There was only one occasion wheels transporting yours truly went to the dogs. Literally, that is. Myself and Eoghan D’Arcy were given the job of organising the Brady’s staff Christmas night out. We plumped for a night in Shelbourne Park at the greyhound racing.
The two of us had a great night but reviews from the rest of the touring party was more of the lead balloon variety. I’d definitely give it another go – the racing, not the organising – as a system for having a bet was even worked out. A reverse forecast for a small stake with Trap 3 and Trap 6. Meaning either of those dogs to finish first or second in any order.
The only time there would be a deviation from that policy came if there was a canine with Droopys in its name. Given the success racers from that bloodline have had over the years.
The reason for recalling the above was more in relation to how the occasion was run rather than the actual raclng itself. As in, the fact that we were in the corporate facilities for the night. Getting wined, dined and doing our bets without leaving our tables.
It came back to mind when the disgraceful footage emerged this evening of the Gordon Elliott trained Grand Paradis – and jockey Davy Russell – haf beer thrown at the whilst passing the post in third place in the penultimate race at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day.
In the wake of the despicable act – which was caught on Racing TV cameras at the track – management at the Co Meath venue issued a statement which said “We are aware of an incident at the end of the sixth race. The individual involved has been identified and their details obtained. These details will be passed on to all relevant bodies”.
One would expect that a lifetime ban from not only Fairyhouse but all racecourses would be the very least meted out to the buffoon behind the shameful act of bravado.
Sadly, sports stars being abused to a point that crosses ‘the line’ is nothing new. Indeed, it has become a whole new monster with the advent of social media, smartphones and the like. At the risk of coming off smug here, there’s no halo hovering regarding my prowess in the subject area.
Regular ‘conversations’ are had with the television if a punted horse goes down narrowly or if a referee makes a glaringly obvious mistake that Stevie Wonder could spot. However, two caveats need to be inserted here.
With the racing, angst tends to be only momentary as there’s generally always another event only minutes away. Whether one is punting therein or not. When it comes to referees though, it’s different.
After all, when on duty between the lines, they are paid employees of the governing body of whatever sport they are officiating at. Thus, they should be held to rigorous scrutiny and, if their performance is awfully poor, there should be some sort of sanction. That said, from a fan perspective, there has to be a line not to be crossed.
Anyway, for this writer at least, the bigger issue here is that the behaviour of an admittedly minor loutish lot could and would do on a broader scale than a sporting one. Mind you, unfortunately, on the same day there were similarly heinous goings on during quarter finals day of the World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace in London.
Darts can be a hard enough sell as there are some who contend – wrongly – that tungsten throwing is not a sport at all. Even within the discipline itself, though, it’s an unfortunate reality that he who until yesterday was the standard setter on the oche until last night does nothing to aid his own image or that of his area of expertise with his demeanour.
That, however, doesn’t permit or condone the scandalous abuse bellowed at the former rugby player throughout his epic last eight shootout against the man from Rugby League heartland. Chanting that the Welshman was a “Sheep Sh*****g B*****d” would be bad enough – especially with the player’s wife and family present – but towards the end of the match the vitriol got so bad the player himself – who at least gives off the exterior of a crocodile – asked referee George Noble to intervene.
Presumably the person or persons responsible for whatever irked Price were ejected from the venue and – as with the reprobate who flung the liquid missile at Elliott’s steed and jockey – and given lifetime bans from the venues and sports in question. But you would hope that’s only the beginning of the repercussions for them.
The problem is, it may only be so for the rest of us as well. It’s said you can’t legislate for idiocy. Though the power brokers here have at least attempted to during these surreal and unprecedented times. However, any hopes, no matter how faint, the majority of us harboured of some degree of normalcy return anytime soon have such aspirations written off by the likes of the clowns seen at two different sporting venues on New Year’s Day.
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