So, the Racing Post launched its new website this week and, to be frank, it's a pretty poor effort.
Yes, a carbon fibre style background and lots of arrows does make the site look aesthetically good but when you actually try and use the thing, blood boils.
First and foremost, the Racing Post and Racing UK are best mates. Officially. Like a couple of gay boys, they do everything hand-in-hand. And there it is, on the homepage of the site: 'Racing UK Live Stream'. Cool, a free racing channel one may naively think. Click, click and your asked to sign a subscription to watch it.
Missed another exciting installment of the seller at Wetherby? Don't worry watch it here on the Racing Post. Just give RUK some money first, thanks.
Why do they do it? The Post is expensive enough to buy as it is and then they want more money to watch races. Good old At The Races lets you watch racing from their tracks for free.
Anyway, back to the site. It's ironic that in racing the fastest horse wins the race and there you have the Racing Post website which is probably the slowest around. I just want to quickly look at the latest news but am given options of: related stories, top stories, latest stories, racing business. It's as though their trying too hard.
Herein laid the beauty of the old Racing Post site. Everything was simply arranged in black and white with no fancy graphics and if you wanted the day's results on one page, you could get the day's results on one page.
Innovators will say I'm just sceptical of change but it's going to take a whole lot of loving to like this new bird.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. x
2 December 2008
1 December 2008
Doubting Thomas
Hello and welcome back. I've had a blogging sabbatical, learnt some martial arts and am now back louder and more opinionated than ever. Move over Big Mac, Rob Spirkett has returned!
Big news at the moment has to be the main man Sam Thomas.
He has had a shocking few days and from his last 30 odd rides has fell off 7 times which, in normal circumstances, would usually go unnoticed but when you look at what he has fallen off (Big Bucks, The Tother One, Gwanako, Kauto Star), you realise that he has been hitting the deck in some pretty big races.
It is an easy target for your couch jockey to slag Thomas off on the Betfair forum and be supported by plebs like 'chipmandave' and 'beerboylee' who are talking through their pockets. But is it really the lad's fault?
When things are going badly for a jockey, their confidence must hit rock bottom and you go out on to the track just praying that you'll finish the race. And these thoughts must be niggling at Thomas so, approaching a fence he'll probably take the safe option rather than firing them in, a choice which ultimately could cost him a few lengths and maybe the race.
Now, should Paul Nicholls give Thomas the mount on hot favourite Master Minded on Saturday in the Tingle Creek? Yes. As his boss, Nicholls should have full confidence in his jockey and let him ride the Champion Chase winner. He's proven that he can win big races; his ride on Denman in the Hennessy last year was sublime and he's ridden the quirky Kauto Star to victory.
Bad luck doesn't last forever and come Saturday afternoon, 'chipmandave' will be hailing Sam Thomas as the new McCoy.
A little tip for Wednesday is Swift Sailor in the 2.40 at Plumpton.
Laters
Big news at the moment has to be the main man Sam Thomas.
He has had a shocking few days and from his last 30 odd rides has fell off 7 times which, in normal circumstances, would usually go unnoticed but when you look at what he has fallen off (Big Bucks, The Tother One, Gwanako, Kauto Star), you realise that he has been hitting the deck in some pretty big races.
It is an easy target for your couch jockey to slag Thomas off on the Betfair forum and be supported by plebs like 'chipmandave' and 'beerboylee' who are talking through their pockets. But is it really the lad's fault?
When things are going badly for a jockey, their confidence must hit rock bottom and you go out on to the track just praying that you'll finish the race. And these thoughts must be niggling at Thomas so, approaching a fence he'll probably take the safe option rather than firing them in, a choice which ultimately could cost him a few lengths and maybe the race.
Now, should Paul Nicholls give Thomas the mount on hot favourite Master Minded on Saturday in the Tingle Creek? Yes. As his boss, Nicholls should have full confidence in his jockey and let him ride the Champion Chase winner. He's proven that he can win big races; his ride on Denman in the Hennessy last year was sublime and he's ridden the quirky Kauto Star to victory.
Bad luck doesn't last forever and come Saturday afternoon, 'chipmandave' will be hailing Sam Thomas as the new McCoy.
A little tip for Wednesday is Swift Sailor in the 2.40 at Plumpton.
Laters
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