Refreshed after a week in the sun, Social Discourse is back to digest the action from the previous seven days. Last week was another busy one,with the best race and the best performance appearing only yesterday, writes William Kedjanyi, Planet Earthlight It was the race of the week, and the juvenile race of the […]
It’s a long, hot, incredible summer where women have been right at the forefront. Two remarkable triumphs on the track that will have a huge impact off course are the highlights from a brilliant week at Goodwood which started with rain but brought us some of the most magical moments of the year so far, […]
It was a week in which girls really did rule our world. Two major Group 1’s in Europe both went to female superstars, and a couple more dominated the finish of a high quality handicap for good measure. But there’s only one place to start, writes William Kedjanyi. Long Live The Queen Watch it again. Savour […]
It was a week in which we argued about the whip (again), Frankie Dettori was the difference between G1 victory and defeat (again), and a US Grade 1 ended with a deja vu stewards’ enquiry (again). It all feels so normal in 2019 but that’s Social Discourse for you, writes William Kedjanyi. Can’t Catch […]
So, this was my planned intro when I started writing: Every week in this long hot summer of racing brings us something to sink our teeth into, but we are so often reminded of what we have in this great game by the sadness of losing a star. Sincerest condolences to all connections of Beat […]
This past week offered us the privilege of seeing the best mare on the planet currently, but also the sadness of losing one of the sport’s TV greats. It was a week of stunning contrast that dominates this edition of Social Discourse, writes William Kedjanyi… All Hail Queen Enable We start at Sandown, and […]
It was one of the hottest weeks of the year, with more than our fair share of scorching action on the track. And if the racing results didn’t set everyone alight, the off track debate certainly did. We start this week’s Social Discourse with the Irish Derby, writes William Kedjanyi. How’s that for Sovereignty? […]
It was the most Royal of weeks, but anyone who was there knows that doesn’t come even close to covering the full glory of flat racing’s finest five days. Everything from Danny Tudhope’s brilliantly timed push to the line on Lord Glitters, to King Power finally getting their oh so deserved winner at the end […]
It’s nearly here. The top hats and tails have been measured. The Pimms has been prepared, the tickets sent out, the badges inscribed. The Royal Family have had their dresses fitted, the carriages are ready, and an army of racegoers have their best outfits – in their own minds at least – prepared. Yes, Royal Ascot […]
Happy Monday, and welcome to another weekly round up of the pick of the news as seen through the tweet machine lens… There’s only one place to start this week’s Social Discourse, and that is the fire which could have been a tragedy if not for the extremely quick work of those based at Jamie […]
This week’s Social Discourse revolves around the four European Group 1’s of the week, and especially the three Classics. They provided more than enough controversy, drama and performance for even the most demanding racing thrill-seeker, and if you happened to miss any of it, look no further. Twitter was abuzz this week… Anthony Van Did […]
Another weekend, another set of top-class races to review through the window of social media. This week’s edition is going to focus on the races that defined the weekend – namely the three Group 1’s and the small matter of two big British sprints that brought different results for the favourites, writes William Kedjanyi. […]
The late spring has been spoiling racing fans and, with group racing on four consecutive days, flat aficionados really got their fill as we head to a summer of blockbuster racing. For the jumps boys and girls, there was arguably the biggest shock of the year so far – and it came off the track […]
We are into the thick of the flat season now, and that means taking some international trips for what is a big recap edition of Social Discourse. There’s plenty to look forward to this week, but in case you were gripped by the weekend’s football – and let’s be honest, there’s no shame in that […]
It was a week with just about everything that racing can give, writes William Kedjanyi. But there’s really just one place to start for this Special Edition of Social Discourse. To the land of the Free and The Home of The Brave, because where else would we go? Maximum Disqualification It all looked so […]
So here we go again, as the dust settles on the 2018/19 UK jump season, writes William Kedjanyi. Seems a bit odd that we have Punchestown this week, but such is the shadowing-but-not-total-overlap of the British and Irish seasons… The Season That Was 358 days, 515,520 minutes, and 8592 hours later, we are done. The […]
An Irish special this week, as the Emerald Isle’s Easter Festival gave us some amazing action yesterday and Sunday. St Burrows of Fairyhouse There aren’t many races that Willie Mullins hasn’t won before, but rather surprisingly for a man with his strength in depth and experience, both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Irish Grand […]
There were tons of good races over the weekend, but only one horse will be talked about for decades afterwards, so this is the Winx Farewell Edition of Social Discourse. Winx and you’ll miss her Here are the numbers. 43 starts. 37 wins. 33 successive wins. Four years unbeaten. 25 group 1 wins, and £14,564,743 […]
You all know where this is starting. The Eye Of The Tiger Look at it. Drink it all in. Reminisce, all over again, and enjoy Tiger Roll’s history-making repeat Grand National triumph. Tiger Roll wins the Randox Health Grand National! Back-to-back Grand Nationals and a place in history pic.twitter.com/vcF6v9JEOL — ITV Racing (@itvracing) April […]
Welcome to April and the first Social Discourse of the Spring and, consequently, the flat turf season. I’m William Kedjanyi, and here is my perspective of the past week (and the coming days) through the eye of the tweet machine… First things first: today is the first day of the reduced FOBT Maximum Stake, which […]
Another week, another SD to keep you in the loop on all things racing via the occasionally wonderful medium of tweetie, writes William Kedjanyi. We kick off with a familiar gripe related to race clashes… Do The Splits Oh, what a glorious Sunday to be an Irish racing fan. The flat was back at Naas […]
It was a week that had everything, writes William Kedjanyi. The issue is that everything, as in other sport and indeed life, wasn’t always ‘good’; and for all the amazing memories that our champions gave us on the field, some will see only the negatives. Here’s to reflecting on a Festival that had more highs […]
Readers, friends, comrades in arms. We are here. There is just one day left before the 2019 Cheltenham Festival begins and, like all across this site, I can’t wait for the best that our sport has to offer. It is a special edition of Social Discourse as we head into four incredible days, and as […]
Another fascinating week in the racing life, with The Festival (sponsored by cider) getting closer and closer and, as ever it seems, we weren’t light on talking points. That makes Number 5 below particularly special to me – hopefully you like this week’s Discourse. Winx And You’ll Miss It Before a stride had been […]
Another very busy weekend with Cheltenham clues aplenty, even this close to the big March fiesta. We witnessed some superb training performances, superb riding performances, and a boycott that led to a walkover. Thankfully we did not witness any more fights. As always, feel free to get in touch via the comments, or you can […]
What a weekend that was! 11 graded races, eight winners for Paul Nicholls, three for Rachael Blackmore, and a 17 length winning margin in one of the season’s top races – and that’s about the short of what was a truly remarkable weekend, recapped – as best as is possible, by me, William Kedjanyi. But […]
Welcome to a joyous, joyous edition of Social Discourse, as British racing makes its return from a six-day break caused by an outbreak of equine influenza (EI), which had put the sport into shutdown and caused concern over the Cheltenham Festival, due to commence a month today (allow yourself another little cheer). Thanks to what […]
A weekend with so much action that even this bumper edition struggling to fit it all in, writes William Kedjanyi. We like a challenge here, however, so here goes with a round up of all the latest movers and shakers on the bumpy highway to the Cotswolds next month… How’d you like them Apple’s? […]
Another crazy seven days has given us two new Festival favourites, the world’s richest turf race as well as the second richest dirt race, and the extraordinary achievements of five brilliant women… and that is where we start this week. As always, seek me out on @KeejayOV2 or write something in the box below for […]
Another seven days, and my word, what a week, writes William Kedjanyi. An appearance by arguably the best chaser in training, a harking back to the past, and a flying object which isn’t a hurdler or chaser all make the best of this week’s social discourse. I wonder what they call the difficult third album. […]
Not quite seven days from the inaugural Social Discourse, I’m back with the next thrilling instalment, writes William Kedjanyi. Thanks so much for the responses to last week’s opener – they are much appreciated indeed, and hopefully you’ll continue to enjoy these posts going forward. There’s been rather a lot of news off the track […]
Hello and welcome to Social Discourse, a sort of weekly digest looking back over the past seven days in racing from various different angles. I’ll be looking at stories big and small, and will bring you the very best of what’s occurring on Racing Twitter as we head towards the Spring. This is something of […]