For those who now become unsettled amid the throngs who fill the cult courses or those the themed race days on almost any course, December is arguably the most suitable month to spend a day on track.There is something eerily attractive about National Hunt racing on those days when it never gets properly light, and the other seasonal elements come into play.
Aintree hosted an excellent card last weekend which included Grand National and Gold Cup winners of the past, plus plausible winners of those races in the future, along with an opening novice hurdle where the first three home all look smart animals in the making.
Although it was themed ' Christmas Party Day', there was thankfully no partying attendees on show - maybe they congregated in one of the indoor private suites but if they were they did not venture out. For those more than content to watch the action live outdoor, visit the paddock, view a race by the final flight of hurdles, view the first half of the Becher Chase on the embankment standing level with The Chair, and only going indoors to watch a race or two from Sandown, then the twenty quid paid for a Tatts ticket on the racecourse website was a bargain, a rarity to find given the types of attendees the courses openly court nowadays.
The Grand National course is a tribute version to the one that existed when the famous race provided a daunting test but it's still a sight to see a horse in rhythm leading the pack and Snow Leopardess ( in picture) being a grey in conditions where visibility was poor, added to the occasion.
Robbie Dunne has never had his name in lights more than at this moment. His mount in the closing event Pounding Poet was headed in the dying strides, and watching from railside as the two principals passing as they fought to the line, it crossed my mind that it could be a long time before Dunne was in the heat of action again - this less than an hour after Greaneteen had taken the Tingle Creek with Byrony Frost aboard.
As things have transpired he had a losing ride the following day at Kelso, his last before his harsh punishment was handed out by the authorities, given that a good proportion of the evidence centered on in what context comments were made, on heresay, and even more bizarrely included evidence from a fence attendant relating to what he is supposed to have heard Dunne shout at Frost as the runners passed during a race.
ITV Racing have been discussing the case, along with the presently running Tylicki v Gibbons civil action case.Those fronting ITV racing claim that both cases are bad news for the sport and appear to be under the illusion that they are bold in openly discussing them - even informing their ' younger audience' who in reality are non existent, that the weighing room hullabaloo is not the norm.
Truth is, many indifferent to the sport fail to appreciate how brutally dangerous and competitive it actually is. When riders are killed in action the amount of newsprint the reports take up are a small fraction of the coverage a fatality would receive in other sports. Furthermore, those taking no more than a passing interest in racing do not appreciate how dangerous falls in flat racing are.
As for the weighing room carry on - well, the more publicity it receives in the wider press, more of the general public will realise that it's a deadly serious sport swirling with bitterness, jealousy and some intimidation which are aplenty in all top level sports. In fact, this is not something that will turn potential fans away from the sport.
It cannot be repeated enough that the area in which the sweeping under the carpet takes place is that of the high wastage rate within the thoroughbred industry, something which is now out in the open and will eventually do untold damage to the game as apart from the betting angle, it's the animals themselves that form the biggest attraction in the game.
Admittedly, those within the thoroughbred section of the sport, many who have links with farming, will understandably wonder what all the fuss is about, coming into contact with abattoirs on a regular basis or even having to dispose of animals themselves - but at the end of the day horses stoke up sentimental feelings in many, unlike pigs or poultry, and until the Panorama programme was broadcast ( other documentaries are sure to follow), it's amazing to how few realised how many animals leave training each year and how difficult it is to find second homes away from racing, with many such establishments relying on charitable donations and having no room at the inn.
There was a pleasant enough lady handing out small, rainbow patterned ' Racing is for Everyone' badges at Aintree last weekend.This alone can do no harm but one can't help wondering that with the political leanings of the rainbow groups often close to those of some of the animal liberation factions, those being invited in might take a look around their new sport then wish to lobby for radical changes that would at the very least put National Hunt racing in even more peril than its already in.
image taken by author
This from another household name in Central and Northern Europe who is almost unknown here. This from 2005 but we can return to when racing was in better shape and pretend it was released the weekend when Father Delaney won the Massey Ferguson.
No comments:
Post a Comment