, but it will be fun. I remember when I won on Sky's dam Blondie, the write up in Horse and Hound said "his style owes more to determination than any time spent watching Frankie Detorri, but an obssession with Arab racing now looks guaranteed"!!!! True words indeed! |
Paul
www.zayinarabianstud.co.uk |
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krb
Gold Member
England
646 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2010 : 1:24:20 PM
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Firstly, hello Peter H and (sorry just read the whole thread and now can't remember the person who has John C as farrier) please say 'hello' to John for me.
I remember the split altough I can't remember the reason for it - someone mentioned charities...was it a conflict of interest or something? Anyway, I thought it a great pity that racing had to become fragmented from the original home of all things Arabian. (Although I know zero about the politics and internal goings on at the AHS there is a lot of disillusionment...is that a word??... with them from so many folk at the mo, it seems such a shame that everyone can't sort out their differences for the good of the breed and it's publicity.....dream-land, sorry)!
ARO seem to have done a great job and it all looks more 'professional' (ie horses finishing more or less together not trotting over the line 5 mins later , but at least they were having a go - it's all money in the pot and one can learn).
I wouldn't fancy riding against most of the jockeys now, they all look very proficient....and THIN!!
I csn still see absolutely no reason why a competent rider on a horse with ability and the right mind-set (that has sooo much to do with winning races) cannot win just as well as a more professional trainer. Obviously access to facilities may be limited on a daily basis but most fitness work can be done ANYWHERE (hills are a help!) and one can always box over to real gallops every now and again.
Carabineer (22 starts, 13 wins - inc. Dubai Stakes 1986) went on proper gallops once. I rang David Nicholson who trained 10 miles away and went up with his string one day either in our 1st or 2nd season. Other than that we used grass verges, an air field, (without permission  ) silage fields (with permission when the grass was not too long) or stubble fields.
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krb
Gold Member
England
646 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2010 : 1:30:19 PM
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Oh yes, and with regard to overwieght  my view was as he was used to carrying me, in ordinary riding gear, a heavy Stubben saddle and normal horseshoes either hacking, eventing, team-chasing or hunting running a couple of miles in racing plates (light steel not alluminium), a wee saddle, thin boots and minimal clothing should be a breeze! |
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littlearabians
Gold Member
1323 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2010 : 3:47:46 PM
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krb: your right... but still I would prefer to do the weight, or let someone else have a sit on my horses....
but how is it with Arab racing over here... are Prof. jockeys a no go???... how do you guys find a rider? |
www.littlearabians.com
Classic Polish Arabians
Worcester based
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Moosie
Gold Member
United Kingdom
717 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2010 : 10:12:00 PM
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little arabians - you cant have a professional jockey on ordinary ARO cards. your horse needs to run in two maidens in order to get a handicap rating and for this he will have a weight of between 10 and 10.7 (depending on his age). Ive always had a "thing" about riding overweight too - mega dieting has usually worked - always had a horror of the amount of ow being read out on the loudspeaker the lower weights come into play when he runs in handicaps (which obviously is when his best chances start)theres no problem finding a sympathetic competent experienced person (who can do the weight!) to ride him - just pm any of the people who have posted on here and who are currently racing(see current trainers list at the time) for recommendations!
its most certainly NOT a true amateur sport - dont think it ever was really when you think of horses being trained on Newmarket Heath 20 years ago. but its equally true that an amateur can do well and win races. fantastic if you have access to "proper" gallops (what a luxury that would be for us). the magic word is "improvisation" |
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MinHe
Platinum Member
England
2927 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2010 : 11:21:22 PM
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The reason racing *had* to be divorced from the AHS was that the Charities Commission deemed racing not to be a charitable activity within the remit of the AHS's declared aims (education and welfare), so essentially the AHS could not continue to control Arab racing AND still be a charity. AFAIK, the upset was not caused by the 'divorce' itself but the way in which it was handled.
Keren |
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Moosie
Gold Member
United Kingdom
717 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2010 : 7:31:04 PM
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forgive my ignorancebut how do the big AHS shows qualify under "charitable events" then - just curious!!!!! I think the members (at the time) were also only given a really small part of the true story (prob just as well as from what one reads nothing seems to change much) |
Edited by - Moosie on 17 Mar 2010 7:35:00 PM |
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krb
Gold Member
England
646 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2010 : 7:48:34 PM
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| I have never really been to a big show (apart from jumping at Malvern yonks ago) but presumably there is no (official) on site betting. |
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MinHe
Platinum Member
England
2927 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2010 : 8:32:41 PM
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As I understand it, shows are considered 'educational' when it comes to learning about the breed, racing is not. The betting issue may have something to do with that, I don't recall for certain.
Keren |
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Moosie
Gold Member
United Kingdom
717 Posts |
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Sundance
Racing Moderator
England
932 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2010 : 7:20:12 PM
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Just out of interest is anyone going to race their horses at Wolverhampton on 1st May? Or is everyone aiming for Taunton on 15th? Sky is going for turf, we've decided she hates Wolves! Sammy my 5 yr old went for her first ride round the yard today and was a very good girl, and hoepfully goes in training in April all being well.
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Paul
www.zayinarabianstud.co.uk |
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PJH
New Member
5 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2010 : 7:55:29 PM
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Hi Paul
Hoping to run Son Of Sophie at Wolves in the Open conditions race. Also hoping to race his full sister this year, maybe starting her off at Taunton in the 1m2f 0-180.
Pete |
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paul_brown_arabs
Silver Member
252 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2010 : 5:10:55 PM
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season not too far off now - wolves probably will come too soon for our girl - been in work for 5 weeks or so - only just started cantering around this week - taunton probly too far for us to travel - which leaves huntingdon provided the ground is ok.
hope to go to wolves in any case - usually coincides with guineas meeting so a good day out.
just seen ARO r putting on a race at curragh in ireland in may! sometimes feel like throwing my hands up in despair - think i'll join pete and race my TB next year!
roll on spring - still fed up with the cold while riding out early mornings, but making most of it this week-the clocks change this weekend and i'll loose my morning riding time! |
Paul |
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alistair leslie
Gold Member
England
1036 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2010 : 08:51:49 AM
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Never really been convinced on the need for it to be a charity .
Under the objectives of the membership there is a task of promoting the Arab horse and light horse breeding in the uk
All activities do this including racing so the gambling bit has nothing to do with it .A red herring. |
    
blue moon |
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paul_brown_arabs
Silver Member
252 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2010 : 10:11:58 AM
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your right alistair the charity thing was just the last straw-as i recall a complaint was made (by ?) to the charity commission that ahs was funding the distribution of prize money for racing and its that which was potentially a problem - pre ARO racing within the AHS was a "profitable" exercise i think (may be wrong there so shoot me down anyone who knows more) - in that membership/subscriptions/entry/dec fees and sponsorship came to more than total prize money/expenditure. prize money was approx £200/300 per race as i recall prior to ARO - pretty much same as today - and that was 10 years ago.
the charity commission rightly questioned why ahs was profiting from racing-rather than fight it and aro - when racing numbers began to fall - some racing members, many horses and main sponsors (ie the sheiks) they had to give up.
There are plenty of riding school/centres who are charity registerd but hold dressage and SJ competiitions that pay prize money so its is possible to do. |
Paul |
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paul_brown_arabs
Silver Member
252 Posts |
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bxps
Silver Member
United Kingdom
403 Posts |
Posted - 29 Mar 2010 : 11:02:19 PM
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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 |
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Sundance
Racing Moderator
England
932 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2010 : 9:15:11 PM
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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 |
Paul
www.zayinarabianstud.co.uk |
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BOULTONS
Silver Member
United Kingdom
380 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2010 : 3:25:20 PM
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| 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. |
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paul_brown_arabs
Silver Member
252 Posts |
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alistair leslie
Gold Member
England
1036 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2010 : 4:07:01 PM
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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 . |
blue moon |
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Sundance
Racing Moderator
England
932 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2010 : 11:59:44 PM
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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!!
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Paul
www.zayinarabianstud.co.uk |
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Topic |
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Racing --- Was it the wrong decision?
