To think Liz Jones is a bitter and twisted old hag?

What is this (I think) British tendency to want to knock people? CB is damn good at her job. Whether or not a person is in favour of horse racing is their opinion and if a journalist they are entitled to express it. But what has CB's dress sense got to do with the price of bread? Is it a euphemism for her sexuality - Liz Jones wouldn't dare knock that- or her background (racing)? I cannot believe that somehow we are exercised over this. I think it is bad journalism when someone has to have recourse to gratuitous insults - it shows a lack of real material. Who is trying to turn her into "the naton's favourite lesbian" anyway- sorry, riverwalk but a dreadful phrase ? What in any case do her sexuality or marital status/ star sign/favourite colour/ or any personal details have to do with the subject? This is pandering to the "celebrity" culture I thought most of us were too intelligent to indulge in.
By all means discuss horse racing. But I think it is pretty shabby journalism for this woman to go for the jugular in this way. I don't think she will have done herself any favours. I certainly wouldn't lift up a newspaper to read her sort of trashwriting.

Ana - most people who help their family don't publish it in the national press. Not very nice for the family, is it?

sel I know it is an old article..but I had not seen anything about LJ before. I have been reading other stuff about LJ. She seems to have suffered from some degree of mental health issues throughout her life, which is sad. Perhaps this is why she seems to alienate many acquaintances and some readers. Some other journalists rate her... I will have to read a bit more of her work to give her a 'fair' go! .

Oh, I did wonder if you'd have a go at me about that, Greatnan....sigh

Crimson 'the Arabs' ? do I read something perjorative in your reference or am I being over sensitive?

FGS!!!

I think Liz Jones would be delighted by this thread

The Arabs bred the thoroughbred horse; they've forgotten more about horses than most people will ever know. But if anyone wants to read something into what I said then sobeit. It's just that there was mention of Ballabriggs needing oxygen and water at the end of the National. I just wanted to put a link to an interview with his owner that showed that he has been cared for from the minute he was born and will have a home for life on the Isle of Man with Mr Hemmings' other horses; people that only watch racing on rare occasions wouldn't know that. I just wanted to show another side to racing. That there are people who care about the horses. And, yes, Clare does get upset when accidents happen [although not according to the author of the piece in question]. Having just read the article I thought it was vitriolic and probably written because she didn't get the interview she wanted.

For goodness sake, Ana - I was just replying to a post of yours.
Perhaps we could reach an agreement - I won't comment on anything you say and you will return the compliment.

Suits me fine Greatnan - I can do without the continual digs.

crimson I don't doubt your feelings - but racing. horses, it's a business. To keep a horse in training is expensive, the only way it's viable is if they win races. It's sad, it's why I'm out of it. I love horses and to see the finest examples of the genre treated the way they are was too much for me. And that's on the flat. Jumpers are another thing.

Most of the time Liz Jones seems quite unhinged. Whether flouncing round the fields in Prada boots or collecting up animals she seems unable to care for properly and it's just one crisis after another. For someone who claims to only buy designer she usually looks pretty awful and presumably thinks that if it cost enough it must be good.
Clare Balding on the other hand always dresses smartly and appropriately. At Aintree last year we had the usual Z listers wearing a gruesome selection of pantomime costumes while Clare was looking very classy in a beautifully cut winter coat. And I loved her book as well

tell you what, I'm going to buy the Daily Mail tomorrow/ Gotta find out who this women is!

No - that only increases their circulation. read it in a library (or if you are unscrupulous, read it in WHSmiths and then put it back!)

I don't think she writes in it every day anyway - does she?

Crimson an owner will care for a horse, if it gives a return againt his investment. Sad but true. If it doesn't then it's the knackers yard. It's just a business.

I received a lovely letter from her many years ago and have met her a few times on the racecourse. Always pleasant and approachable. Seems to me to be the perfect presenter, being someone that you feel you could sit in a pub with and have a jolly nice conversation. However, she's probably less approachable now that she's got such a high profile. Will get the book when it's in paperback; someone offered to lend me a copy but I refused as I'm terrible for not getting round to reading things.

You'll have to wait until Sunday, sylvie. She rarely writes anything during the week. She used to have a weekly 'Jones Moans' column which was full of her usual vitriol - normally against shop assistants but it was dumped. I wonder why?

Never heard of her, don't think I've been missing out....but then I'd never heard of Hugh Jackman until yesterday on GN. What a boring sheltered life I lead

Re Liz Jones, I've read her diary for many years and think she's hilarious. I'm not quite sure who she upsets so much..she's a woman, on her own, earns her own money, doesn't ask for anything from anyone, loves animals, fashion, massages...what's to get upset about ladies? I'm intrigued.

Now that's a refreshing point of view perhaps I should reserve my judgement until I've read her diary, but then I'd have to buy that paper.

Clare Baldwin has tweeted, "Please don't turn today into a Liz Jones hatefest. I'm not upset at all. She has merely justified my choice not to be interviewed by her"

Why do I want to go "Ooooooooooooooh"

Nanado, you wouldn't have to buy "that paper"! It is available online, you know...

You could borrow her book from the library, Nanado It's called The Exmoor Files and is one long whinge from start to finish. Apparently she used Phil Spencer (Location,Location,Location) to 'find' her house for her. She hates him as well!

Not every owner, Sel. And very few horses will show a profit, with training fees being in excess of £10,000 a year. The blog I mentioned isn't about a racing racehorse, it's a horse that has been rehomed by one of the racehorse charities..he's now a show horse. I found the blog by chance and realised it was a horse I'd followed for a couple of years. I also traced a horse from many years ago that had been a brood mare; found the person that had given her a home in her old age along with another ex racer. I'm under no illusion as to what happens to a lot of horses, but can only do what I can in small ways such as supporting charities such as Greatwood. Little Katchit who won the Champion Hurdle a few years ago died of colic last week; he'd spent his retirement at his trainers yard where they all adored him and are heartbroken. I can't defend racing, but there are people in it who do care deeply for the horses, and give them long and happy retirements.