[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Dhaze

Baily have a laugh at being overrated? Did you read his homage to himself a/k/a autobiography? A more self-absorbed creature never walked - even his accounting of his rampant alcoholism and the effect on his marriage is self-absorbed. Although he shares plenty of colorful, "minor" stories, he completely skips his stint at the Ascot race meet riding Dubai Millenium, most likely because their turf press wasn't impressed with him. He twists himself into knots justifying his losing ride on Cigar and choice to chase that suicide ride by Nakatini. His reasoning falls apart because a sensible rider would have known Nakatani's horse was going to back up, not run away with the thing, and with what Baily knew of Cigar's diminishing powers, letting Nakatani self-destruct was the only option. Cigar probably would have lost that day anyhow, per Baily, but his rationale for pressing the issue is absurd.

You're probably right....he isn't the most self-critical and introspective fellow out there.