Hi All,

I am looking forward immensely to the new league - to see all the improvements we were promised implemented by the chosen few.

Based on what has been achieved in the past few months I don't hold out much hope - I genuinely hope I am wrong. Very little communication has been forthcoming, no plans have been put out etc.

Make no mistake about it the league will turn elitist once more with the destruction of the handicapping system and umpteen group races introduced.

Just thought I would throw this out there to inject some life into what has become a very dull forum.

Over to you guys preparing the case for the defence.

Steve

We could just not bother with running the races and share out the race wins? Proper communist style.

I'm off on holiday for two weeks. We'll get things in motion when I return, good to see you back though Steve, thought you had quit. Got more free time now that you're back to work?

Not back till Tuesday

I genuinely do hope you make a good job of the league.

I have quit working for the league correct.

Not sure things are dealt even, communist system more top heavy - just like the new league will be?

Not many things in life are dealt even Steven. But being dealt pocket aces doesn't guarantee you the pot.

And that's why Wayne Rooney is richer than I am, he wasn't dealt the best hand but played his cards better.

Agreed, but there are quite a lot of little guys who would be thrilled to win a small handicap - I know I was. The majority of races in the league, as in real life should be handicaps. I am just worried that the league will return to the bad old days, of six trainers totally dominating all races. That would be a massive mistake.

I would just like to say that Steve has a point after browsing through this forum which can l say is dying on the Starters Orders side of things, there is no updates no plans no communication at all and a lot of lost players. In fact if it wasnt for MSN many good contacts and friends would of been lost in here. The break was far to long and to be honest the scrapping of nearly all hcaps was certainly not mentioned when names where being thrown around but l guess as this would of put a lot of people off it wouldnt have been mentioned for that reason. If this game was too progress and become life like then weeks of group races where new trainers have no chance was certainly not the way to go in my opinion. I guess that this was the plan from the start and the number of players who do play after week 2 or 3 will just be the ELITE who actually have a chance of winning anything and l hope the 6 or 7 so players who this includes enjoy there own little league and ruin what was a great growing online game for EVERYONE

there MUST be handicaps and maidens each and every week in both the uk and nhc leagues. otherwise it just wont work, im sure rich knows this.

It would be a shame to lose these. In all honesty through all the fuss, I don't know why people couldn't see an elitist league being born. Most people seem to have not noticed how only the 'in-players' know anything and frankly I'm shocked and very disappointed (even though I've vowed not to join in the league anyway) about the lack of communication and also at how much Rich seems to have going on while also supposedly having the time to be 'president' of the league. At the start he was moving house so he couldn't get too involved then, now he's gone on holiday for two weeks when the league is supposed to be starting again. Everyone's entitled to their lives but if you're that busy don't take such a big commitment on. Colm's were huge boots to fill and it will be a huge disappointment to see the league run to ruin by top heavy management, or no management at all. Maybe Rich has a big surprise for us all when he gets back from holiday..

I was very shocked at the way Steve was treated, although in the end he didn't help himself. But his idea was great and would have made it fairer on everyone, it would have been much harder work but it would have meant that everyone could have a chance to win a feature race, whether a Group 1 or a feature handicap. But maybe not, we may well never know now...

I think the predictions about the league are correct, although I do hope I'm wrong. I would definitely be open to the league having a new president every April, after the National meeting. That would mean that the NH season would almost be over, but the flat season would not quite have begun so the new president would have some settling in time before he had big race meetings to organise. It would also keep the league staff and players more on their toes so that hopefully less of the cheating will be able to go on.

Good luck to you all, I hope it works out the way you hope. I for one am not optimistic.

i will always be of the opinion that both leagues should run alongside each other as they have done previously.

i dont know where rich has said there will be only group races and no maidens and handicaps, i think maybe people are accusing him of things he hasnt even done.

i understand the comments about rich being busy, but the cheltenham festival was delivered as promised, so lets just see what he gives in terms of the new league season. and remember before the league starts he has to assemble new staff, show how them to do the various tasks, and then agree with players on the structure of the league schedules. it is a timely process.

i would understand the outbursts if the league started and all the races were group races but im sure this wont be the case. and i dont know who the elite will be when esagent, crazyboy, and jay are not involved. in addition to this, successful trainers like the duke and dancing brave wont be around either so who are the elite??

please give rich a chance. yes you say steve's ideas were good, i agree they were, that doesnt mean they would of been successfully implemented. dont be offended steve, im not saying the wouldnt of been, im just trying to say that rich hasnt really failed us yet so i dont understand these outbursts. and i do agree that the president was rightly given to someone more experienced in the running of the leagues. colm will of offered his opinion on his successor as well remember, and he will know better than us!!

so in summary, let rich get his job done , he is as keen as us to start racing, and lets not start an argument at least until we see what the structure of the league actually will be!!

i used to be involved in the league when it first started but since haven't bothered. I could never get the sort of horse required to win races. I was thinking about coming back into the league for another crack at it though. (due to the sensational work with the Magazine i have just been reading.)
But if there is a decrease in smaller races such as handicaps, claimers, sellers etc then i couldn't compete for group races. Not with horses the likes of Luke Wilson send out week in week out.

mate im sure there will be handicaps and maidens. not sure why you are so scared of luke wilsons horses though??

yeah he is a good trainer but the trainers cleaning up the group races last season were esagent, crazyboy, jason burke, kenny , the duke, dancing brave. out of those trainers i think only kenny is sure to be involved in the new season. so im sure you will have every reason to upload your horses.

on the nhc side of things there will definitly be lots of maidens and handicaps. i dont have a jumps game but i still have an ok jumps stable. just trial your horses from the flat over the jumps in the ck and identify those with potential for the fences. then keep these horses on to later ages, exporting them each year.

i had a horse, typhoon lagoon, wasnt good enough for the flat league but just came 3rd for me in the queen mother champion chase - proof that they can be good enough for the nhc league.

hope you decide to participate pal

thanks for the tips, much appreciated, are they uploading horses into TOM now?, I have to try restart all my TOM things cos i forgot loads of it. Luke was just a name that i first season and i know he has a decent string of horses. He is one of many.

I would love to get in on the NH game as well as the flat game is this possible?

no u cant upload to tom yet. we will be notified when we can do this before the season starts!!

yes mate of course you can. in tom you can use the icons in the top right to switch between your stables eg from uk stable to nhc stable. its worth it mate. basically last season was my first. for the first 4 weeks i just ran horses in uk, then i realised i could do the nhc with my flat horses so i uploaded some. i did quite well and so now when i trial horses for the league i also trial them over jumps, and those horses not quite good enough for barn i keep on for a number of seasons so i will for example, have a 6yo stallion , 7yo mare etc.

Wardie

The newsletter magazine will definitely not be making a comeback, especially after all the negativity I received from players when standing for president.

Steve

Like I said, I genuinely hope the league will be all everyone voted for.

Let's wait and see.