Going to the (horse) races by train

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

"racing jeans" sounds to me like spell cheque  misdiagnosis.

I expect that the O/P mistyped "genes" and that this was auto corrected.

Anything official, legal, or intended for an important publication should be proof-read, but such is a bit OTT^▸ (Open Train Times website) for a forum.
I recall the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) website offering "fillet stake"

[grahame]

Gentlemen ... this thread is about getting to the horse races by train ... please don't let it go to the dogs. Be nice even if you don't agree.

[JayMac]

One other thing - you are clearly an intelligent person who thinks deeply about subjects - I have to say that sarcastic "Grammar Nazi" style comments on other people's spelling is a cheap shot and unworthy of you. I'm not saying that it's the case with the other contributor, but a lot of people have conditions which prevent them being as perfect as you when it comes to these matters - I don't think it's appropriate to emphasise, weaponise or poke fun at such things.

And I don't think it's appropriate to call those you disagree with "uneducated". I therefore responded in kind.

As for your other point. Are you suggesting only vegans are allowed to take issue with the treatment of race horses as commodities?

[TaplowGreen]

One other thing - you are clearly an intelligent person who thinks deeply about subjects - I have to say that sarcastic "Grammar Nazi" style comments on other people's spelling is a cheap shot and unworthy of you. I'm not saying that it's the case with the other contributor, but a lot of people have conditions which prevent them being as perfect as you when it comes to these matters - I don't think it's appropriate to emphasise, weaponise or poke fun at such things.

And I don't think it's appropriate to call those you disagree with "uneducated". I therefore responded in kind.

As for your other point. Are you suggesting only vegans are allowed to take issue with the treatment of race horses as commodities?

Ah I see, so it's a (horse) race to the bottom.

Nope, I was just pointing out the irony. I appreciate  (as our friend Jeremy Corbyn has pointed out) that not everyone gets it 🙂

[JayMac]

Nope, I was just pointing out the irony

It's not 'irony' though. So often that word is misunderstood.

I think what you were suggesting is that I can't reconcile my meat eating with wanting to see an end to using animals for sport. Were it the case it would be hypocrisy, not irony.

Not that it is a hypocrital position to be in though. There is no cognitive dissonance on my part.

[devonexpress]

One other thing - you are clearly an intelligent person who thinks deeply about subjects - I have to say that sarcastic "Grammar Nazi" style comments on other people's spelling is a cheap shot and unworthy of you. I'm not saying that it's the case with the other contributor, but a lot of people have conditions which prevent them being as perfect as you when it comes to these matters - I don't think it's appropriate to emphasise, weaponise or poke fun at such things.

And I don't think it's appropriate to call those you disagree with "uneducated". I therefore responded in kind.

As for your other point. Are you suggesting only vegans are allowed to take issue with the treatment of race horses as commodities?

Sorry Bignosemac, but your comment was a little uncalled for,  in relation to my comment i wasn't referring to you as uneducated,  I was referring that you have not properly looked into the sport,  I know people involved in the sport and therefore stand up for them.

Whilst my silly typo was due to me typing whilst half asleep I actually find it disgusting as such you would mock someone for it, and it seriously concern's me about your attitude to people on this forum.   I might step out of line here, but you come across as a very arrogant, judgemental person.  Whilst i might not be perfect i am willing to listen to someone, and only point out something if I truly believe what they are saying is wrong.   I would seriously recommend that you possibly visit Upper Lambourn on its open day and actually talk to trainers, owners about your concerns, whereby they can tell you a lot more than what I can about the subject.

In relation to other people, I would like to point out that I have no problems what so ever, other than a bereavement a few months ago of a dear and very close relative, which I mainly why I have come on this forum more than I used to.

[grahame]

Gentlemen, please - we are GENTLEmen ...

I have had the privilege of meeting many people in real life who I have initially encountered online, and got to know them - some very well indeed. And there's a natural goodness in human nature which means that with many of those people I'll say it's been an honour to meet them and to get to know them.  But that natural goodness does not always shine through at first glance, here in the cut and thrust of a specialist interest forum.

We ... all ... have things going on outside of the forum and sometimes that and its emotions and concerns spill over into a sharp post, an appearance of being aggressive in arguing, or arrogant in responding.  The passion of a viewpoint is wonderful; we do all need to take a step into calmer and more measured responses occasionally - personality wise some of us find that easier than others (or have become more practised at it).

Yesterday, three of the four 'admins' met up - looking forward for the Coffee Shop.  All three of us have other things going on in our lives but yet we're intent on working through those.   Personally, I can say that at times the forum has been "a change is as good as a rest" ... I'm not going to list my own issues here, and certainly not those of others, but I am aware that I may respond differently to a post when I'm fresh as a daisy in the morning to one when I've had a long day or am getting ready - as I will be on both Wednesday and Thursday mornings - for a pair of very different, but both challenging, events.

Please give each other space.

Perhaps we should arrange a few more In Real Life meetings ... save for the fact that everyone's so busy and the organiser ends up feeling they've done a lot of work for low numbers.  If we were to arrange something, I have a clue that it shouldn't be at a race meeting!

[TaplowGreen]

I reckon we should all get together & go Hopwood spotting.......surely the next "Meet
 the Manager" session can't be far away? 😃

[CMRail]

It’s not very safe to play hide and seek on the railway, good idea though.

[TaplowGreen]

It’s not very safe to play hide and seek on the railway, good idea though.

Ah we'll be quite safe.....the railway is the last place you'd find him! 😂

[Timmer]

I reckon we should all get together & go Hopwood spotting.......surely the next "Meet
 the Manager" session can't be far away? 😃

I’m sure if we could get to meet Mark Hopwood over a pint I’m sure we’d all have a good evening. Might even be beneficial rather than staged “Meet the Manager” sessions.

[JayMac]

 I would seriously recommend that you possibly visit Upper Lambourn on its open day and actually talk to trainers, owners about your concerns, whereby they can tell you a lot more than what I can about the subject.

The fallacy of assuming that because one doesn't work in an industry they can have no insight into it.

And it is an assumption. Many years ago, in my teens, I did some agency work at the stables of a well known West Country trainer. I also shared a house with stable lads and lasses. The work was a real eye-opener. My opinion on the value of horse racing and the welfare of race horses was certainly coloured by that experience.

And no, it isn't of limited value just because it was years ago. Little has changed in the industry. Evidenced by the stubbornly high annual death rate of horses bred for racing.

I truly believe now that horse racing is wrong. I was ambivalent for years, but the realisation that so many horses are dying unnecessarily, either killed competing, or discarded for not making the grade, has changed my opinion. A position reached by life experience. Visiting a stables today won't change that opinion. An open day won't give one an insight into what really goes on in the industry day in, day out.

I could equally suggest you spend some time shadowing a BHA equine vet. See what they deal with day in, day out. It won't be pretty.

[devonexpress]

I reckon we should all get together & go Hopwood spotting.......surely the next "Meet
 the Manager" session can't be far away? 😃

I’m sure if we could get to meet Mark Hopwood over a pint I’m sure we’d all have a good evening. Might even be beneficial rather than staged “Meet the Manager” sessions.

I've heard he likes to DJ in his spare time,  Maybe his gangnam style will be better than his management of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)?

[CMRail]

I reckon we should all get together & go Hopwood spotting.......surely the next "Meet
 the Manager" session can't be far away? 😃

I’m sure if we could get to meet Mark Hopwood over a pint I’m sure we’d all have a good evening. Might even be beneficial rather than staged “Meet the Manager” sessions.

I've heard he likes to DJ in his spare time,  Maybe his gangnam style will be better than his management of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)?

Apparently there is a cardboard cutout of Mr. Hopwood at Milford House for his absence. 

[grahame]

I'm still getting the odd report that elements of this conversation are straying off the factual discussion into the personal.   However, I'm not going back and asking for changes (or changing anything) - I thinks we're OK. I do appreciate it can be very hard to accept someone else's view when it differs to your own convictions, especially where that other person's view raises awkward thoughts for you.