Weekend Jottings

It's a quieter day on the racing front today with only two meetings taking place.  There is a jumps meeting taking place at Bangor as well an all-weather flat card at Lingfield.  The stable has no runners this afternoon.  I always wonder why the race planning committee don't put more meetings on on a Sunday - afterall, most of us have the day off and are able to go racing.  I'm afraid if you live up north today you are out of luck on the racing front - you are going to have to watch from the comfort of your armchair.  Still, the action from Lingfield actually looks okay and there is even an £11,500 handicap!

It seems to me (and I'm not sure why) that everyone wants all-weather tracks - I see that a consortium are trying to re-open Great Leighs, while Catterick and Newcastle also seem keen on an alternative track.  The problem is, that most of the racing that takes place at these venues are very poor grade.  Some of the races at Wolverhampton are for horses rated 45-50 or 51-60 and are run for only £1,900 - if there is nothing else on, it has it's place but it is never likely to capture the public imagination.  It always reminds me of dog racing I'm afraid.

I loved the picture of David in yesterday's edition of The Sun - they had him looking out of the wind of a three wheeler van with a flat cap on, smoking a cigar and the words 'Pipey's Independent Trading' plastered down the side of the car!  I don't suppose David will mind too much as Only Fools And Horses was his favourite television show - what a classic comedy it was!

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I have to say, I was amazed that Luis Suarez has signed a four year contract extension with Liverpool.  I was sure that he would be off to warmer (and more lucrative climes).  Having said that, these contracts don't seem to be worth the banknotes they are written on - if the player wants out, his form just has to dip and he can mess the club about...good luck Liverpool!

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Aussie cyclist Michael Rogers says that he never knowingly took steroids.  He blames meat from China for any possible positive tests, so it looks as if Chinese takeaways will be off the menu for all cyclists from now on!