Garrick are you watching???

is it really?

Cant say that I am not surprised that the presenters in the Teletrack studios used that platform to have a go, not at the racing forums, but this thread in particular. Would not be the first time. I have scanned the other websites and cant find anything similar. You talk credibility but you choose to air you views on a platform where you know we cannot respond. By your own admission you believe that these sites are not representative of the racing public and it therefore follows that the audience is limited. I am sure that USO has a much wider audience and seems a contradiction to talk credibility when you air views about racing forums on Teletrack without response. Its ironic how you are or were both contributors to at least two of these sites.

Thanks for letting me and others know that I may not have an opinion if I am not boeties with people in racing. We ask ourselves why racing is viewed with such suspicion? Shaheen passively suggets you have to know someone on the inside in order to get somewhere. It must be, as an employee of Phumelela, that this is its views too. The disclaimer I am sure applies to guests not employees. Elitism at its best. Good luck to you both I hope your shrinking group of racing people can sustain themselves with this approach. There is a distinct difference between claiming to be a guru and having an opinion. I say this in broad terms as I do understand that all of these comments were a generalisation aimed at all posters on these forums. I have never claimed to be a guru and have been fairly consistant in terms of opinion and ideas, so have to believe that this comment was aimed elsewhere.

These forums are always accused of focusing on the negative. Count the number of messages of support, including mine, following the opening comment. Why not focus on that. Just by the numbers, although not representative of the racing public, you have more supporters than detractors. You both missed that though.

Got to agree with you Al - there really was no need for the comments from Shaheen imo - surely one does not have to be on the 'inside' to have an opinion? Just get off your high horses - if one is in the public eye, one will be critisized and complimented at various times by various folk - take it on the chin and move on

What did Chainsaw say? and was it scripted? not like him...

Halfway through the show Shaheen mentioned that he has something to say regarding racing forums. Darryl reminded him at the end by saying that "he is not an english teacher...comments on racing forums....etc etc" which led to the comments from both of them. Therefore not scripted but definitely a topic that was going to be raised one way or the other.

My original comment was made in jest and was more a ribbing on Garrick than anything else. I have explained this already. The two of them have now felt the need to take it to another level.

I do not consider myself a nasty person and those that know me can vouch for that. I would love either or both of them to reply on here and debate the issue. I do still take exception to not being allowed to have an opinion because I know no one in racing. General comment or not.

Nobody likes criticism,that is a fact.We all have to deal with criticism in our lives though,whether it be at school,by our parents or in an environment where we are tipsters or presenters on television.How we take the criticism is critical though,especially in an environment where we are in the public eye.I am not going to comment on either Darryl or Shaheen's statements this morning,but what I will say is that taking criticism and turning it into something constructive is probably the best route in dealing with it.

Julie is the perfect example.She can hardly be considered the 'polished article',but her improvement has truely been dramatic.My only point would be that this improvement could have taken place in a shorter time frame maybe,by attending some or other presentation classes.We are not all natural public speakers,and I would be nervous as hell if I had to appear on the tv screen,but I have not chosen that career.I therefore don't have to be a polished presenter,it's not how I earn my living,but if that is how you earn your living then surely striving to be the best presenter possible would be ones goal,or is it all only about the pay cheque?

What are the viewing stats for these shows? or would that scare away sponsors?

Also do the presenters ever keep records of their profit and loss on the selections they give up on air,would be interesting to see how they are doing..?

Hibs,

does being a presenter mean one is a good tipster though?Presenters should be deciminators of information imo and nothing more,but I suppose you don't finish up being a presenter in racing unless you were a punter in the first place(although there are exceptions to this of course),so tipping whilst you present is almost inevitable I suppose.

The best way to use USO and other shows on Tellytrack is to glean the well-being of a horse(ie:Johnny Fox returning after 6 months off today sounds fancied at least),or hear a comment by Strydom for example where he might say something like"This horse pulled too hard last time so I suggested to the trainer that he change the bit which he said he would do."

If you don't have your own opinion in this game and deem it necessary to listen to Tellytrack presenters to find you winners then you might as well rather by another bottle of JW black,at least you'll have something to show for your money come the evening.

I am not saying that people like Shaheen and Darryl don't make a profit punting,but the best route to a profit in this game is to listen to yourself.

jap you spot on about your latest post regarding tipsters,,going back to julie she may have improved 200 percent in her presenting skills but her general understanding of racing along with a few other presenters and uso guests is not up to standards..one only has to listen to her interview with scott kenny after incomodos win to confirm this..

Great contribution JAP. Why not comment on their comments this morning though? They moved the goal posts in terms of the debate by making retaliatory comments on a one sided platform?

Hibs in SA you will note that most of the corporate sponsors are linked to racing people mostly. Doubt that viewing stats would scare away sponsors. The success of tips on this show does not negate comments made. This elitists entitlement belief, will forever keep new blood out of racing and probably chase those on the fringes, considering larger participation, out of it.

What I said had nothing to do with this thread. What I stated on air - '' Someone in racings brother was in the country and told me that people here don't like his brother. When I said that's nonsense and his well liked the guys brother said he had come to that conclusion due to reading a thread on a forum where his brother had been stuck away. '' The point I was trying to make is don't come to the conclusion that what two or three ppl may say on a forum is the feeling of everyone or even the majority. I also said forums have many positives. My perception and like/dislike of person A is likely to be different to the next mans but really to go on a forum and call him John the f'head etc is just stupid.

Pirates,

That's fair comment,but we are talking in 'relatives' here.

Presenting is about confidence I think,so the more one understands the game the easier it is to present I suppose,but unfortunately racing is full of people who think because they own a car it makes them a motor mechanic.True experts are few and far between,and once again it's a relative thing.