is marcus and fourie divorced again

Here here Hotline - I still feel honoured to have sat and have lunch with Basil Marcus in 2008 thanks to you and Paul. I would not waste to much energy on any negativity that may jump from these pages. He is a great trainer and was right at the top of the pile as a jock and really does not have to prove this to anybody as the stats tell the story. The one thing that stood out for me when meeting Basil Marcus, is how humble he is, in all his greatness. He also has this unbelievable passion and has a genuine concern for the well being of the horse.

While we were talking about the horses run he was back in the cooling down area checking on his runner. Even after the July gallops he spent lots of time checking out his horse whilst most had gone to where ever that had to be.

All the best to you Basil Marcus - You are a true sporting legend in my eyes and a great South African ambassador. Go well.

Well said Al.And he isnt lost to SA....he will continue to be involved in the SA industry in one way or another...nobody slates Patrick Shaw,David Payne,David Ferraris etc....they have made their career paths and have done exceptionally well so now its his time to do so....wonderful he has had the opportunity to have done so as a jockey and now will do so as a trainer...and few have been able to do that double like he has so far.....

Basil one of the greats of sa racing

Once again we the punter have been lied to (Hunters Press release)

Fourie HAS been sacked from Marcus
2 reasons
1) When Fourie went to Joburg for Int meeting
he asked for some extra time off to spend with his family
DENIED!!
2)Fourie requested to ride Mokaro for the season
Marcus said he has to ride Red Rake (eventual winner of Premium Stakes)
Fourie refused!!
FIRED!!

I guess this is another classic case of where us, Joe public, will never know the truth. We will be strung along again by all parties concerned.

The final truth is that jocks and trainers split up, no matter what happens. It is a fact of this game.

VERY few jocks have stuck with one trainer through the times. I would hazard a guess and say that the only one I know of who has spent a long (ish) time with one trainer is Anton Marcus and Laird......and that is only because Anton knows not to bite the hand that feeds him!!

Good luck to both Richard and Basil Marcus for their futures...Together or apart!

The longest I know of is P Kannemeyer/Puller and Millard/Coetzee. I rode for James Lightheart for 10 yrs. He was like my 2nd wife, we had a love hate relationship. He loved to hate me!!

But you agree Mark that the relationship between trainer and jockey is always a strained one (for the most part). If you get a jock and trainer that always click, someone is not doing their job properly!

Dont you normally get sacked if you are employed by someone?Roger B, you seem to have a lot of info on their relationship,are you sure he was actually employed there?You seem to be giving only one side of the story...remember theres aways 2 sides to a story.

Richard believes he is not ready for a move to Singapore, we should respect that. I beleive if a trainer can stand by his jockey and not let owners dictate to them, trainer/jockey relationships can last. Peter Kannemeyer is a perfect example.

Cheers Mark, I was thinking along the lines of he is not ready to make such a big move so early in his life. I know that when I was 24 career was important but not as important as friends and the woman in my life at the time.

There is a nother side to this though and that is; I am sure there are some other young SA Jocks who would not have thought twice about this and would have gone. I remember when Gavin Lerena was interviewed on or around breaking Muis Robert's appie record he stated back then as a career goal that he wants to go and race over seas.

Ultimately it is left up to the individual, where they are in their lives and what they want to achieve career wise. I often look back on decisions that I have made and think of where I could be and what I should have done but am also greatful that I made the decisions I made, as bad as some may seem in retrospect, as I am happy with where I am in my life at present. Richard may look back and think one day "I should have done that or may end saying "I am glad I didn't". Either way it is a personal choice and a big one at that.

I dont believe we need to speculate and should respect the decisions of all parties no matter how they arrived at them. It certainly wont make such a difference that we cant sleep at night, surely.

Al, you don't have to respect their decisions, we follow the doings and screwings because we are fans of the sport and what the participants do is of some interest.

What's more interesting is when the stories differ.

I had heard Fourie was 'fired'. Not fired as opposed to employed, but fired in the way jocks often are.

His agent says it's a lie. OK.

I heard Fourie made many preparations as in accomodations etc with every intention of going, but that door has been shut on him even though he would rather go.

But if they say it ain't so, then I guess we go with that.

The guy has been carted off so many of Basil's horses in the last few years for various reasons, Hotline I'm sure knows all the details in this regard.

If Richard got turfed again in Singapore it would have been really tough, its not like here where he's got a good chance of getting rides from other trainers.

From what I've heard behind Basils softly spoken and well presented professional image lies a fierce competitor, can't be the easiest cookie to ride for.

Now I'm not in the know of all the ins and outs but on the face of it I think going with Basil would have been too risky for a youngster like Richard.

Hotline you think I'm way off base here?