SMILES AND PART FALSEHOODS HIDING THE DARK SIDE

No idea whether people who casualty tune into the odd race on TV, or who pay a visit to a racecourse as part of a social gathering, think too much about what happens to racehorses when they finish racing. It's more likely that they don't really consider this issue at all. 

The racing broadcasting media has a responsibility to bring those on the perimiter into the knowledge loop on this delicate subject by highlighting the good aspects of equine welfare, but at the same time they must also reveal the wider picture in an honest light, with warts and without bias. This was never more apparent when they put the old stalwart Mister McGoldrick (in picture) in front of the camera at York last week.

We can all remember some of races that he ran in for Sue Smith, the Cheltenham Festival success, the Castleford victory at his local track, and for being a bit part player in races won by animals out of the top drawer. Whatever, he is now the face of the retired racehorses re- training charity New Beginnings which performs a commendable role in shaping thoroughbreds for a new role.

It can do nothing but good to highlight the work of such organisations, so what better way than to have a healthy looking twenty two year old gelding present on course where racegoers could take a peep at him and marvel at his wellbeing.

But without wanting to spoil the picture by throwing a pot of black paint over it, the likes of ITV racing are shy in telling the full story and are in comfort mode concentrating on the happy stories as though these are the norm. They should ensure that the public is informed that room at the inn is sparse, that many fit and healthy racehorses with years ahead end up in a grim slaughterhouse, or live on for a few years in the hands of people who don't have their welfare as an issue.

To put some balanced perspective into the gist of the Mister McGoldrick's piece, they could have stressed with an urgent tone that the future of these centres rests on continued funding. They then should have revealed that a similar, established operation, The Racehorse Welfare Centre, based in Malvern, Worcester, has been forced to shut down.

The centre is run by Lee Morse who became aware of many ex racehorse's plight when her son attended a BHB training school. It is a registered charity relying on volunteer workers and donations. It makes every effort to ensure it's inmates are lent out or moved on to properly pre- vetted owners. No purchase fee is involved. If they later find that the animal is not being cared for to a standard of their satisfaction, the Centre will take the animal back.

On the Facebook Page for the Centre, there is a post thanking those who have supported the centre but poignantly adds that, " It's a shame no local trainers were willing to make any statements regarding the subject of ex racehorse welfare as we've often taken in unsellable horse off them."

Someone posted a comment, "......so sad, I've said for a long time many owners are happy to have horses whilst they are able to run but as soon as they are no longer useful they offload them at first opportunity without a second thought. High time they paid a 'levy' and all horses go to registered rehoming centres....."

The Racing Post did announce the centre's closure last week but did not delve into a number crunching regarding the finances, or offer some suggestions of who should have been helping.

Whenever these situations arise in racing, many who should know better skirt the issue by going around in circles blaming issues such as the legislation restricting the maximum stake on FOBT's , and insinuating that the loss of revenue from the machine addicts makes making the racehorse owners life a miserable one.

They rarely face the key factor head on, namely that there are too many racehorse owners whose finances, if checked by a third body, would be unlikely to withstand the relentless cost of keeping a racehorse in training for a sustainable period, never mind being able to have funds to maintain the animal's well being on retirement.

These are characters who have accumulated a a quick bounty in high risk busineses areas, where a sudden unexpected downfall can come along and take everything back. When business is good, it's all fine and dandy on the racecourse, with smiles and champagne,

But when it all goes wrong, concern for the welfare of the horses they own is not a consideration. They'll often have their horse taken back off them to offset some of the training fees owed, or will happily cash in the carcass. If the horse has no prospect of earning its keep as a racehorse, then the trainer may choose to cash in the carcass.

There are many owners who, if properly vetted, should not be owning racehorses. We had one such case that ended with tragic consequences fifteen years ago.

A look at Michael Bell's string in the 2003 edition of Horses In Training shows seven horses owned by Mrs Anne Yearley. In fact Mrs Yearley had been a patron at the yard for a full decade.

Mrs Yearley's hobby was funded by her husband Henry, who was found to have stolen almost one and a half million pounds from Specialist Cars, of which he was company secretary. Henry Yearly had served a prison sentence two decades earlier for embezzlement.

Rather than serving imminent prison sentences, the couple stepped out infront of a speeding train during 2004, ending their lives.

Owners and trainers moan about the lack of prize money on offer. They seem to think the punters should be paying more in. Trapped in a time warp, they forget that today's punter's under forty prefer betting on other sports to racing. By returning to a tax on bets. then they'll just decide to forego the uneccessary expense.

Some say that betting on the likes of football, cricket, tennis and golf are immoral. That they taint these sports. They rightly point out that unlike racing that could not survive without punters betting on it, their sports are true sports in the sense that they can survive without any such distractions.

If betting was outlawed on just football alone, it would be a possible saving grace for UK racing. However, the genie is long out of the bottle on that one and it might as well be classed as a closed topic. It could be that racing may soon have no option than to re-adjust by downsizing. No one should think that this could not become reality.

image taken by author

LIMITED DAMAGE THANKFULLY

A decade has passed quickly by since the extra day was added to the York Ebor meeting. It was a move that disappointed many traditionalists who considered it needless, as well detrimental to what was to many the most enjoyable meeting in the calendar.

Although the days had long gone since the Tuesday was unique in that it was the only day of the UK season when, in the Benson  and Hedges Gold Cup and Yorkshire Oaks, there was more than one Group One race on a card, the fixture still had a special edge about it. Many probably don't realise that the Yorkshire Oaks moved from the Tuesday as long ago as the 1980's!

But the meddling with the meeting was not complete, as shortly after the Ebor was moved from its customary Wednesday slot to be lost in the general Saturday sporting mix.

It would appear that the move of the feature handicap was instigated by the much maligned Racing For Change, a group that seemingly made changes for change sake to justify their existence. Making the numbers bigger on saddle cloths (how many people look for the number as opposed to the jockey's colours !) and thinking the appeal of the game would be enhanced by listing the full christian names of jockeys and trainers. 

Of course, this is not to escape the fact that it was the powers that be at York that had the final say in choosing to adopt the suggestion, which should not have been too surprising given they had recently towed the line with other courses by adding music nights and new fixtures that were too trashy for a course of its standing.  

One saving grace is that the extra day has not signalled a notable dilution of the quality on show. To emphasise this point, contrast the present make up of the card with that of forty years back.

The 1979 staging of the meeting had twenty one races over the three days, only four short of this week's equivalent - now without that damn two year old selling race that many would say had no place at such a glittering event, though it was always above your run of the mill seller and would be targeted by the crafty type of handler.

The Tuesday of 1979 opened with the seven furlong Knaveshmire Nursery. This race has now been replaced by a similar category of race a furlong shorter. The one mile Rose of York Handicap has been run under various titles but is still alive and well. The year of 1979 witnessed an excellent renewal with Joe Mercer arriving late  on the Henry Cecil trained Piaffer to get up by a head to beat Piggot on the Jeremy Tree trained, JockWhitney owned, three year old Baptism.

For anyone not present at the venue in the flesh, then there could never be a time that more trust was needed in the accuracy of the Raceform race reader comments for industrial action meant that there was no televised coverage.

On to the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup. Arguably the most successful newly introduced race in the past half century, the superb Troy landed the odds by three quarters of a length from the game, free running, Crimson Beau. This would be the Derby winner's final race in England, only appearing once more when beaten in the Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe.

Then to the Yorkshire Oaks, and another for the Cecil/ Mercer combination with Connaught Bridge running out the winner, with the short price favourite Godetia, representing M V O'Brien and Piggott, finishing tailed off in last place.

It would not be the happiest week for Ballydoyle, with Thatching going on to lose Thursday's William Hill Sprint Championship in the stewards room. 

The Acomb Stakes followed the Yorkshire Oaks, and the stewards also had a say in this one when the colt who would go on to be runner up in the  following year's Epsom Derby, Master Willie, passed the post first but was disqualified for causing interference.

Master Willie was one of the many high class animals Henry Candy trained for the Barnett family, who ceased using the trainer's services an eon ago. And apart from Pure Grain, herself racing a quarter of a century ago, they have not maintained the level of success they had in the days when they used the long established Wantage handler

The two concluding races were the two mile Londsdale Handicap, and the five furlong Harewood Handicap. These races still exist under different titles, with both being currently sponsored by Sky Bet. The Londsdale title was transfered to a new stakes race which is now the popular Group 2 event. 

Wednesday began with the aforementioned seller, the Rous Stakes, where Pat Rohan landed a customary touch with the Piggott ridden Harlyn, backed into 9/4 from an opening 9/2. Ian Balding's popular Mrs Penny took the Lowther, before the day was then taken over by Sea Pigeon's amazing Ebor victory under 10 st.

We had it on word that Jonjo dropped his hands prematurely and almost lost the race - the Raceform race reader being kind to the rider in returning the comment "eased close home", giving the impression that it was more precisely intended than may have been the case.

Lester Piggott then had the next three winner. The Great Voltigeu won by the Robert Armstrong trained Noble Saint racing in the legendary Raymond Guest colours, being followed home by Buttress and Milford, both racing in the Royal silks. The longfellow followed up in the 1m 2f Falmouth Handicap on Beggar's Bridge, then lastly the Convivial Maiden aboard the future outstanding sprinter Moorestyle, who for a lengthy period would have his name attached to the race.

The day closed with the six furlong Wykenham Handicap for three year olds. This race does not exist now and instead, concluding the card on Saturday, is a five furlong three year old apprentice handicap, no doubt intended to assist in staggering the flow of traffic away from the track.

The final day opened with the five furlong Prince of Wales Stakes for juveniles which was won by the Tom Marshall owned and trained Blue Courtier. A curious aspect of this was was that the Peter Walwyn trained Khedive, who was never involved, was backed into 11/4 favouritism from 5/1, but carried the Raceform paddock description of ' bit backward'. He had been absent from action for over two and a half months but it seems that Alan Amies was more clued up to the situation than those who backed the colt. The race is now the Julia Graves Roses Stakes

The Melrose was taken by the Hern/ Carson combination with a typically progressive Dick Hollingsworth bred colt in Balinger. The Sea Pigeon colours were successful again in the Gimcrack with Sonnen Gold , then followed the Thatching disqualification  in the William Hill Sprint Championship, which may serve as a warning for those who question whether we are better off with the present rules.

The Sangster owned colt veered left under Piggott when taking up the running two furlongs out, causing interference whch caused a domino effect, with the eventual runner up and promoted winner Ahonoora receiving a bump.Thatching's winning margin was a convincing two and a half lengths and was the moral winner of the event. Timeform commented that the disqualification was, " ...inevitable,even though he had obviously been the best horse in the race by far. "

The Galtres went to Henry Cecil's Odeon, the one and a half mile Great Yorkshire Handicap to the Michael Stoute trained Soldier's Point, with the meeting ending with Pat Eddery guiding home the Peter Walwyn trained Kampala in the City of York Stakes. Kampala would go on to have his claim to fame by siring the Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe winner Tony Bin. The City of York is now a Group 2 but was doing fine then as a plain stakes race.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The other races not previously mentioned which have been added since include the Group 3  Stensall Stakes.A race carrying the same title had been an established part of the midweek September fixture, but that was confined to fillies and mares so this in effect is a different event.

There is a Goffs Yearling Sales Stakes Race for juveniles, a one mile handicap confined to three year olds, and a seven furlong all aged filles handicap. You could make a case that there is no need for both of these handicaps, and an even stronger case that the sales race weakens the Gimcrack. 

All told, York could be said to have escaped with limiting the potential damage to their highlight fixture of the season. It's not satisfying that the Ebor lacks three year old representation, nor is that bit of aura lost by extending the meeting to a rowdy Saturday.

But when you examine and compare with what is continuing to happen with the careless, ill thought out race planning that is muddyimg the Cheltenham Festival, the Yorkshire showpiece meeting has come away relatively unscathed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  image- York race scene taken by author                                

THE DANGERS OF THE DIVERSITY DISEASE

The protracted exchange between Matt Chapman and Kevin Blake on The Opening Show on Saturday morning came across far from the contrived debate for the purposes of the show as we have come to expect, but one where both involved felt passionately that they were on the right side of this particular divide.

Blake , as drawn out in an article he wrote on the ATR website the previous weekend, believes that an allowance should be introduced to progress the careers of female jockeys and to offset what he considers to be a small percentage of inferiority in their natural ability. He used data from a similar experiment in France to back up his argument.

Chapman poured scorn on the idea and highlighted that such a move would hamper the careers of many hard working, middle ranking male riders who were striving to break into the higher echeleons themselves. Chapman on this occasion is conclusively right.

The debate stoked up far more reaction than could have been anticipated and Blake popped up again on ATR's Racing Debate this morning where he was not taken to task with quite the intensity of the previous day.

In a society sullied by quota filling to fit diversity politics, common sense has to pose the question of where such an introduction in racing would eventually lead to ?

Do you bring in allowances for riders returning from injury, allowances for riders on mental health programmes, allowances for riders of advancing age, or who have failed to ride a certain number of winners or a race of a certain grade or value - and what about riders considered to carry disabilities?

We know what a farce the Paralympics has turned into. We had the well publicised case of the gold medal winning Spanish Basketball team, when most of the team members were later found to have been feigning mental illnesses. This category of disability borders on a large grey area and is easily open to manipulation.

Then to the more indisputable levels of disability. Those of us fortunate enough to move freely around unaided do not loiter too much on how they would cope if their physical movement became limited through a disability, so rarely consider or understand the merits of the disability friendly improvements made in society.

There are relatively mild,  physical defined disabilities that, if carried by a rider, would allow them to compete safely in open competition including horse racing. In a  would be confusing  world of  diversity allowances, the problem would be measuring how much one rider is burdened against a rider with a differently defined disability, then assessing which one is given the bigger weight allowance.

On the subject of sport and those with more curtailing disabilities,  would it be  not be too far off the mark to believe that a large number of physically impaired people would themselves think it more important that facilities were improved for them as spectators at able bodied events, as opposed to making it easier for them to play a physical sport themselves ?

In other words they would rather have more seats and tickets available for them to watch Roger Federer play live, than someone encouraging them to partake in disabled tennis.

We are in a society where many like to pat themselves on the back for standing on a moral high ground, yet many of those who insist on quota filing to further the causes of all sorts of classifications of peoples, do not batter an eyelid at a seventeen year old girl being allowed to end her life in a suicide clinic due to depression and anorexia stemming from an abusive childhood.

Maybe they will feel different when one day they are in peril from a house fire and the Fire Brigade response unit are struggling to save them because the crew called out had been appointed to fill the quotas for those impaired by Dwarfism.

And if allowances are applied to riders who are unable to compete equally on a level playing field, what of the trainers. They could claim as they are as much a part of the show as the riders in contributing in keeping the game on the road that attracts the punter's money to make it sustainable, then they should be helped along the way.

It is forever insightful when a trainer shares his thoughts on why he is finished with the game. Many who hand in their licence have a steadily regressive record though it makes you wonder how some who are faring even worse manage to keep plodding away, seemingly banging their heads against walls.

They can only go so low in reducing their training fees, so why not set up a fund that covers a high percentage of the training fees, meaning that an owner could put a horse with a struggling trainer and incur a bargain basement fee ?

Hmm, I've spent £45,000 on a Getaway store, do I approach Nicky and ask if there is any room knowing that it will cost me £30,000 a year in fees, or do I send him to the BHA funded James Moffatt, and pay just five grand a year.

It's nonsensical but the logic is on the same line of thought as giving female jockeys a weight allowance. In fact as the trainer comes before the rider, the predicament of many in the profession of running a yard is the one that should be addressed first.

Unfortunately, a frustrating and common trait of those handlers throwing in the towel is the total lack of understanding from them of the mindset of the punters who are the bread and butter of the game.

The Racing Post carried an interview last weekend with the recently retired classic winning trainer Mark Tompkins. There was one suggestion from the Newmarket resident that raised the eyebrow, namely the calling for tax to be paid on every bet struck on British racing wherever in the world it is struck.

It's not fully clear what he is implying but if it is a call for a return to punters paying a tangible tax on each bet then he is living back in the day when betting was predominantly about horse racing.

If a tax was reintroduced then the gradual migration of punters from  horses to general sports would be complete and the sport as we know it would be dead. Fact is, the habits of the emerging generations of punters hold the key to the future well being of the sport and they are certainly not going to be wooed by any equal opportunity nonsense applied within the sport, whether for riders or trainers.
image in public domain