Fred Motley

Horse racing, Arsenal, bits and bobs.

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

Merry Christmas everyone.

Take a leaf out of Nicky Henderson’s book, I say. 🔊

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

@HonestFrank Strangely, the trainers even rejected the idea of it running from Oct - Oct to still keep it annual but finish on BCD.

When Gosden won it in 2023 (and was presented the trophy in Nov at Clarehaven) he suggested it was a bit silly. Not sure why they haven’t revisited it.

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

@MikeParcej The early bird weekend ticket price was €60 and we could access the paddock at Longchamp.

Really hard to argue with that value.

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

@MartinChapman12

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

See his sire Caravaggio is based in Japan now.

One of the most impressive Commonwealth Cup winners, beating a stellar field with Harry Angel and Blue Point in behind.

[At The Races @AtTheRaces]

Erdenali is heading to Japan! 🇯🇵

@GraffardRacing @KfordCailler

#競馬 @netkeiba

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

@HonestFrank Going update?

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

“Second most watched sport in the country”

While technically correct in terms of overall attendance, the phrasing is misleading as to racing’s popularity.

Agree with the point about writing to local MPs.

[Sun Sport @SunSport]

MATT CHAPMAN: Make no mistake… racing is under attack in Andy Burnham’s government and the hypocrisy is incredible

✍️ @MCYeeehaaa

https://t.co/r3FbYDlAdC

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

Sadly predictable.

BBC placement doesn’t carry the impact it used to, but it’s still disappointing for a moment like this to be ignored.

[Eve Johnson Houghton @johnsonhoughton]

@BBCSport seriously what is wrong with you?? Saffie Osborne smashed the glass ceiling today, becoming the first female jockey to win an English classic, the St ledger stakes @DoncasterRaces & it didn’t even get a mention on @BBCNews Shame on you.

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

@Louchepunter Sir Mark?

Though after yesterday’s big win in Kentucky, his view may have shifted 🤠

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

Every single runner in this race has won over £1 million in career prize money.

Ka Ying Rising’s total now at £14.9m…

Different gravy in Hong Kong!

[At The Races @AtTheRaces]

"Look out Sydney, he's coming back!" ✈️

KA YING RISING breaks the track record by almost a second, winning the Chief Executive's Cup without breaking sweat!

#HKRacing @HKJC_Racing

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

Sublime

[HLTCO @HLTCO]

Chris Sutton on co-commentary, you say?

[All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 @AlbicelesteTalk]

I recommend everyone to just watch this video and focus on Leo Messi.

I'll not say anything more.

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

And people wonder why he was so disliked…

[BoiBoi @ToniBoiBoi]

MIKE DEAN’S SECRET PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES

Ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean admits he used to play secret mini-games on the pitch while officiating top-flight matches.

Mike Dean: “We used to say, ‘Right, we'll kick off now, right? See how long we can go without blowing a whistle.’ Done that a few times in the Premier, before VAR obviously. 20–25 minutes without blowing a whistle a few times.”

“I used to stand in the center circle and see how long I could stay in the center circle before I had to leave.”

Josh James: “Got about 15 minutes once in one game without leaving the center circle.”

Mike Dean: “Easy money.”

ft. Mike Dean, Jamie Vardy, Josh James

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

This 🎯

[Tim Stillman ⭐️⭐️ @timstillman_]

I am, however, excited for actual football to be considered the best measure of how good a football team is again.

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

@Buyshirts1 @joebeevers I’m a passionate supporter of the sport. I’ve attended all my life, worked at GBR for 9 years, been involved with
syndicates

I want racing to prosper. I just want it to defend itself with rock-solid facts, while recognising it needs to up its game to keep pace with competitors

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

@joebeevers @Buyshirts1 Yep, broadly on the same page.

Attendance is a big metric and racing should make a big deal of being 2nd. But it’s a stretch to suggest, as some do, that racing is Britain’s 2nd biggest sport.

Being punchy is useful with govt, but claims about racing’s impact must be defensible

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

@Buyshirts1 @joebeevers Athletics isn’t really the point, the broader issue is conflating attendance with overall popularity.

Greyhound racing’s 2022 attendance was higher than tennis, for example.

Hard to argue that greyhound racing was the bigger or more popular sport.

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

Top 5?

Who out of Saliba, Gabriel, Van Dijk, Dias or Guehi are you dropping for him?

[E @Ellis_]

Their opening offer for a top 5 CB in the league that’s just entering his prime was £30m?

Aston Villa should just end negotiations completely that’s so disrespectful.

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

@goask93 Racing has huge overall attendances, yes, but athletics/other sports have comparatively tiny fixture lists.

And if we look at popularity/social, Keely Hodgkinson has a bigger following than the top 10 jockeys combined.

Hence “2nd most attended” is better than “2nd biggest”.

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

The “second largest sport” line is so overused in British racing.

It’s actually the “second most attended”, but that’s because there are circa 1500 live events every year.

The digital / social footprint of racing is pitiful vs a long list of lesser attended sports, for starters

[Racing Post @RacingPost]

Vicky Foxcroft MP, who has previously said she supports a ban on gambling advertising in live sport, has reportedly taken over from Baroness Twycross as gambling minister

[Fred Motley @FredDMot]

@HonestFrank “2nd most attended” is more accurate and factually correct

“2nd biggest” implies a much broader measure of popularity, which doesn’t stack up

I get that being punchier is useful with government but the worry is hearing senior people in racing use it to defend the sport’s health