Posted by pointer on May 3, 2009, 5:58 am
86.149.181.40

As expected. My fears became reality yetserday at Godstone with firm ground, virtually no runners, a 6 race card (+1 walkover) and a small crowd. Such a shame when the weather was so fine. Quote from shaggy - 'Current ground at the course as at this morrning is Good to Firm, Good in places, very level, no jar and the Clerk genuinely thinks with the rain expected that it will be proper good ground by the weekend. Firm? You ignorant moron. ' - WRONG, YOU IGNORANT MORON Quote from Shaggy (Again) - ' Nobody likes running their horses there? Ask Nick Pearce, the Robinsons, Heather Silk, Anne Blaker, David Maxwell or Nigel Padfield what they think? They all know their stuff and have had runners (and winners) there. - 22 runners in 7 races and the embarrasement of a walkover. Seeing Letterman finish sore, one of the best horses in our area was a real shame - Ask Nick Pearce what he thinks of the going !!!! With regard to your final comment Shaggy. Absolutely no personal jibe whatsoever. Just stating what i think is true and fair. For me, the meeting should only ever have had 6 races and should have been held on the Monday, or at a different track maybe ? One thing is for sure,it appears someone is telling lies about the going at these tracks.Current going is apparently 'Good' at PH next week ????? I still can't believe MSFD moved their meeting away from Charing to Godstone.............. Nick - I hope letterman is ok and we can see his talent again this season ? Regards Pointer

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Posted by ruckerroo on May 3, 2009, 10:19 am, in reply to "Badstone"
86.159.73.182

I do have to agree with pointer tbh. Our area puts on a 6 race card in february when its decent ground, and attempted a 7 race card yesterday at a bit of a dog track that not too many trainers are particularly complimentary about. It seemed like the crowd knew there was going to be a paucity of runners, it was an extremely poor attendence

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Posted by pjh on May 3, 2009, 10:59 am, in reply to "Re: Badstone"
195.93.21.70

well done the southdown and eridge for running a fantastic show yesterday.unfortunatley you can not please all of the people all of the time ,especially the ignorant.u would not have found safer firm ground any where in the country.also well done to david phelan and will for their trainer/rider double

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Posted by Barry Lewis on May 3, 2009, 12:34 pm, in reply to "goodstone"
86.154.243.157

It's easy to criticise, but suggested solutions would be helpful. Yes, the Godstone going turned out to be firm, but the preparation was faultless, there was plenty or grass, and the organisers couldn't have done more. This is an amateur sport and there are no budgets for sophisticated watering installations like the professional tracks have. Instead people work tirelessly through the night with tankers and tractors (even attracting the police at 3.00am who thought someone was holding a rave). If you want meetings after Easter you have to accept small fields. It has been the same for 20 years and if there is a solution no-one has found it yet - least of all the critics.

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Posted by s richardson on May 3, 2009, 1:13 pm, in reply to "Badstone"
86.26.87.216

Thanks for your insulting points, MR POINTER,my family still had a great day out, we think the organisers did well as rain was forecast during the week, we think godstone is great as nearest course from london for us - who are you we want to pay you a visit moron!

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Posted by NW on May 3, 2009, 4:36 pm, in reply to "Easy to criticise"
81.76.91.62

I think everyone appreciates your point Barry, but why so much in advance misinformation about the ground at every meeting in the south east? The official going will have the word 'good' in it irrespective of flooding or drought.

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Posted by SimonM on May 3, 2009, 8:39 pm, in reply to "goodstone"
90.241.21.40

In hindsight, risking seven races at a time of year that has often been very dry in recent years was not the best idea, even with the efforts to make the course as raceable as possible. Incidentally, not one Southdown & Eridge qualified horse ran (according to the racecard)

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Posted by Warren on May 3, 2009, 8:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Easy to criticise"
86.144.193.230

Iam now very worried and confused. My predicament is if Shaggy is an ignorant moron where does that leave the rest of us, and we would have to delve back in evolution to see where pointer stands. Mark, I think until such time as pointer reveals his identity and apolgises for his comments he is barred from this site as I expect this message to be.

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Posted by CL on May 3, 2009, 9:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Easy to criticise"
86.157.62.27

Easy to criticise I agree, but to barr people from a message board merely for expressing their opinions is somewhat draconian, I think. I also would like to thank all those at Godstone for doing everything in their power to try and produce decent ground, but I was one of those who left a horse on the lorry yesterday. The organisers really cannot compete against the weather, they can only try their best. Perhaps the answer is to start earlier in the year (eg Oct/November) and finish the season earlier?

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Posted by Tim MC on May 3, 2009, 9:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Easy to criticise"
82.3.224.128

Well said Warren and so say all the rest of the pointing community , that truly love this wonderful sport ! I shall be giving my opinion shortly to Mr Pointer, so do stay connected folkes !

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Posted by Shaggy on May 4, 2009, 9:52 am, in reply to "Badstone"
86.168.98.110

Pointer, I have to say that comment really came back to bite me in the a*se, so I have to give that one to you! Fair play One - Nil to Pointer. (In my defence at the time of the post, that was an accurate going description, unfortunately the rain forecast for Thursday / Friday never materalised).

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Posted by JW on May 4, 2009, 12:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Easy to criticise"
86.129.166.191

It is always going to be difficult to strike the right balance with the fixture schedule to ensure good fields and a good crowd to make the meetings finacialy viable. Whatever is done the weather is always going to play a big part in the end result. With the weather we have been having recently in the SE it is easy to forget the winter and that had there been more meetings scheduled over that period then they would have probably been lost to frost or snow. Yes, it may have been possible to reschedule, but to when? Now, and probably attracting the same comments from Pointer. Moving fixtures forward to October or November could be a possibility to consider, but there is the risk that in some years this would not work out when we have a dry autumn, when even NH courses with their facilites and resources can find that they have depleted fields. I have no ready solutions to offer that would provide a satisfactory outcome to all parties, but I always believe that if you are going to criticise anything you should be prepared to offer an alternative idea, so Mr/Ms Pointer what are they?

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Posted by ruckerroo on May 4, 2009, 3:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Easy to criticise"
86.159.73.182

Could we worse lads, a match and 2 walkovers to start the card at hackwood today ffs.

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Posted by Darryl on May 4, 2009, 7:30 pm, in reply to "Easy to criticise"
86.142.44.6

Barry With refferance to your final comment regarding small fields in point to point racing after Easter I can only assume that you are reffering solely to the situation in the South East area and not point to point racing in general Last Saturday i was at the Berkeley meeting at Woodford and we had well over 90 runners Even today Bank Holiday Monday 2 meetings attracted nearlly 70 runners each even Northaw not known for its large turnout attracted 35 runners on firmish ground and i am please to say a winner for the South East in the last race

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Posted by Mark S on May 4, 2009, 8:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Easy to criticise"
86.154.243.157

Just 13 runners for six races at Hackwood Park today - two walkovers, two matches. Guess they had the same problem...only worse. One of the walkovers was Lord 'N' Master. Finnow Shan won for Jody Sole and Chris Lawson at Northaw.

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Posted by Jo on May 6, 2009, 8:48 am, in reply to "Badstone"
213.210.43.145

WTF! What sort of idiot logs on at 6am the day after racing with a smug 'told you so' attitude, apparently taking extreme pleasure in a disappointing meeting and injuries to horses?! I agree with CL people should feel free to air their comments but this is a supporters club forum, the key word being "supporters" - negative speil, direct insults and anonymous tosh should not be made welcome!! What good can possibly come of comments such as these!? I for one think that Godstone is one of (if not) the best tracks in the SE area, it is well organised, well laid out, well supported and well liked by many trainers and jockeys. The weather was great on Saturday, people were having picnics, the races (with the exeption of the final two) were competitive...what the hell more can you ask from an amateur sport when the ground dries up and at this time of year horses have started to pick up knocks and bumps and cannot all be available. Godstone is one of the safest tracks jumps wise, and yes there were injuries on Saturday but are there not at every course regardless of the going and entries, unfortunately it is the nature of the beast! If you dont like it pointer then stay away, you will not be missed!! And Shaggy, stand up for yourself, you along with all of the other brave jockeys, dedicated trainers and owners, VOLUNTEER stewards and officials, do your best to put on these days for us and you should be appreciated for this and not criticised!! Far too often on this forum I hear people moaning about the level of entries and the state of the ground and being able to get in and out of courses, for gods sakes, its part of it - its an amateur sport and is meant to be fun!! Do you hear the jockeys on here moaning when they fall off!? Do you hear the trainers and owners moaning when their horses are injured or worse?! No you do not - and they are real problems, not like the rest of the crap! Suggestions (such as starting the season earlier -great idea), praise (such as well done to everyone involved over the weekend) and news (such as the update on the SE horses running outside of the area and entries for forthcoming races) as well as the obvious lively banter should be what this forum is reserved for - and in the main it is I am pleased to say - not jumped up t*ssers like pointer coming on here to criticise one of our most valued jockeys and valued courses!! As you can probably guess these comments have enraged me as I for one extremely enjoying the racing and yes it is disappointing when entries are light but is anybody to blame!? Certainly not Shaggy and certainly noone else involved at Godstone!

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Posted by SN on May 6, 2009, 9:55 am, in reply to "Re: Badstone"
163.156.240.17

Well said Jo - EXACTLY what everyone's attitude should be like!! Pointer needs to stop moaning and enjoy point to pointing for what it is - a bloody good day out.

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Posted by Shaggy on May 6, 2009, 3:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Badstone"
80.169.158.51

Jo - I like the cut of your jib!

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Posted by Will Hickman on August 17, 2009, 9:04 pm, in reply to "Badstone"
92.2.84.143

I thought the ground was decent, perfect for a horse needing top of the ground, with no jar. and peper harrow did turn out to be good ground

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