The 2025 July Cup

[Desert Orchid]

I haven't dug into the figures yet (and won't until some time next week - been a wee bit busy with Orchidette's wedding coming up on Saturday) but I see Simon Rowlands is saying the ground was overwatered despite the Turftrax map showing it as good to firm:

Expert Analysis | At The Races

Simon has the latest round-up of this season's top juveniles following Newmarket's July meeting, while also revealing an early fancy for the St Leger.

www.attheraces.com

 

[Slim]

I haven't dug into the figures yet (and won't until some time next week - been a wee bit busy with Orchidette's wedding coming up on Saturday) but I see Simon Rowlands is saying the ground was overwatered despite the Turftrax map showing it as good to firm:

Expert Analysis | At The Races

Simon has the latest round-up of this season's top juveniles following Newmarket's July meeting, while also revealing an early fancy for the St Leger.

www.attheraces.com

Well he has to be saying something.

 

[Ian_Davies]

Well he has to be saying something.

Indeed - if he doesn't say something he doesn't get paid.

There was a time apparently back in the day (pre-TV) when the BBC tried: "Good evening this is the news - there is no news tonight" and cutting to the next programme.

It didn't last long - there's always enough "news" to fill a fixed slot and freelances are keener than anyone to always make it so.

They put 6mm on Friday night and times suggested it wasn't as quick on the Saturday as on the Friday.

Anyone who has a butchers at the BHA website and the race times can see that.

 

[Slim]

Indeed - if he doesn't say something he doesn't get paid.

There was a time apparently back in the day (pre-TV) when the BBC tried: "Good evening this is the news - there is no news tonight" and cutting to the next programme.

It didn't last long - there's always enough "news" to fill a fixed slot and freelances are keener than anyone to always make it so.

They put 6mm on Friday night and times suggested it wasn't as quick on the Saturday as on the Friday.

Anyone who has a butchers at the BHA website and the race times can see that.

It would be fun, as a sort of parody, to dissect a 0–50 classified stakes as forensically as these Group 1s. A few more might realise how trivial the whole exercise is.

 

[Ian_Davies]

It would be fun, as a sort of parody, to dissect a 0–50 classified stakes as forensically as these Group 1s. A few more might realise how trivial the whole exercise is.

That's the sort of thing I'd be bang up for, actually - there can never be too much irreverence in this game.

 

[Desert Orchid]

Well he has to be saying something.

Most of us do on here.

 

[Ian_Davies]

Most of us do on here.

Yes, but we don't get paid to post, Maurice.

Which means we have the luxury of only posting if we have something to say - or think we have.

If Simon doesn't write an article, he ain't getting paid - that's the difference.

Simon still has to find something to write about even in weeks when even he himself may privately feel he hasn't got a lot to impart.

 

[barjon]

You’re a hard man to please, Ian

 

[Desert Orchid]

Yes, but we don't get paid to post, Maurice.

Which means we have the luxury of only posting if we have something to say - or think we have.

If Simon doesn't write an article, he ain't getting paid - that's the difference.

Simon still has to find something to write about even in weeks when even he himself may privately feel he hasn't got a lot to impart.

That goes for every journalist.

He could write about anything but he digs into the data and interprets it, presenting it in a readable way. As a former (might still be in some form or other) employee of Timeform he is offering some insight into what goes into the analysis of races and compilation of figures. It's up to the readers to decide if it's interesting or not. If not they can ignore it. If everybody ignores it the chances are he won't be working much longer.

I usually add the caveat when I post links to his items that whether you agree with it or not it's usually worth the read. I stand by that.

When I was working I had to teach whether I thought the pupils valued it or not. You could extend the idea to many, many vocational situations.

I respect that he puts a lot of work into what he does.

 

[Ian_Davies]

That goes for every journalist.

No, it doesn't.

Many are on PAYE contracts - it's only freelances like Simon who are paid by the article.

I don't know Simon's circumstances - he may not need to work any more and does it because he enjoys it - but it's often a different ballgame for freelances and for many of them a quiet week with nothing to say isn't an option if they want to eat.