The Official Off Topic Thread

I’m drawn back in again.

I can see you first point re double standards.

But, think of the impact on society for a minute for a human downing cocaine vrs a horse taking performance enhancing drugs. Now if we compare it better, a jockey taking steroids vrs a horse that’s more comparable, imo.

The suspension of the ban offers hope to those who have strayed to the wrong side of the street. The message is clear. Stay clear of drugs, “recreational” or otherwise. Agreed, alcohol can be very damaging but cocaine etc is probably the zenneth in terms of that ladder, it’s a class A drug with terrible impacts for those taking it.

Just think it is crazy how a trainer's half baked explanation as to why a horse has tested positive is generally good enough to have the punishment greatly reduced - Shark got off scot free more or less, Fenton should have had a lifetime ban but got 3 years, Joseph O'Brien had no action taken at all for a positive cobalt test, William Treacy claimed he had urinated on the horse feed after ingesting the drugs himself and got a 1k fine.

Yet when a jockey tests positive for a recreational drug and offers a similarly silly explanation for how it got in their system like their drink was spiked then the authorities take a much harder approach.

I would consider giving horses performance enhancing drugs is more damaging to the integrity of the sport in general.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/i-blew-a-million-quid-on-drink-drugs-and-women-irish-jockey-eyeing-remarkable-comeback-37701732.html

5 years is awfully harsh as a 1st time offense IMO. Worth noting while a 5 year ban was handed down they can apply after 9 months in case for the license back. Maybe 5 could be the ban for a repeat offender

BumperD wrote: »

I’ve often wondered whether mental health drives those to the drugs or the drugs causes the mental health issue. I’m beginning to think the former but not set on it. Anyway, gone slightly off topic.

If ya think the former then a 5 year ban sure as hell ain't the answer man! Come on!

I’ve often wondered whether mental health drives those to the drugs or the drugs causes the mental health issue. I’m beginning to think the former but not set on it. Anyway, gone slightly off topic.

NaiveMelodies wrote: »

Inform yourself mate, it's never too late. Don't go to church expecting the answer though.

I’m very informed. And I don’t go to church. But these tools could do with some guidance

BumperD wrote: »

Take away responsibility and accountability, you’ll see where that gets us.

I’ve more sympathy for the young lads and lassies staying the straight course in life and working their ass off having to suffer these gob****es in the weighroom and on the track.

As regards punishment, the slap on the wrist / light bans didn’t work. HRI is not there to offer rehab clinics for fools who make poor choices in life.

If these poor lads and those before them didn’t get told at home, for whatever reason, or even in church because no one goes there anymore, they surely were told and got classed in school to avoid stuffing this shxt into your system. It not just them that will suffer, but everyone around them . We all pay the price for them getting that high.

Funny, the only people I’ve encountered who want legalizing or not imposing penalties for peddling this stuff are users themselves. One of them, a very close friend since childhood, the only thing we ever argued on was his drug use which he started at 16 and got habitually worse. He ended up homeless before realizing he made very poor choices and got his act together, at massive cost to his family and friends.

I’m done with this debate. I’ve flagged it umteen times here as a monstrous problem that needs tackling head on and am absolutely delighted someone is finally standing up for the silent majority who pay the price for those who want to indulge in the white snow.

Inform yourself mate, it's never too late. Don't go to church expecting the answer though.

Don't think anybody is calling for cocaine to be legalized, just that there is a fairly big body of evidence to suggest that harsh punishments are not an effective deterrent, not going to start linking to articles but try googling the case of what has happened in Portugal since drug use was decriminalized, compare that to the USA where young lives are ruined for inconsequential offences.

You say the HRI are not there to offer rehab clinics yet the jocks involved in these cases will be allowed to "reapply for their licence in the interim if they engaged in the rehabilitation process". No point ruining a young jockeys career for what is potentially a once off mistake, but if that makes you "delighted" then we are a million miles apart in terms of mindset. Not sure what going to church has to do with any of this anyway, times have changed and will continue to change, better get used to it.

Biggest drug problem in this country is alcohol and not too much doubt about that really.

Take away responsibility and accountability, you’ll see where that gets us.

I’ve more sympathy for the young lads and lassies staying the straight course in life and working their ass off having to suffer these gob****es in the weighroom and on the track.

As regards punishment, the slap on the wrist / light bans didn’t work. HRI is not there to offer rehab clinics for fools who make poor choices in life.

If these poor lads and those before them didn’t get told at home, for whatever reason, or even in church because no one goes there anymore, they surely were told and got classed in school to avoid stuffing this shxt into your system. It not just them that will suffer, but everyone around them . We all pay the price for them getting that high.

Funny, the only people I’ve encountered who want legalizing or not imposing penalties for peddling this stuff are users themselves. One of them, a very close friend since childhood, the only thing we ever argued on was his drug use which he started at 16 and got habitually worse. He ended up homeless before realizing he made very poor choices and got his act together, at massive cost to his family and friends.

I’m done with this debate. I’ve flagged it umteen times here as a monstrous problem that needs tackling head on and am absolutely delighted someone is finally standing up for the silent majority who pay the price for those who want to indulge in the white snow.

BumperD wrote: »

Think responsibility starts with the person. I grew up , like many others here, around plenty of bad influences and Chose NOT to indulge. Everyone has a choice. Way too much abdication of responsibility in today’s daft society where everyone has someone else to blame for their failings.

Appropriate ban. Drugs are rampant in Ireland. It’s like cigarettes was in my day. People off their heads on this stuff at tracks you can sense the anger/ intensity from them- really sad but it’s their Choice to injest that shxt for a temporary high and indulge themselves . Zero sympathy. You live a good life and appropriate behaviors you get the rewards. Act like an a-hole, face the consequences.

You grew up in a far dafter and far more exclusive society that we have today, actually.
How can anyone growing up in Ireland in the 60s,70s,80s,90s think otherwise!

Do you think a 5 year ban for a young lad, i.e. finishing his career as a jockey, will get him off the bag?

It's not leadership and nor is it sending out any message. It's an exercise targeting nobodies to tick the PR boxes and pleasing people who choose not to look at the bigger picture.

The issue of people doing designer drugs at race meetings isn't something I referenced and isn't something I condone.

BumperD wrote: »

Think responsibility starts with the person. I grew up , like many others here, around plenty of bad influences and Chose NOT to indulge. Everyone has a choice. Way too much abdication of responsibility in today’s daft society where everyone has someone else to blame for their failings.

Appropriate ban. Drugs are rampant in Ireland. It’s like cigarettes was in my day. People off their heads on this stuff at tracks you can sense the anger/ intensity from them- really sad but it’s their Choice to injest that shxt for a temporary high and indulge themselves . Zero sympathy. You live a good life and appropriate behaviors you get the rewards. Act like an a-hole, face the consequences.

Potentially ending a lad's career before it has even started. Never made a mistake yourself?
If drug laws have taught us anything it is that punishment is not a very effective deterrent, but by all means carry on with the draconian approach that is proven to not work.

5 years for a failed drug test and then there is lads getting a months riding ban for dangerous riding that could cause severe injury or death.

[Deleted User]

Slattsy wrote: »

What did Frankie get? Cant think off top my head.

6 months

NaiveMelodies wrote: »

Won't be a popular view but I've lots of sympathy for Jockeys in this regard.
Most people have their vice, and given the conditions jockeys work under, it's no surprise cocaine tends to be the vice of choice.
The HRI have a responsibility here to protect, educate & support these fellas. Slapping 5 year bans on young lads is a snakey PR exercise in my opinion.

If someone like Ruby tested positive for cocaine, there is a 0% chance he'd get a years ban, let alone a 5 year ban.

Think responsibility starts with the person. I grew up , like many others here, around plenty of bad influences and Chose NOT to indulge. Everyone has a choice. Way too much abdication of responsibility in today’s daft society where everyone has someone else to blame for their failings.

Appropriate ban. Drugs are rampant in Ireland. It’s like cigarettes was in my day. People off their heads on this stuff at tracks you can sense the anger/ intensity from them- really sad but it’s their Choice to injest that shxt for a temporary high and indulge themselves . Zero sympathy. You live a good life and appropriate behaviors you get the rewards. Act like an a-hole, face the consequences.

Slattsy

What did Frankie get? Cant think off top my head.

Fallon got less of a total ban for two different failed tests (6 months and 18 months) than these young lads are getting for their first first failed tests.

Won't be a popular view but I've lots of sympathy for Jockeys in this regard.
Most people have their vice, and given the conditions jockeys work under, it's no surprise cocaine tends to be the vice of choice.
The HRI have a responsibility here to protect, educate & support these fellas. Slapping 5 year bans on young lads is a snakey PR exercise in my opinion.

If someone like Ruby tested positive for cocaine, there is a 0% chance he'd get a years ban, let alone a 5 year ban.

marvin80

BumperD wrote: »

https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/five-year-bans-for-jockeys-who-fail-cocaine-tests/360858

I hope tracks start using sniffer dogs to screen patrons entering the track too in Ireland for the big meets, its souring the atmosphere when you have idiots off their chops on this rubbish.

They'd see a massive drop in attendances if they brought in sniffer dogs so no chance they'd do it.

BumperD wrote: »

https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/five-year-bans-for-jockeys-who-fail-cocaine-tests/360858

And again.

Thank god someone in our sport is showing leadership and sending out the right message. I hope tracks start using sniffer dogs to screen patrons entering the track too in Ireland for the big meets, its souring the atmosphere when you have idiots off their chops on this rubbish.

It's not just racing. It's the culture in Ireland now it's rampant. Friends of mine used to be occasional users of it, now they can't even go for a few pints in the local without a bag. Disgusting the way its gone!

https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/five-year-bans-for-jockeys-who-fail-cocaine-tests/360858

And again.

Thank god someone in our sport is showing leadership and sending out the right message. I hope tracks start using sniffer dogs to screen patrons entering the track too in Ireland for the big meets, its souring the atmosphere when you have idiots off their chops on this rubbish.

maximo31

http://www.itm.ie/en/Stallion_Trail/

Might be of interest to some.......this Friday and Saturday.

robbiezero

Fanny **** wrote: »

The Racing Dictionary on Twitter is quality

https://twitter.com/TheRacingDicti1/status/1082205494742339584?s=19

Some of them are very good. Especially like

https://twitter.com/TheRacingDicti1/status/1062997881169371137

Fanny Wank

The Racing Dictionary on Twitter is quality

https://twitter.com/TheRacingDicti1/status/1082205494742339584?s=19

Andrew00

BumperD wrote: »

Given the week just passed with lots of jollies getting turned over, let’s lift the spirits with another trip down memory lane of getting one over the enemy

https://www.racingpost.com/news/more-to-read/a-perfectly-executed-gamble-on-yellow-sam-that-netted-barney-curley-a-fortune/247363

Superb