The absence of a strong Ballydoyle presence, the fact that Tarnawa should have been supplemented for the big event, and the prevailing conditions that compromised too many hopes, all still could not take away from what was a most enjoyable weekend of racing.
In any normal year we'd be bemoaning separate events that came together to reduce the status of some of the races, some of which were not vintage renewals, notably the juvenile events. But because, with so much uncertainty prevailing, we are unable realistically to look more than a few weeks ahead in the calendar, simply having a weekend of overall high class racing to savior was more appreciated than it normally is.
There would however have been one notable item of news over the past week that did not go down too well for traditionalists. It was easy to miss it as the build up to the weekend got nearer. It was the announcement that the postponed team racing event originally planned for summer 2020 has been rearranged to begin in 2021, the intention no doubt to make it a permanent part of the calendar.
This whole team sport concept never will blend in snugly in this sport. The Shergar Cup has lasted because it's over in a day, one in which many fans will have a welcome rest where thoughts of the sport are put aside for one Saturday a year. A few decades back we curiously looked in on a couple of team competitions with visiting American jockeys which stoked up interest, not because fans got into the mode of teams and points but due to the rare opportunity to see the likes of Shoemaker and McCarron in action.
The delayed event proposed for next year is a purists nightmare, it really is. Twelve teams with their squads of horse from up to four trainers each, three jockeys representing each team which will have its own colours. In light of more pressing issues existing in the world, it may seem a little out of proportion to overreact to this silly concept, but it makes one wonder whether the sport in this country is past the point of no return.
It is so hard to conjure up an image of teams communally managed by two to four trainers. Can you imagine this in the 1970's, a team with a management board of Ryan Price, Dick Hern, Peter Walwyn and Noel Murless - all would want to be the leading voice, none would surely agree to be lower in rank. Similar to a jumping one with Fred Rimmell, Fred Winter, Fulke Walwyn and Bob Turnell, together in allegiance.
The whole concept is so stupid and unworthy for the sport that you would almost have expected Noel Edmunds, or the shamed Stuart Hall to be part of the production, in fact I'm sure there would have been a chance that they might have been if such a wacky contest had been staged back then.
The characters now may not be so maverick, blunt and individualistic,but you have to wonder in such a dog eat dog sport which ones would blend together. Perhaps Owen Burrows, Charlie Hills, and Richard Hughes would get through it, but a team comprised of Michael Stoute, Paul Cole and David Elsworth would be a non starter and I cannot imagine any of these three seeking any involvement in this nonsense,
And how about if they extended it to the modern National Hunt arena - the West Country rivals Hobbs, Nicholls and Pipe would not really want to join together as a team given the rivalry and no doubt levels of jealousy varying from season to season that must be forever ongoing between the three - though I suppose Colin Tizzard is now as powerful as any of them and he would be able to bud up with Paul Nicholls given their operations have always had links.
In part, it is tempting to make comparisons with charity rock events which are seen as opportunities to rekindle fizzled out careers, to boost sales and royalties from music released long ago, but in the racing arena the owners will have a bigger input thus amid the significant cutbacks in prize money levels, all but the top band of elite patrons will probably be open to the idea. There is no doubt that the large bulk of journeyman riders will be very keen to find a place so with the generous number of places available there will be room for plenty.
There is also a belief held by organisers of these events that just because the emerging generations of racegoers come along for a session of alcohol consumption, which they still would do if they raced motor bikes around the course, means they will embrace the idea by visiting in their hordes.
Well, in view of the fact that these meetings are being staged at the height of the Twenty-20 Cricket domestic cricket season, I don't think anyone should be taking patronage for granted. There is not much chance of many genuine racing fans making an appearance - no one in their right mind would want to be one of the members of the paying public to be selected as an 'ambassador ' for the teams which is enough anyone needs to know about how trashy this concept is - making some no marks 'stars' for the night who have no real feel for the true attractions of the sport.
We keep hearing that racing needs to be open to new ideas, but this ornate rubbish not only devalues the sport's wonderful history, it seeks to move away from it in the belief that it will become stronger by rebranding it's image.
This is a notion that will only hasten horse racing's decline in the UK down to a part time tier that we could never of previously imagined. We will watch the whole charade unfold, knowing the dreadful outcome but unable to do anything to prevent it.
image in public domain
Back to a time when the sport's problems pale into insignificance compared to today, when it was truly a major sport, when music too was in its element - this track from a terrific album released the day before Brigadier Gerard won the King George.......
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