A SPORT FACING DANGERS FROM ALL CORNERS OF SOCIETY

One wonders at what point the momentum building 'war' being waged on betting will reach its ceiling. Those with horse racing at heart once hoped and even believed that those actively opposed to the most addictive forms of gambling would pat themselves on the back for a job well done once the war on FOBTs was won.

Surely they could see the difference between speculating wildly without reflection time, and putting in hard cash to support an opinion as a hobby, albeit one that can be costly when wrong decisions are made. Surely they would realise how LBO's had been taken over by a different breed of gambler with no interest in wagering on anything equine

But those of us who naively in support of the ultimately successful campaign to limit the stakes per spin on these sinister, gaudy machines, and who ignored warnings that once they unarm the most damaging aspects of the FOBTs they would turn their attention to betting on horses amongst other things, now wish   the FOBTs remained as soul destroying as they were, and remained at the core of anti gambling campaigns.

Most worryingly, it is becoming increasingly clear that those jumping aboard this interfering anti gambling bandwagon who consist of cross party MP's, anti gambling organisations, and some sections of the national media, will not stop until a regulatory system is in place that will monitor and impose affordability limits on an individual - this after nosing through their personal finances.

Right now the bookmaking firms have some very concerned bigwigs pulling the strings. Having to play along with the game, put on a soft, warm game face, concerned for the welfare of the clients. One upon a time stories were abundant involving the big firms wining and dining their biggest players (well the careless ones at least), accompanying them to live sporting events while accommodating their erratic betting patterns, then completely cutting ties once they had drained the client of his whole disposable  wealth.

This still remains the inherent instinct of those running the these big national firms. It's a ruthless business model and one that will also stamp on smaller, rival firms that set up nearby. Right now they are frantically considering all possible options to prevent this meddlesome enemy from removing their clout - lobbying and strengthening their ties with MP's who may have ulterior motives for offering their support. to undercutting McDonald's on morning snacks and coffees, ostensibly to portray a mumsey image but in reality to hook in who they hope will become addictive gamblers.

Let's be honest, all punters, even those who concentrate in the main on horse racing and who consider themselves genuine fans, will from time to time show a degree of irresponsibility. Often coming in the form of getting a bit too cute when things are going well and placing some careless wagers when the bank is big, or at the other end of the scale trying to smash your way out of a poor run, which in the worst case scenario results in an enforced sabbatical during which everything you want to back but at the very best can only afford a fraction of normal stakes, wins.

Moreover it's something that all lifelong punters are able to take on the chin - never too happy during a good run, never too down during a bad one. If these proposals that these anti gambling lobbying groups are introduced, such as being allowed to lose, say, £200 a month, punters will be sent insane, using up their allowance in the first week then painfully watching from the sidelines as a host of horses in your mental notebook go in without carrying any of your money which you know you could have afforded to bet, but live a life were out of choice having a bank for Cheltenham is a bigger priority than a new three piece suite.

And what of the destruction such measures will inflict on horse racing? Take no notice of those who say racing doesn't need punters to survive. It's not just the levy; media rights would not be worth a box of matches if punters deserted the sport as no one would want to watch racing anymore. Yes, it's fine us genuine racing fans say they can watch racing all day without having a bet, and would happily spend life reading historic racing books, but for the funding of the sport to be maintained at any sort of reasonable level at a time when racing's share of the betting pie continues to decrease, it will not be able to overcome a scenario where affordable limits are imposed.

For starters a majority of racing bettors, probably a significant one too, would just tell any operator to stuff his checks up his jacksie. And even those what comply would, from reduced levels of wagering, have collectively a detrimental affect on the money that can be harvested for the sport.

There exist serial spenders who run up huge debts on their numerous credit cards, buying clothes with the in vogue labels that may be worn just once;  there are amateur stock market players who lose devastating sums by going in heavy on Blue Chip 'investments', the stock market equivalent to big race odds on favourites, then there are those who through lack of knowledge and preparatory research, invest all they have in a franchise that goes backwards.

But the attention is on gambling which is becoming the new smoking. Just like the 'smoking can damage your health'  messages on the sides of a packet of Players No 6, we had the ' bet responsibly' slogans. Then in line with pictures of diseased lungs on the ciggy packets, we had adverts showing angry characters betting, leaving a subliminal message that this was a first step to mental ruin.

In the case of cigarettes, the anti smoking lobbies took a while to really gain control as for literally decades it was slogans and pictures, even the removal of tobacco advertising from sport did not hold any clues to what was around the corner for the banning of smoking in indoor public places including pubs, allied to a price hike out of proportion to previous ones, has set the way for a move to outlaw smoking outdoor, with the ultimate aim of removing cigarettes from the shops.

For those of us old enough to recall aunties and uncles who'd smoke up to 80 cigarettes a day, every day, and who lived to ripe ages, this villifying a habit of choice is a little disturbing even if it will assist the collective health of those it targets.

It appears that the anti gambling brigade have now quickly reached the equivalent of outlawing smoking in public indoor places. And if they are able to install an affordability check system in place they would have reached the same stage in just a few years that the tobacco opponents took decades to reach. 

This is a real worry.And it's so ironic that there are innovations in racing to get the emerging generations involved at the same time that other bodies are brainwashing them on the evils of punting. Have no doubt, the future of this sport is in peril.

Advent has begun so on to some xmas music - this from a talented Belgium singer who is a household name in many mainland European countries. It's from the late 1990's but reverting back to a better time for racing let's pretend it was released the weekend when Bregawn beat Captain John in the 1982 Hennessey.

THIS SPORT IS ON ITS WAY OUT

This present weekend is a reminder that ten years have now passed since Kauto Star was beginning his last hoorah. Four or five decades back you could guarantee that such an illuminary, along with his monster rival and stable companion Denman (in picture), would have refuelled the racing fanbase and put untold mileage on the future well being of the sport.That is sadly no longer the case.

It's not really that long ago and was a most welcoming era that coincided on the level with SeaThe Stars career and the beginning of Frankels, and witnessed a continued run of years that was a gift to racing, something that in another era would have consolidated the standing of the sport, even without promotion from within.

However, times had already changed in a sport that had fallen a couple of tiers in real popularity (which is not measured by a head count of the weekend and evening attendees at the cult crowd courses), and the number of new genuine racing fans the era attracted is now comparatively small as the decline has continued.

There was a TV interview after one of Frankel's victories with Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Lord Grimthorpe, who was full of beans and cheerily proclaiming that Frankel will have created a whole new generation of racing aficionados.

The problem for those who are within the confines of the racing circle is that they overestimate the popularity of the sport outside of their cliques. It's regrettable but true that the horse who surpassed the Timeform rating of the mighty Sea Bird, something we never thought would happen, would not break into the outside world and be lauded like a Pele,Viv Richards, Mark Spitz, Mohammed Ali, Eddie Merckx, Ayrton Senna did in their respective sports. For truth be told, outside of the sport there is no Frankel legacy.

In the case of Kauto Star, the best chaser since Arkle, more hope could be clinged on to for it is invariably the great National Hunt horses that stoke up admiration for the game and reign in new fans. Grundy was a distant background figure compared to Red Rum in the popularity stakes, the same could be said when comparing Nashwan to Desert Orchid, or Sea The Stars with Kauto and Denman.

Alas, no long term benefit had been derived from that wonderful period for steeplechasing that concluded nearly a decade back. Just look around racecourses now and see what a rarity if is to spot a book stall, or one with paintings and photos.These were once standing dishes at almost every course and appeared to be attracting a strong, steady stream of business throughout the day.

It's a sign that the tracks are being populated by an increasingly 'cold' audience who have no feel for the game. You saw them at Cheltenham last weekend when ITV randomly picked out a group of twenty somethings on course who were going on about backing number this and number that. This really is how it is.

And those pictures from Haydock Park today - yes there were plenty crowded around the paddock but it was hard to pick anyone out who looked under forty, a sign that the attendees born after1980 are a different species from the fans who have sadly either passed on, are seriously ill, are infirm, or who have gone mad with age.

Some may say, well, what's to worry about if they call horses by numbers or don't buy old racing books? The worry is that these emerging generations will wager their betting money on things other than racing away from the course. And as the share of racing's percentage of the betting pie decreases, the financial shortfall will deepen.

This can't be repeated enough, nor can the certainty that anyone becoming hooked on the sport and developing a real passion for it, will be a punter for life and a contributor as most, no matter how knowledgeable, lack the iron clad self discipline to squeeze out a long term profit.

The attempt by the TV broadcasters to allay an impression that the sport is thriving is total illusory. It's wilting. And what is scary is that we exist in an era were customs, beliefs and habits don't change gradually anymore, they change overnight. 

The most ridiculous concepts are being forced on society and rapidly moving tide of change will leave horse racing behind. It's not a sport that can modernise and keep its place.To those who make things move within populations, any sport that involves animals is not one that is acceptable to have links with.

Whether it be in the area of betting turnover, or in the sphere of the high equine wastage rate within the sport, no amount of cajolery from smug TV frontmen will improve the standing  of the sport. It's merely  papering over cracks that can't now fully be hidden. 

That Panorama programme has done more damage than those within the sport think. Try talking to normal everyday people who once thought that the so called welfare issues within the sport were confined to the Grand National and whips - the programme really proved to be an eye opener for them.

ITV racing addressed it once, raised it as a concern, but have gone quiet, preferring instead to portray a John Craven's Newsround image of the sport, probably hoping that the wastage issue is back to how it was - out of sight, out of mind. 

They are very mistaken. It's a subject now out in the open and one that won't be going away. 

image taken by author

This previously unreleased track appeared on what was in most part a compilation album released the day before Terry Biddlecombe partnered the Fred Rimmel trained future Grand National winner Gay Trip to success in the Mackeson. As well as the horse racing being in a better place, so to was music. Anyone who has read Roger Daltrey's ' Thanks A Lot Mr Kibblewhite' will be aware how much respect he had for the singing ability of Steve Marriott.

CONDITIONS THAT NEED TO BE IN PLACE FOR AN ENJOYABLE DAY AT THE RACES

There has to be a set of circumstances that fall together to make it bearable to go racing nowadays, particularly on weekends, given that we clearly have emerging generations who have considerably less enthusiasm for horse racing than those preceding them.

Aintree looked a good opportunity. There were no themes attached to the programme, the weather forecast was a gloomy one with grey skies and showers forecast throughout the day. All in all it had all the ingredients to offer an enjoyable day for those who still go along for the actual racing.

As things turned out, the fact that the crowd was modest in size made things bearable but evidence was all around of how, in those months when the climate is more friendly, staying at home is the better option.

Finding a speck down by the rails to watch the opener I was joined by a large group of twenty somethings,  well groomed lads and girls with their drinks in hand, bottles of what looked like Prosecco, bottles of beer, all very vocal, all with southern sounding brogues. They were referring to the horses they backed by their number as opposed to name. As the runners passed the stands for the first time one of the group was yelling  "fall over! fall over! fall over! " - the others seemed to find this amusing.

This is how people develop when brought up on the modern, sanitised comedy, while those of a certain age will recall being able to laugh together with the family at the likes of On The Buses, The Two Ronnies, Rising Damp, and many more in that mould. Timeless, still funny, and you have to be pretty retarded not to be able to chuckle at such classic comedy. In fact, good advice would be to make a point of not associating with such dreary characters who cannot find amusement in these shows. 

The only pleasing moment was when a gust picked up and a heavy shower broke out during the late stages of the races. But they hadn't had enough and were back out for the second race, shouting encouragement to number this and number that. I hardly heard a horses name mentioned never mind the name of a trainer or rider.

The racing industry are reaping what they've sown. These characters will not betting on the horses away from the course thus are not contributing to the pot that racing desperately needs to survive. Media rights are are interwoven with the public betting on horses so it's ridiculous to think that racing's share of the betting pie can continue to decrease without threatening the value of pictures from the tracks.

Admittedly some venues make their largest chunk from party type crowds, particularly in the summer months. But at the end of the day these 'racegoers' feel no attachment to the sport and are fodder to be drawn away to the next in vogue rival attraction. They are merely sticky plaster papering over the cracks.

Another way of losing decent attendees is the fact that everthing bar exchanges with the small number of racecourse bookmakers in attendance was payment by card only, as I discovered when purchasing a coffee  and a Fanta. Whether this is a way of using covid as an excuse to make these transactions the only option I've no idea as only an airhead would truly believe that it reduces the spread of infections. 

Maybe, it's just an empty, nannying, ' caring' gesture though it would be certain that there would of been one or two elderly people in attendance who went without any form of refreshment for the duration of the meeting. It's measures like this that half make you wish racecourses harm and lack of prosperity.

On popping inside to watch a couple of races from the off meetings there was a group of half shot lads chanting football songs. I've no idea the team they were singing about but they were not local and again had southern accents, sounding as though they came from as far down as south of the midlands at least. The only warming sight was to spot someone with Betfair on his phone watching a race from Donny while glancing at the in running prices. Another racing fan! They are a rarity.

It crossed my mind that none of those downing the booze can have been racing fans. There was a certain Breeders Cup to look forward to in the evening and those beginning their sessions at noon clearly had no intention of watching the action from Del Mar, though truth be told most were probably unaware of its existence.

Two further examples of the glaring lack of enthusiasm for things racing are that all those who bothered to view the animals in the paddock seemed over forty at the very least. And as I always wander down to the final flight of hurdles to watch a race or two, I came across only one other person who was passionate enough over proceedings to do the same.

The course hosts Becher Chase day on December 4th. It could be extremely pereshing. It will be gloomy with no proper daylight, hopefully rain and wind too. People will have Christmas on the mind, respiratory viruses will have surged, perhaps Mr 'fall over' will have caught something nasty along with his cohorts. It really does have the appeal of an enjoyable day for genuine racing fans.

image taken by author

No cover versions can beat the original of this sung by a class act whose own cover versions surpass the originals. Too classy to have been released in the 1990's thus to join in with the modern spirit of rewriting the past, let's say it was released the week that Rag Trade won the original Grand National which is no more.