Yeah, 4000 wins is a heck of a number, but shouldn't his horses get more of a shout? It's been all over the media, and yeah, fair enough he's had to do a lot of faces and live like a monk, but how much of an achievement is it? I know nothing about driving a horse, does the jockey make that much difference in a race?
bit random, but yeah ive sometimes wondered that too 🙂
obviously theres a skill involved but theyre given the best horses too. doubt theyd be skilful enough to steer a donkey first past the post.
Aaargh! So how have other jockeys gone on the same horses? If he's rubbish then anyone else on the same horse will win, if he's good then of course he'll get race winning horses to ride rather than ones in their way to Iceland.
Same as f1 - the best drivers get the best cars, or football where the best players end up in the best teams. The more you win, the more chances you get to win...
Succesful horses are often better known than their jockeys tbh.
Horses have one of two end results - losers end up in Whiskas tins, winners out to stud to spend the rest of their lives dosed up on horsey viagra shagging anything they can.
Either way, I don't think they're too bothered about being celebrities
Its all in the amount you beat the shit out of the poor animal from what I can see. If you shove a midget on a horse and drive it around fields I'd have not thought there'd be much in it between one jockey and another.
Jockeys make a massive difference, though swapping one of the best half dozen for another of the best half dozen wouldn't always change a result. None of the horses did 4000! It's a huge achievement, one of the greatest of sportsmen of all time. Incredibly determined and brave. If he can keep it going for a good few years yet he might even get close to modern Britain's greatest sportsperson.
[url= http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=2487 ]Can you guess who before you click the link?[/url]
I can remember when it was a big deal when Terry Biddlecombe was the first to ride 1,000 winners. What AP has done is incredible, he does get the best horses but he is a top rider. Look just how far behind him the next best are.
Tea-total and constantly dieting while having to be fit and strong enough to keep a horse in a straight line.
There was an anecdote last night that he went on a 4 day golfing holiday to Portugal. He still flew back one afternoon to ride one horse at Southwell before returning to Portugal. Dedication.
Isn't it down to how hard they can smack **** out of horse to run quicker?
There must be some skill involved in knowing when and how hard to push a hore to get the best out of it?
There must be some skill involved in knowing when and how hard to push a [b]w[/b]hore to get the best out of it?
Fixed that for you.
Or this?
There must be some skill involved in knowing when and how hard to push a hor[b]s[/b]e to get the best out of it?
That probably applies to horses too mudshark
Ive said the same about DH racers I mean rolling down a hill... how hard is that???!! 🙂
Hmm, interesting - thanks. It's just that they were banging on about it on the radio, and whilst I don't doubt it's an incredible feat, I wasn't entirely sure if it warranted all the "greatest British sporting achievement" hyperbole.
I don't know anything about the subject, but even to have entered 4000 races never mind win any seems pretty astonishing.
there must be some skill in it
If you doubt it have a go yourself and see if you manage to finish the race never mind win it
I suspect they decide how hard to push and when
When I charge at an obstacle, I rely on my bike seeing it and making the jump 😉Ive said the same about DH racers I mean rolling down a hill... how hard is that???!!
There are a couple of good articles on the BBC website, including an interview with his wife. Read about his injuries and then come back and say if you have the same thoughts. And none of his fellow jockeys have achieved over 3000 wins. As a sport it doesn't do anything for me, but it sounds brutal on the body, and he's the best my a country mile. Fair play.
p.s. being the best by a country mile doesn't count for anything when it's darts / PTPT by the way. That's just fat blokes in a pub 😀
As opposed to midgets riding dumb animals.
I know someone who was good mates with him about 10 years ago, he says he has changed a lot in the last few years. Could be jealousy could be the truth could be utter bobbins.
A very driven individual.
This seems to be the perfect thread for figuring out if people know anything about the subject being discussed.
Anyone who thinks he is Incredible and his achievement is too = Knows something about horse racing.
Anyone who says [b]anything[/b] else = knows nothing at all about the subject. Basically just joining in to make a noise.
Brilliant 😉
It's a very skilled profession. It's about knowing the track and your horse, some finish well but need containing in the early stages or vice versa, some run badly in a pack and like to lead from the get go, some don't like being close to the rails, there's so many variables. I've seen him win races he really shouldn't have done, through sheer skill and determination. And that doesn't mean beating the shit out of the horse as some say above.
His dedication to the sport is phenomenal. He rides daily and travels thousands of miles a year to fulfill his commitments, he is incredibly disciplined about fitness and diet, and he is brave as anybody. He's broken so many bones, ridden with horific injuries that hadn't healed and put everything on the line to get there.
He's a legend and deserves every thing he gets.
I don't doubt McCoy is a great sportsman, and a great athlete. However, I find it hard to get past the feeling that horse racing is one of the most corrupt sports there is and therefore struggle to get enthusiastic about his achievements.
based on what fact mikey74? I'm not arguing, just curious?
Well from living near Lambourn for a good few years and knowing a few ex jockeys and a lot of stable lads racing is as bent as a nine bob note, holding horses back to build up the odds. Common place. Much easier to do with the all weather race tracks as the horses are of poorer quality but you have to be good to lay the bets on with out drawing to much attention.
True this was a few years ago before bookies became hi tech but wouldnt trust it at all.
I have lots and lots of experience in getting horses to jump over things at speed. It is a great deal harder than it looks!
based on what fact mikey74? I'm not arguing, just curious?
No facts, and I am happy to admit it may be down to prejudice as I find it utterly tedious. However, the fact that the industry is so heavily linked to gambling leaves me with a strong scepticism about the whole thing.
I'd happily watch racing when the jockeys carry the horse round.