All kinds of stuff about horse racing, yes, but also other stuff that we find interesting and which maybe you will, too.
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The Fear and Loathing in Hong Kong
Never say there’s nothing unique to the very much downsized Hong Kong. No other city has such fear of everything and so much gossip, especially about the ins, outs, sideways and every which way of horse racing. The fear comes from the events of 2019, Covid 19 and those daily updates where new rounds of fear and loathing were introduced by the Hapless Housewife.
She really knew how to drill the fear of god into people and seemed to relish dishing out The Bad Soup Of The Day at her daily news conferences.
This will be her lasting legacy despite now bringing hypocrisy into play.
With her on her way out, there’s been a recent U-turn from her mentioning that Hong Kong should open up yada yada yada...Please. What have you been not doing for over three years?
As for gossip about Hong Kong horse racing, that’s something that has been an ongoing horse opera since the days when “Australian gangs” ruled the turf- not necessarily untrue, and with outspoken television personality and the always entertaining Bill Tung-biu fanning the flames. It was brilliant television theatre.
His favourite target was Aussie jockey Peter Miers aka The Organiser. He would also take a blowtorch to others like Ray Setches, Danny Brereton, Rod Staples, Englishman Philip Robinson etc. Where there’s smoke, there’s always fire, and our now dear departed barrister friend Kevin Egan, below, always knew, even before they did, which jockeys were going to receive a tap on their shoulder to tell them not to bother reapplying for a license.
He also knew exactly when several big name jockeys, a couple still riding in Australia, were being advised to make a midnight run to Kai Tak airport as the Independent Commission Against Corruption were about to swoop down on them for certain ill gotten gains.
Many were involved, but this was a different Hong Kong and where loose lips and childish mistakes eventually sunk many ships. Today’s Hong Kong has racing KOLS- apparently, Key Opinion Leaders- hosting their own YouTube channels with news and gossip and innuendos never found in the English language racing media. The English racing media has almost always been like Jack Webb in the old television series “Dragnet” reporting just the facts, only the facts, and with some glaring omissions. Why bite the hand that feeds you or fight other people’s battles, right?
Will these so-called KOLs find a big enough audience on YouTube to make any money outta their horse racing channels? No one cares and it’s just another aimless brick in the crumbling Hong Kong wall of mediocrity.
The Mister Bigs are no longer with us while those left have only a couple of years left before they ride off into the sunset, whereas though there’s been a slight changing of the guard, one can’t see them bringing much pizazz to the game.
Bottom line: Hong Kong, and everything in it, is going backwards and outta step with the rest of the world and with the 24/7 of FEAR and PANIC and PARANOIA desperately needing to be eradicated. But the mental health fallout is going to take a very long time to make right again.
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J-Mac and the new Changing Of The Guard
The news that Katelyn Mallyon and J-Mac are expecting their first child- and congratulations to the happy couple- plus, of course, that awesome win of Nature Strip at Royal Ascot- have many in racing wondering what’s next for the global Starman. His stock is certainly on the rise.
Firstly, forget about him coming to Hong Kong anytime soon to take over The Zac Attack’s saddle. And with nothing going to happen anytime soon, nothing ever will.
Some things money just cannot buy.
J-Mac has entered a different and rarefied stratosphere that’s still being formulated.
What we keep hearing are some very loud whispers to do with J-Mac and Coolmore. Guess one could call these Home Affairs...
Yes, there are certainly many changes of the guard happening in the horse racing industry these days and irrelevance is setting in mighty fast.
Having said this and to keep things on an even keel, good old Bernard Saundry has returned in a blaze of glory, and no doubt enough ka ching, to take over the helm at the dead people’s radio station. It’s good to have friends in high places.
Frankly, the station is a non starter and comes across these days sounding even more dead than one of their Tobbin Brothers Funeral Homes radio ads.
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Karma and Callan Strike at Royal Ascot!
In many ways, and with the Hong Kong Jockey Club having a simulcast from Royal Ascot on what would normally have been a race night at Happy Valley was pretty karmic when former Hong Kong based rider- the popular Neil Callan aka “Iron Man”- won the last race of the card aboard 40/1 outsider Rising Star trained by his longtime friend Marco Botti.
It should be remembered that “Iron Man”, who rode in Hong Kong for seven full seasons, had a particularly hard time when being handed down a controversial 15 meeting suspension for, apparently, a temper tantrum and using various well-known Irish expletives. It was deemed conduct unbecoming.
While all this was unraveling, the Irishman had already decided to pack up and return to the UK with his family, despite coming back after his suspension riding winners with support from many trainers, especially Tony Cruz.
His decision to leave meant escaping any further inner turmoil by being cooped up in the ongoing and farcical “racing bubble”.
Well done, Neil Callan!
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Greg Carpenter and his, well, taxing new gig in Hong Kong
Greg Carpenter being approached and poached by the Hong Kong Jockey Club was on the cards for well over a year.
After all, in his forty years in the horse racing industry, he’s proven to be knowledgeable, articulate and confident. There are extremely few who could match him as a world class racing executive.
Where will he fit in at 1 Sports Road?
We can guess.
We also know that at this juncture in his career, it’s a great gig where apart from the luxury apartment, domestic helper, chauffeur, membership to private Members Only clubs and a terrific expat package, there’s the extremely low personal taxes compared to what the taxman demands in the land of Oz.
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What’s in a name: TOAST??? Seriously??? Thoroughbred Owners Association and Sports Trust (TOAST)
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