For those holding out hope that horse racing in the UK will play a prominent role in the years ahead by utilising its unique, rich and treasured history, the past couple of weeks will have been truly demoralising. It may have even tempted some to wash their hands of it altogether.
Stupid innovations planned by stupid people who have no feel for the sport and are therefore unable to grasp what makes the sport so fascinating. These are characters wearing business caps who have other sports as their true favourites, who would walk away from it all without looking back but who are set to unleash festivals of nonsense that will serve to only confuse the onlooker.
City racing? What the hell is this term supposed to mean? We have plenty of locations within city boundaries or bordering them, or are in large catchment areas where those residing in the close by cities and towns can gain easy access too.
But some seem to think that bringing a makeshift, traveling racecourse to the streets as though it is some sort of circus, with low-grade animals displaying the sport in its most unappealing form, is a concept that will endear the sport to a fresh new audience. And having Peter Phillips at the helm is, putting it mildly, hardly likely to be a positive point
The only blessing with this idea, said to be close to fruition following 'successful' trial races when the 'mats' or whatever they are, were 'rolled out' at Aintree recently, is that it is destined for a short lifespan and certain failure that will be masked over by statements full of lies about how enjoyable, worthwhile and beneficial to the sport the whole exercise has been.
The other planned innovation, also close to becoming reality as early next year, is far more disturbing. It's the plan to have a mid Summer team competition which appears something of a cross between football and Grand Prix racing.
Let's get this straight. People with a feel for the sport will loom back through old copies of Horses In Training and reminisce about the time Fred Winter had Bula, Pendil and Lanzarote in training at the same time and compare the strength to the Dickinson's strong teams. Or to when Peter Easterby had Night Nurse, Sea Pigeon, Alverton, Little Owl and Major Thompson in the yard together, and discuss and measure with the Willy Mullins team of the present.
How about comparing the 1985 Cecil string showcased by Oh So Sharp and Slip Anchor, and weighing it up against Dick Hern's 1979 string containing Troy, with Henbit and Bireme amongst the juveniles. Or John Gosden's star-studded 2018 team put aside M V O'Brien's 1977 team which boasted The Minstrel, Alleged, Be My Guest, Artaius, with Try My Best amongst the juveniles, and a young Gosden as the assistant trainer.
A stable, variable fortunes, owners whose support cannot be taken for granted. Something that has existed for a couple of whole centuries. Who is on the up, who is on his way down? Something to natter over with a fellow racing fan for hours. There is nothing that needs fixing bar the tampering that is chipping away at the fabric of the sport.
Grand Prix racing and football thrive by their sports being broadcasted out in a comprehensive, in-depth style. Analysed from every statistical and visual angle, and in a way that tickles the interest buds of boffins, these are sports which have in a way been complicated rather than simplified and have grown to levels not previously imagined.
So why do these retards who scarily are able to control many of the power switches believe that simplification of horse racing will pull in a fresh, vibrant audience?
Teams of horses who race at their own 'home course' with a manager and who compete in races where a Grand Prix points style system is used. This stinks of racing throwing in the towel, a lost sport looking for inspiration from rival sports who are in a healthier state. It clearly shows that racing has developed an inferiority complex.
The concept of team competitions in racing was used in this country in 1980 when a team of North American riders came over to take on those based in the UK.
It was insightful but did not promise to be an addition to the calendar that would be permanent. The most memorable clash, and arguably the most memorable of any of these competitions to have taken place, came about at Ascot in 1982 under the sponsorship of Long John Whiskey.
This was when the wondrous Bill Shoemaker (in picture) won two of the races, a finely judged front-running ride on the Harry Thompson Jones trained Prince's Gate to beat the Lester Piggott ridden Spanish Pool, followed by a masterful hold-up ride on Jeremy Hindley's Rose Du Soir.
It was a day that the British audiences became a little less inward looking. Up to then Shoemaker may have had legendary status back in his homeland but was best known here for costing Hawaiin Sound the Epsom Derby by drifting off the rail and letting Greville Starkey up his inner on Shirley Heights.
On this day at Ascot, he wowed us.
Still, the team thing was still not something that was looked upon as suitable or viable for the sport. The Timeform organisation were overall not impressed. They commented in Racehorses of 1982 that, "it is difficult to measure the success on ventures on these lines in Great Britain ". They pointed to the fact that an identical event at Sandown failed to find a sponsor in 1982 and that its future looked in some doubt. They also added that the contests, "engendered publicity but neither provided much excitement ".
This latest proposal is far down the road from a novelty day where we at least got to see the big names from abroad. That was OK for a one-off but as a standing dish in the calendar does not justify its own day in the spotlight, as shown by the tepid Shergar Cup.
We can lambaste that for being a day that gets in the way. A lost Saturday for the sport. But this new competion is disturbing in that it appears as though it is taking itself seriously. Rather than just a one-off that some are indifferent to, some hate and one or two don't mind, this looks to be an attempt to add a whole new angle to the game.
We should be talking about the race taking place this weekend which many of us still refer fondly to as the 'Massey Ferguson'. Instead, we are left wondering what in God's name is happening to the sport.
image photograph by Mike Powell used under Fair Use
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