Blowing off steam - The Rant Thread

[Padrio]

Stud farms and trainers' yards would never be known as good payers

[hi-rev]

The house always wins in gambling.
There might be a few thousands people "having a bit of fun" but its all going into the pockets of a select few.
Most of them are probably in Malta, Gurney or Isle of Man or some sort tax heaven anyway.

And then there is the reason why people keep horses in questionable conditions in Kylemore...

[crank_case]

Everyone objects to everything in Ireland. Especially in their back yard.
Exploiting peoples love of horses for crap wages is echoed in the car industry.

I never mentioned anything about wages, odd you deemed to bring that up...

Here's the thing, you don't get to defend them as a "big employer" when they don't really employ that many people and often block the development of an area to create actual sustainable career based employment.

I'm not calling for bans on stud farms of gambling, but at the same time I have very little sympathy for them either so if they get taxed or regulated a bit more, cry me a river..

[Cold]

I don’t think there are many countries that allow gambling as we know it or has a culture around it. It’s a freedom that we have. I have lived in a few places that don’t allow it and people there are quite jealous that we can just stick a bet on something for a laugh. Maybe the internet has changed it so that everyone can do it but I think US credit cards can’t be used for instance.

[Johnny_Limerick]

My folks live in one of those rural areas with F all else. I lived there briefly too, working in a small family IT biz that I could not get back out of quick enough for how disfunctional a workplace it was..

Part of the reason those rural areas have feck all else is Stud Farms are generally owned by wealthy people with lots of land and frequently object to anything else that might employ people because it might "spook the horses", which I guess they believe will impact the quality of horse :D:D:D:D:D unless they only have complete tranquility with the odd bit of Enya played softly.

The horsey set have also objected to other peoples hobbies due to noise, now the other parties haven't always been completely blameless, but still. It's not like we're talking a bunch of grassroots horsegirls have been stopped from enjoying pony rides, it's horse love yoghurt producers wanting the world to revolve round them and have the money to make it happen.

I don't have much sympathy really, and the entire gambling industry can absolutely feck off too. It's portrayed as a bit of fun, the odd flutter, but the core of their business revolves around a small subset of people getting addicted.

Everyone objects to everything in Ireland. Especially in their back yard.
Exploiting peoples love of horses for crap wages is echoed in the car industry.

Addictive vices are what keeps the lights on.
Look at the alcohol industry. I have years of experience at the right side of the counter with that one.
But no one was forcing those people into the pub nearly every night.
But it kept me in employment throughout college when the recession was still in full effect.

Long story short. I'm for freedom of choice for vices/hobbies. Regulated, of course.
I don't like when the actions of minority ruin the fun for the majority.
And I feel that us motor enthusiasts should relate to that. I mean anti social behaviour/road deaths/crashes negatively affect society.
But I'd imagine the majority here wouldn't like average speed cameras and guards on every back road to protect people from themselves.

This is also a sport we are world class at.
So drive it on I'd say. Maybe we could be like this for motorsport if it was subsidised.
And what harm if it was. Or would gambling on that be a big no also?

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[seanui]

Give it time.. I have it on good authority Joe Brolly is in the frame to replace him.

🤣🤣🤣

[-alan-]

Give it time.. I have it on good authority Joe Brolly is in the frame to replace him.

[seanui]

WTF is Tubridy stepping down from as Late Late Show host worthy of front page news Irish Times have it front and centre taking prominence over an article about inflation rising again - really says it all about Ireland and our 'media'

[-MICK-]

Cheltenham coverage and general hyping up by RTE!
Its basically a giant gambling fest and a not very healthy pastime promoted by our national broadcaster i just find the whole thing bizzare!

so its not just me that finds that disgusting....

[crank_case]

They are a big employer in rural areas with f all else.
I wouldn't be wishing too hard, demonising an industry/hobby, they will be coming after ours hobby next.

My folks live in one of those rural areas with F all else. I lived there briefly too, working in a small family IT biz that I could not get back out of quick enough for how disfunctional a workplace it was..

Part of the reason those rural areas have feck all else is Stud Farms are generally owned by wealthy people with lots of land and frequently object to anything else that might employ people because it might "spook the horses", which I guess they believe will impact the quality of horse :D:D:D:D:D unless they only have complete tranquility with the odd bit of Enya played softly.

The horsey set have also objected to other peoples hobbies due to noise, now the other parties haven't always been completely blameless, but still. It's not like we're talking a bunch of grassroots horsegirls have been stopped from enjoying pony rides, it's horse love yoghurt producers wanting the world to revolve round them and have the money to make it happen.

I don't have much sympathy really, and the entire gambling industry can absolutely feck off too. It's portrayed as a bit of fun, the odd flutter, but the core of their business revolves around a small subset of people getting addicted.

[Aontroim]

I know nothing about horse racing and I wouldn't be a gambler so I better not comment (well aware of my own ignorance).

However, if you ever get a chance, read: 'Who (Really) Runs Ireland' by Matt Cooper. It's mostly about the circumstances/decisions/public figures surrounding the Celtic Tiger and boom/bust but it discusses horseracing and the preferential conditions provided for it (whereas sports which are arguably 'bigger' get less favourable conditions/taxpayer investment).

The book itself is essentially about corruption but those who are into sport could probably make more of the horseracing chapter than I could. Very interesting read.

[foyler]

Ironically if that’s all it was cold, it wouldn’t be all that bad…..

To add to Boris” reply, the gambling and resultant destruction of lives and families is the worst of it but , it’s a total sham as a ‘sport’ .
Even Johonny horse racing on ‘off the ball’ acknowledges that it’s become almost exclusively a pursuit for the eye wateringly rich, the days of small trainers or little groups of lads having big wins are pretty much done.
I always get the feeling he and others know a lot more than they are letting on but just like the cycling before , the Omertà is strong here and I guess given the livelihoods at stake that’s at least somewhat understandable
From what I gather, not only do the big boys have the best horses, riders, trainers, studs , ‘treatments’ , but in the bigger races they could have multiple horse/riders to even further narrow the odds, it’s fcukin insane!

For about the last 3-4 years one of the longest serving, most respected trainers has repeatedly called out folk at the top of the sport, both competing and supposedly
regulating for widespread doping and worse, The kind of stuff that makes Waterford Crystal look like a saint.

I think you”re into it or not, but the reality is that the majority who are not into it but do help fund it massively just haven’t looked into where or on what our money is going & when they do, that tides gonna go out fair quick!

[Cold]

The implication being race fixing perhaps? It’s a very small sport with I’m guessing not much in it for a winner and it being Ireland presumably the usual non existent enforcement of any kind. That’s prime territory for match/race fixing.

[Johnny_Limerick]

I know plenty of People who watch it without gambling.
Come to think of it. I did have a family member temporarily employed by the tote.
What I would like regulated is how the house always wins, has changed so much due to data analytics. Companys restricting bets or kicking successful people of their books.
They even have handwriting recognition to spot successful punters in the bricks and mortar shops.

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[Boris]

They are a big employer in rural areas with f all else.
I wouldn't be wishing too hard, demonising an industry/hobby, they will be coming after ours hobby next.

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Its not really a hobby though is it? Its a multi million euro gambling industry. What would horse racing be without gambling. Would anyone watch it? It really annoys me when I hear how much government support horse racing gets when its function is to support gambling.