Thursday March 31st 2022

I see that he has been fined the piddling sum of £10,000 in that race as ".. upon viewing the race stewards noticed Dettori 'excessively' broke whip rules by striking the horse 13 times." That was on his way to the £500,000 pay packet which he "doesn't need". Sad to see greed or ambition overcoming respect for the rules in such an experienced jockey.

I don't think jockeys, or indeed any sports people, per se, are relieved of moral responsibility for their choices in their sport. A number of posters have been saying that Godolphin is a morally unacceptable owner for some time. When does that unacceptability become an imperative for jockeys with a conscience?

@QuaiDB Would you say the same about whichever jockey was aboard Country Grammer, to reinforce your point that Bob Baffert should be persona non grata around the world? Or is it your view that for some reason Frankie Dettori bears a heavier burden of responsibility, because of his global renown, to represent the distaste of armchair commentators for certain individuals within racing? In other words, Dettori of all people "should know better". I don't know him personally, but I suppose I have as good an idea of him as a person as anyone else. I am sure there is a side to him that is private, more reflective, deeper thinking, than the one we see in the winner's enclosure giving Anthony Oppenheimer a slobbery kiss. In the end though, he is the ultimate freelance, going where the opportunities are, whether motivated by fame or fee. it's really not up to us whether what he does complies with our own moral compass. You would be startled and irritated were he to comment on yours.

You may be unsurprised to read that I am not keen on bodies in the West virtue signalling against Putin with philistine and empty gestures such as orchestras banning Russian composers from their repertoire. While those who do such things hug themselves with moral righteousness, the shelling of civilians in Ukraine continues.

@Harrytheactor Harry I think superstars by definition are indeed public property to a certain degree, whether they like it or not. Frankie Dettori and some of the rest spend a lot of time and money creating and burnishing their images to maximise their advertising clout. My comments do not compromise Frankie Dettori's private life in any way, it is his decisions as a public figure in his sport which he exposes and for which he must take responsibility.

My private life and decisions are not in the public domain, so of course he would have no right to comment on them. That is a red herring. So I disagree that "it's really not up to us whether what he does complies with our own moral compass." Of course it is up to us, otherwise what are we apart from spectators on society? A moral compass does not operate at all if it is not used and debated. Mores encompass the conventions and thus the values of society to which we all make a contribution, do they not?

I apply the same view to all sportspeople who represent their sport in society. Surely the humblest fan has the right to an opinion about the behaviour in the sport of those sporting giants who earn the most from the sport?

On "virtue signalling" I think some folk got carried away not wanting to have Tchaikovsky on the concert agenda, etc, given the Ukraine situation. I think they can be forgiven for their misguided zeal. I do not think that the gestures are empty, either. They are part of the process which binds society into a common set of moral values.

that was a non runner so pick King Fedinand in the last at wetherby 5.35

Apologies. I'd logged it but didn't include it on the screenshot for some daft reason.

Apologies. Will fix that tonight.

Naas.