CONSTITUTION HILL WON'T BE SAVING THE DAY !

The demise of horse racing in the UK is happening in real time. It may be hard to grasp this but when viewed in the context of the times we exist in, where change happens in the blink of an eye, where oddball customs become the norm and where a minute number of oddballs have disproportionate influence over our lives, it should not come as a shock.

In modern Great Britain horse racing is not part of the future and not only is it being allowed to totter along to what will be an eventual standstill, the demise is being speeded up by outside bodies. On the terrain of the emerging generations horse race betting is now dwarfed by the God that is football - and speaking of the next few days there will never have been a comparable Boxing Day for seeing racing's exposure minimized as the might of the Premier League is fired up back into action on full throttle.

The method of howTV audiences are measured has never been so out of sync with reality. With so many ways available of viewing our sports the significance of whether a meeting is shown on a main terrestrial channel or a support one down the lists matters not a lot. 

So while Constitution Hill possesses the aura to focus the mind of even the most cynical racing fans who now accept that the sport here is on its way out, this exciting animal will not be registering in the mind of those outside the sport, irrespective of what the TV broadcasting front men will be repeatedly singing about on Monday.

And a typically exciting King George finish, where this year one of three potential new equine stars could be establishing themselves on the chasing scene, it will all be having the same indifferent effect on the wider public. In fact given the spirit of the times it would be fitting for fences to be cordoned off leaving the race unrecognizable as the field darts in and out of obstacles without a racing rythym established. Nobody wants this nonsense but it won't go away for the sport has reached a point of no return in this country.

The misguided holding the power strings began to allow those hoping there would be no long term future of the sport to slowly chip away four decades back. It seemed all innocent at first with the odd fence modernisation here and there. Then it began to gather momentum and in addition to steeplechasing being commonly staged at neutered courses, we are now witnessing such restrictive rules being applied to whip use that it makes one wonder how those many genuine professional animals, who will do what is required but no more, will fare with half hearted, confusing messages being sent to them.

It really is amazing why there is not a full open debate on the level of so called pain that can be felt by a fit, powerful, eighty stone beast full of adrenalin by a flimsy instrument much softer than in days gone by. This proves without doubt that the powers that be are concerned with the misleading images created far more so than the realities of what is occurring.

National Hunt's racing time in the UK will shortly be up. It will continue in Ireland though the sport there is not without its problems despite Governments in general looking far more kindly on it. It is common know that the great majority of Irish people are far more interested in rugger, footy and Gaelic sports and horse racing is very much a minority interest there, with a questionable amount of enthusiasm felt towards it by those from the large populated areas.

For racing in  general  - well, it will continue to thrive in Japan and Australia but the racing community in the latter nation will be looking over their shoulders with niggling worries as the anti groups over there are fast gathering influence.

Back to the UK, barely a day now passes without concerns being raised about the funding of a sport whose survival depends on punters betting on it - some have tried to twist this fact but truth be told is that as well as  there being nothing from punters for the levy, media right payments would be needless without betting and as racing's share of the betting pie dwindles ( a pattern that will speed up once the affordibility checks come into play), we will be left at best with a small private club of people running a sport for themselves, without any press coverage, if anything at all. 

More likely that they will migrate away and future generations will be reading about how famous some British people are in the likes of Japan, who they have never heard of here. In a sense the racing equivalents of the modern day Carl Fogartys of this world.

What is certain is that putting a positive spin on the future of the sport in Great Britain can never before have been such a difficult task.

There is zilch for UK horse racing to be joyous and festival over but in the spirit of things here is a seasonal tune from a class act.

AN OVERALL DREARY SPORT WITH A DREARY FUTURE AT BEST

September flashed past with nothing much positive happening on the UK racing front, though at least there was enough in house criticism of the Racing League to give real hope that this stomach churning concept will now be dispensed with.

It was likewise encouraging that two leading National Hunt trainers took a swipe at the summer jumping   programme, with its low quality small fields, in which they called to a return to a proper break. Of course, many will recall the days when the season ended at the beginning of June and restarted on the Saturday of Glorious Goodwood  - Nassau and Chesterfield Cup Day, the Stewards Cup then run earlier in the week on the Tuesday.

This was when jump racing was permitted on ground described as 'Hard', and cards would be littered with three and four runner events with walkovers being commonplace. Milton Bradley would make hay and it was a situation that John Jenkins would capitalise on, teaming up regularly with John Francome who'd notch up plenty of early winners in his quest for the rider's title.

If we returned to a two month break the restart would be staged in conditions ensuring more contestants but whether it would guarantee an improvement on what we have now is a moot point. The opening Chepstow fixture trundled into action with relatively poor quality fields compared with most past renewals  of this meeting

With Ireland now more dominant than ever before the jumping arena there are going to be many UK weekends holding cards that don't inspire at the level they have done in the past. Sundays in Eire are increasingly the centre point of the jumping season. They not only hold superior quality novice hurdles and novice chases to the UK, but also have regular highly valuable handicaps that attract large fields. The Graded events are inevitably smaller in field size but are again overall higher in quality than the equivalent  events here.

In fact I cannot remember approaching a National Hunt season with as little relish as I do for this one.Not only are the Saturday's going to be overall lower in quality than ever before - we are going to increasingly see races spoilt through fences being cordoned off at the last moment due to low sunlight, something the makes a mockery of the very nature of the sport and a requirement that was not needed for the sport to operate until relatively recently.

We also have theme days attached to meeting after meeting.So much so that one of the most attractive days to go racing for a racing fan is Becher Chase day on the first weekend in December. It now consistently attracts a good quality card but the limited daylight hours and cold and miserable weather turn off the party racegoers, creating a peaceful heavenly atmosphere. Only the card only payment policy brought in sneakily through the back door with the help of Covid prevents this day from ticking every box.

A further note of caution that tempers optimism is that the course has been emailing customers inviting them to nominate a band who they'd like to see perform - it's certainly not racing as we know it and testament to the fact that almost every venue now views the actual racing as mere support to the chief aim, which is to create a large, lucrative day long party.

We had yet another clueless fibber on TV at the weekend, faking enthusiasm for the future of the sport in this country, boasting of the initiatives of allowing free admittance for juniors along with a focus of drawing in large numbers of students.

Truth is that none of this guarantees any worthwhile future patronage. Has anyone ever spoken to a modern day student? You can spot them on course, they'll be the ones referring to the horses by numbers. Nearly all of them would happily see the horses go back home and be replaced  by motor bikes racing around the track. They'd also be targetable recruitment material for those who want horse racing wiped off these shores.

And in the wider world there exists a continuation of concerning issues threatening the existence of the sport here. The news that three prominent charities who have worked with the greyhound industry in attempt to increase what they considered an unacceptable level of fatalaties are now calling for the sport to be phased out.

This is a story that has received coverage in the national newspapers, presented in a style that will likely tempt many to jump on the bandwagon. Around thirty years back this sport was dragged through the mud when it was revealed that hundreds of ex racing greyhounds each year were packed off each year to Spain to be got rid of, with many being dispatched by means of being hung alive from tree branches.

Problem is, as this real threat to the greyhound racing industry receives wider publicity, not only will the after racing welfare of these docile, gentle beings come under scrutinisation again, but the answers that will need to be solid and convincing are also going to have to be found by those in the horse racing industry as all of the arguments for ending greyhound racing could equally apply to horse racing.

Those believing that there is widening light at the end of the tunnel for UK racing should think again. The problems are mounting, seemingly by the week, and instead of adopting the futile exercise of trying to ‘force’ the sport on the uninterested younger generations, it would be best to respectfully allow their enthusiasm for the other surviving and thriving sports to continue without interference. 

Racing was in a good place in August 1978,  the month the final really good album from The Who was released for the album which followed in 1981, Face Dances, was a shocker. 

BEST LOOKING INTO THE PAST

The unsettled future of horse racing, both short and long term, makes one wonder how those with long term plans are able to remain buoyant and continue focused, in their own bubbles.

Even in better times, those breeding racehorses needed to have an outlook different to the general norm. It's not just a case of the odds being stacked against them, there is also the fact that given the age of many in this profession, they may not be here to witness and enjoy fruits that might be harvested in future years.

They talk of the dream of contributing positively to the breed as though they've found the secret to immortality and can guarantee that they'll be here to watch their plans unfold  -  good God, some of these characters look and indeed are very, very old.

Even those who have reached the higher echelons in this profession plan ahead with carefully structured matings, the most likely scenario being that they'll not be here to see the final outcome 

And for mere racing fans, particularly those on the mature side, interest in the breeding aspect of the game is tempered by the fact that we are not going to see most end stories - work  out your age, look at a National Hunt stallion starting out, and you realise that you are unlikely to see the conclusion of their career at stud. Put it this way if Crystal Ocean lasts twenty years at stud, considering the age jumping horses reach their peak then the chapter on this stallion's stud career will still be open when we have departed,

It's a similar story in the flat game in the area of stallions establishing themselves as sires of sires - all those fascinating developments with twists and turns that we have followed the path of in the past. Branches that suddenly bloom.

Those of a certain age will remember the hugely exciting Try My Best's taking triumph in the 1977 Dewhurst Stakes. The Ballydoyle based Northern Dancer colt looked assured of realising his potential and was already at prohibitive odds for both the following season's  2,000 Guineas and Derby.

In fact the Timeform organisation stated that, " he seems to us practically a ready made winner of the 2,000 Guineas", and added that as there was every chance he would stay twelve furlongs, " he is a ready made winner of the Derby as well."

History documents that after  winning on his reappearance at Phoenix Park, he started Even money at Newmarket only to trail in stone cold last. He was never seen on a racecourse again.

Put on the Coolmore roster there was hope that he would make amends in his second career. While he hardly set the world alight, among his progeny foaled in 1983 were Last Tycoon and Waajib. The former was a Champion sprinter in Europe and put the ceiling on his career with a success in the Breeders Cup mile. At stud he sired an Epsom Derby runner up in Marju but has established no lasting male line.

Waajib was a late maturer under the guidance of Alec Stewart. A winner of the big mile handicap at Goodwood he developed into a Group class horse and won the Diomed Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes ( then a Group 2) as a five year old. He proved overall moderate as a stallion but made a contribution to the breed via Royal Applause, by far the best of his progeny who was successful in the Haydock Sprint Cup for Barry Hills. 

This is where this seemingly going nowhere line would soon blossom. Standing at the Sandringham Stud, Royal Applause, sired a handful of lower Group class performers including a certain Acclamation who won the Diadem and was third to Oasis Dream in the Nunthorpe.

How unlikely that Acclamation would become a sort of cult hero for those interested in the breeding side of the sport. He now boasts his own dynasty with branches of its own, developing all the time. His showcase stallion son Dark Angel ( in picture) was retired at the end of his juvenile career and while it's not surprising that his notable performers are speedsters, a hell of a lot train on well and with an increasing number of sons at stud, he'll be leaving a lasting influence with chapters still to be written that today's maturing racing fans won't be around to see.

Mehmas is another son of Acclamation retired at the end of his two year old season. He's made an exceptionally bright start to his new career and like Dark Angel, it looks as though a fair amount of his progeny will train on - his four year old son Minzaal a big player in this weekend's Group 1 sprint at Haydock.

Acclamation is also responsible for promising second season sire Aclaim who's fee will be due a hike after being responsible for 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet, along with the classy sprinter Royal Aclaim. And not to forget Pyledriver's sire Harbour Watch and an interesting first season sire in Expert Eye.

It would be using the imagination too much to call it the ' Try My Best line' though it is not factually incorrect. However, we can say there is an Acclamation male line. Who would have thought that would ever materialise! 

Sadly, the maturing racing fans will not be able to marvel as future influential pedigree lines take shape, but can take comfort that they will that witnessed an era of the sport that it will never return to. Best now to enjoy the sport from a historical perspective and disengage oneself with thoughts of breed shapers as it'll just be as futile as getting excited about the prospect of man landing on Mars.

Image taken by author

This track was promunent in the charts when Try My Best blew out in the Guineas.

A BRIEF ESCAPE

• Runners: 6 RUNNERS
• Prize Money: £7,500.00
• Race Distance: 6f 3y
• Horse Age: 3YO
• Rating: 46-55
• Min Weight: 9st 0lbs
• 
  

Immersing oneself in this week's York cards offered no clues as to the real predicament horse racing in the UK finds itself in, for viewed in isolation the cream of the Knaveshmire fixture list offered stupendous  prize money, a good balance of Pattern races and handicaps, the latter contests boasting sizeable builds along with depth in quality. 

It's a meeting that cannot be scoffed at in any way even though many maturing racing fans would rather return to the three day fixture and even further back to when the Pattern system was kept under check and the Tuesday was the only day in the UK flat racing year with more than one G1 on the card, the opening day once staging both the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup and Yorkshire Oaks.

And added to the joy and temporary escape from the hell hole the sport is in, the stomach wrenching Racing League mercifully took a break for the week. While this appalling concept has a detrimental affect on the quality of weekend handicaps at the good courses at the height of summer, it thankfully did not appear to have had any adverse affect on this gem of a fixture.

Sadly, we now return back to be surrounded by constant doom and gloom, a reality check that last week provided only temporary relief from. It's that back to work feeling after the Xmas and New Year holiday period.

It seems everyone with some sort of platform in the sport is having their shout of how the sport should tackle the crisis it finds itself in. But it's all too late to save what existed. The once enthusiastic fan base has gone and has ever been replaced. Most venues accept this which is why they've turned to concentrating all their efforts at pulling in the cult crowds, the actual sport forming no more than a backdrop as the day ticks away.

Ten years ago this coming October Lord Grimthorpe stood proudly in the winner's enclosure at Ascot after Frankel had won his final race and announced to the TV audience that there would be a ' Frankel generation' of racing fans that would revigorate the fan base, giving the sport a long term boost. 

This seemed wishful thinking at a time when the sport was in marked decline and as it's sank to lower depths, it's clear that no Frankel generation has emerged though being realistic they would have been unable to have any real impact on what is now occurring. Dare anyone even remotely suggest that we'll now see the birth of a Baaeed generation!

We are often reminded of the finances injected into the sport by owners with scant returns available, even for those who are lucky to own an animal capable of winning a moderate grade race or two. This is a long established component of the sport here, more defined than ever before in the present climate, and no relief in the horizon as racing seems further away than ever before from a Tote Monopoly.

The harsh truth though is that no one is forced to own racehorses and in the grand scheme of things, topics involving the level of remuneration to owners are low down the list of national priorities. It would be most  unfortunate if a punter's tax was introduced - some in the racing community are so blinkered to believe that those owning animals rated in the 50's provide a laudable service to the sport and that those that are entertained should be putting more in.

This is laughable. There are too many stallions with ridiculous sized books resulting in mass over production and too many fixtures staged to cater for dross, many of which should be running in flapping events. Punters would simply stop betting on horses if an extra tax was added though it could be that the imminent affordability checks will take care of that itself.

Then we come to the welfare angle as no matter how the figures will continue to be massuaged, the wastage rate is going to be disturbingly higher than ever before. This is an unavoidable fall out of owners leaving the sport, trainers handing in their licences, and a void that no one has any desire to fill.

Look at the dross on offer at Yarmouth today. It even trumps Brighton's card for garbage on show. Yarmouth was once known most for having quality two year old maiden and condition events, with plenty of Newmarket handlers prepared to run some of their better juveniles at the seaside location.

John Gosden does at least have a runner in the two year old race today but it's worth noting that none of the entrants have a single Listed or Group race entry. The card also includes three 0- 55 handicaps. These races offer no valuable service to the sport, even limited as betting office fodder given 99% of under 45's will be first looking towards the footy for punting purposes.

Though still opposed by so many, the sooner the inevitable mass culling of the fixture list happens the better for a sport whose continuation is unviable in its present size. Papering over the cracks and kicking the can along the road only inflicts more unnecessary self harm to the industry in the UK.

A track from a much celebrated album that was released three months before the 1972 York Ebor meeting and thus would have graced thousands of households in the week that Brigadier Gerard was turned over by Roberto.

TWO SPORTS ON SEPARATE PATHS SO FAR APART

Racing has fallen behind other sectors of the entertainment on several fronts - one is the handling of attendees and the rules prescribed for what is permissible and what reasonably breaches accepted codes of conduct.

Drawing comparisons with how a European Tour come D.P World Tour golf event is managed compared to a modern day race meeting is comparing chalk with cheese, such is the gulf in how the staff keep the show ticking over.

The difference is a stark one. I attended the Cazoo Classic at the delightful Hillside last week end, visiting on the Thursday and Sunday. The field did not quite boast the depth of the 2019 tournament staged at the venue but for those who would enjoy following around hardy European Tour regulars, some with struggling profiles, it was a gratifying experience, for a most reasonable cost of £20 for the opening day and £25 for the concluding day.

A notable aspect concerned the professionalism of the staff and volunteers, who all appeared to relish carrying out their tasks, completely opposite to the miserable sods that the racecourses somehow have a habit of employing.

And make no mistake, those staffing golf courses are busy throughout the whole day, opening and closing crossings as play develops, having to divert spectators from walking into line of sight spots, or are inadvertently crossing fairways that are in play or even following playing groups in the in play areas, all easily done in error -  the shepherding is applied in a firm when needed but friendly humorous manner by staff who are themselves golfing buffs.

The rules don't allow alcohol or picnic hampers to be brought in - understandable in the sense that an in play ball could fall literally anywhere out on the course requiring crowds to be moved aside speedily. But the common sense applied all round is something which racecourses could and should learn from.

On the Sunday I arrived with a soft cloth Puma shoulder bag containing a bottle of water, a banana and chicken cobs. I was waved through the baggage checking area, as it was clear I was not carrying a hamper and unlikely to have booze in my possession.

A refreshing change from being asked to show the contents of my pockets and told that even small home sandwiches could not be brought in by racecourse staff who without resorting to a Thesaurus, I am unable to find a more accurate alternative than ' arseholes' to describe them.

The pricing of drink and food was notably lower than for an Open Championship, which do admittedly and shamefully charge top dollar but in general the price of a pint around was  £1.50 lower than that charged at the Aintree Grand National fixture, though as I am always on the move (over eight miles on my Steps App) boozing was not the purpose of the day - just two alcoholic drinks all day on each day,

Trying to look for an area to allow racecourses some leeway in the debate is a difficult one other than the attendees at a racing event are now a different breed to times past. Back in the 1970's it was a common sight at the likes of Haydock Park on a Saturday to have large groups arriving in charabangs carrying in large amounts of the likes of Tetley, Skol, and Double Diamond into the venue, and finding a speck for the consignment on the steps in the stand - however, in addition to the daily newspapers they'd  have at least one Sporting Chronicle and Sporting Life amongst them.They were racing fans and they behaved as such.

Nowadays the large parties who alight from the coaches are generally almost all lukewarm to the sport, with the conversation being more Callum Wilson than Callum Shepherd, and players in the injury list taking more attention up than non runners.

I find that those attending modern day golf tournaments are extremely passionate and knowledgeable over their sport. It's something that the dwindling number of modern day racing fans should be envious over. In fact, it dawned on me that the present day Golf course spectators were in general similar to those who attended racecourses fifty or more years ago, such is how they conduct themselves along with the enthusiasm shown towards the sport on offer.

And how enjoyable it is to dip in and out of the various groups in play and watch the many characters going about their profession......... a lowly ranked Portuguese contestant having a mare on Thursday, missing fairways alternately left and right, going into bunkers, but greeting with a hand slap a probable relative following his group around.....an Englishman commentating  aloud on his shots to few friends or relatives tracking him around........a South African character who has definitely increased his waste size since I last saw him, both he and his caddy look to have addictive natures, regularly puffing away on vaping pipes..... an Italian regular who the last time he played I'd overheard him ask his caddy on one of the early holes if the passing train went to Chester, not something you could predict would enter the conversation with a thousand guesses and certainly not something that you'd find incorporated into a player/caddy conversation in one of those computer golfing games..... hardy local veterans locals attracting plenty of good mannered encouragement......a Frenchman constantly bearing a most angry expression on his face.... a  fellow countryman of his prone to angry let it all go self critical outbursts......while anothe, Julien Guerrier,  maybe should have let off some steam as he bottled his emotions while in the process of going into meltdown and throwing away a semingly unassailable lead with only half a dozen holes left, and while the Scotsman Richie Ramsay received slightly more vocal encouragement as he closed down the leader, the faltering leader was given hearty respectful, enthusiastic support..... 

It's now too late too put mechanisms into place that would return racecourses into locations for racing fans. The change that began to take hold the early 1990's is now too far gone which is why in desperation. gimmicky events are introduced by those with no real understanding of the real appeals of the game. 

Golfing crowds are a mirror of how racing spectators existed in the past, passionate fans coming along to immerse themselves in something they understand and relish. It's a sport that ticks all the boxes with regard to the future, environment friendly, no animals involved, reaching to all corners of the globe.......as for the present state of UK horse racing, well, in three words, it's in bits.

A track from a strong throughout album and one of Bowie's best. And as usual, returning to a time when racing in the UK stood high on the podium along the other truly major sports

A CRISIS INTENSIFYING

The once unthinkable is now becoming a distinct possibility. The uprooting of horse racing from the UK , possibly Ireland and France too, with the show relocating in the Middle East, shared predominantly between Saudi Arabia and Dubai. 

Saudi Arabia is now pressing the pedal on wanting a bigger portion of the top level sporting scene. Money is no object as demonstrated by the offer to Ronaldo, and more so by the setting up of the LIV Golf tour which has already pulled in household names and will only be able to be resisted by the remaining cream at the top of the game for a limited period- you can sense it in how opinions of those showcase players not yet involved are already being delicately rephrased as they look further into the future and size up their plans.

With UK racing being cash strapped, how many will be able to resist offers to relocate? Quality animals are being hoovered up at a rate higher than ever before and earlier in their careers than ever before. The temptation to cash in in such rocky times must be close to irresistible for many. If the rumoured Middle East plans come reality, it won’t just be the horses that go - it will be trainers and riders and it will be on a permanent basis - unlike the long established working winter holidays in the likes of Hong Kong and India.

Let's imagine for example Tom Dascombe receives an offer to relocate with the assurance that he'll have good quality animals to train and that he'll be getting his foot in and established before the avalanche truly begins with bigger and bigger names following.

Here is a trainer who originally had a most progressive profile training from Lambourn who made a questionable decision to move to an unfashionable part of the country as a part salaried part private trainer. And this is not being wise after the event - it raised many eyebrows at the time as his name kept cropping up as one who was on the cusp of attracting patronage from some of the games biggest owners.

One can only guess how things would have developed if Dascombe had stayed put but it would be more than reasonable to suggest that at the very least he would have equalled the success achieved at Manor House and without the shadow of worry always lurking in the background that a single person possessed the power to return him back to the very beginning.

Make no mistake, Dascombe is now a prime candidate for such an approach. And what of Marcus Tregonning who it seems only yesterday that he was training the winner of the Epsom Derby and had a large string of mainly Shadwell bluebloods in his care.Very much a candidate likely to be approached as too would be Peter Chapple-Hyam, who has a remarkable CV always being able to justify those spells he had when given quality stock.

In fact, you could quickly build an endless list because once the trickle began you would never say never about any licence holder. And there is a big difference as to how a sudden, large scale racing expansion in the Middle East would play out compared to what we'll see happening with the on the road LIV tour.

With racing the numbers are near unlimited - at least for the first few years because the quicker the fixture list is expanded and populated the more horses and personnel are needed, and vice versa. With LIV, those middling golfers who have signed up will find themselves with an increasing number of limited opportunities as more of the bigger names join the tour - though no doubt they've already worked this out and figured that if would still financially work out as the better move.

With these scenarios more than just fanciful it makes you wonder what will be left of the present racing scene. With this in mind it must be noted that if as is possible, Irish racing goes into a critical state, Coolmore will be prepared to react to limit the downside.

Rather than becoming involved with a Middle Eastern plan it's far more likely that the core of the Irish operation would be transferred and split between the States and Australia where that already have thriving, firmly established breeding operations. The move could be achieved pretty smoothly in a relatively short space of time.

But returning to what would be left - well, the worst case scenario would be a wilderness of mediocrity. It's not something that would be relished. Exposure of the sport would fall with a lack of both equine and human stars to tickle the interest of the emerging generations. 

Many are now making somber predictions that racing in the UK is following the path to nowhere that its once great contemporary, Greyhound racing, trod down some years back - yes, it still exists in the background on a reduced scale but is barely discussed. How many would be able to name this year's Greyhound Derby winner, or even where the once great race is now held?

Here was a sport which although was always going to be unable to maintain it's heady numbers of racegoers that attended at the peak in the demobbing period after WW2, it appeared a given that it would  reset at a prominent level. Even in the relatively recent 1980's it was overall a very popular sport with the likes of the incredible stayer Scurlogue Champ, the truly class act Ballyregan Bob, making themselves known icons outside of the  sport. The same decade also boasted a wonderful Derby winner in Whisper Wishes. 

Admittedl there were concerns for the future of the sport but no one seriously imagined it could fall off the edge of the cliff. It's a reality check of what may be around the corner for racing and that a blase wave of the  arms is a dangerous attitude to adopt because unlike the canine sport, there are plenty of interested parties in other parts of the globe who will assist in its dismantling, even if not intentional.

A great cover version of a Motown hit from an album released during the year that Sea Bird 11 took the racing world by storm. Very soon, delving into the past will be the only enjoyable hobby left for rzcing fans, so woeful the game will have become.

YET ANOTHER AVOIDABLE COG IN THE WHEEL

UK Racing is beset by so many pressing issues of concern that the planned restrictive whip regulations that are now almost certain to be introduced have come without the open public pre amble in the press that would at one time have taken place.

Getting to the heart of the issue is the unpalatable fact that this is all about image. In fact since the now established air cushioned whips were introduced all whip regulations are solely a move to make things cleaner on the eye for the spectator - particularly those looking in indifferently or viewers with just a passing interest in the sport.

Many years have passed since riders were permitted to freely rain down sky high ariel strikes Eddery and Piggott style, though with the present design of whips we could return to those days with those that don't like it just having to learn that today's modern instruments applied to the hind quarters won't be causing any pain to an eighty stone beast.

With the present crop of riders riders learning their profession knowing they can't resort to habitual above shoulder high strikes (just two such strikes resulting in a minimum two days suspension) a return to such days would be unnecessary but the aforementioned two legends would only resort to this ultra aggressive looking style if they were receiving a response from beneath - for they were equally at home gently coaxing one home.

And by comparison however fierce the images may have looked, there were riders in Australasia who were far more carefree with their whip use. Mal Johnston, rider of the legendary Kingston Town, was notorious for his enthusiastic use of the stick. He was over in the UK on a working holiday in 1977 and rode Royal Palace's half brother Owen Jones to victory for Henry Cecil in that valuable three year old handicap run at Haydock in May under various different names down the years.

Then there was Philip Losh who rode in the UK for a short period over forty years back, noted for a Mick Channon style windmill action with his whip. One thing the new rules will at least ensure is that diversity in this area will be non existent. 

If truth be told, racing's rulers have for many years now been willing for matters involving the whip to be discussed in the open. For the cynical amongst us we can see, even if not by design, how this suits a purpose by consolidating the long held belief of the general public that this is the chief  'welfare' issue within the sport and that by addressing it they are making the game appear more animal friendly while at the same time sweeping the real and disturbing wastage issue under the carpet.

The PJA website has a detailed section on whip use, and what is considered acceptable. Some of it borders on comical such as rule 3 of the guidance of what rider's should consider. The rule advises that they should be " showing the horse the whip and giving it time to respond before using it", a sentence suggesting that the whip is a weapon that instills fears and is one that needs rephrasing.

It's also one thing handing out fines or suspensions to riders for breaching whip regulations, but the proposed disqualifications would be taking things over the edge, particularly if raceday stewards were given this power.

The present rules regarding the category of riding offence required for raceday disqualification are in many ways beneficial for the sport. More certainty for the punters, less time taken over deliberations, and much more preferable to the days when horses winning on merit then losing them in the Stewards room were much more common place.

While these rules spark controversy in that they attract an army of critics on the basis they embrace a ' win at all costs'  mentality, increasing the danger to both horse and rider, they had no bearing on the highest profile riding incident in recent times, resulting in life changing injuries to Freddy Tylicki. It will always remain a highly dangerous sport.

It would be most unwelcome for horses to lose races on the day from so called whip offences and in a time that racing needs punters to bet on it more than ever before with more alternative sports to bet on than ever before, it would be unwise to go down this path.

In many ways it's a great shame that this area of the sport along with multiple other areas of critical concern  temper what normally would have been reasons to digest and enjoy a so far enjoyable Flat season at a time when the actual racing needs as much positive publicity as possible.

The first four English classics falling to four unconnected sets of owning connections, four different trainers and four different sires. This added to a relative good spread of where the prizes have fallen - at least when compared to the last two decades overall.

Admittedly this unfortunately is unlikely to become a permanent escape from the two and three party domination of modern day UK Flat racing and of course it's nothing as varied as the fields assembled for typical top level events in the 1970's and early years of the 1980's, but it has been an unexpected and welcoming development.

But alas it's in the main been passing by unnoticed and is no more than a backdrop to the head spinning mess that has gripped the sport with these new needless whip use recomendations yet another addition to the swirl.

A great cover version from a legendary band and a track Daltrey has on his set list on his present tour. And of course from a time when racing was in a much better place. 

A LOWPOINT IN RACING BROADCASTING

While we do have the choice of how to view our racing, with the option always available of pressing the mute button to avoid the inane filler often forced upon us between races, it is difficult to resist the temptation to take in the showcase meetings through the main terrestrial broadcaster, for we can judge how the casual viewers are targeted.

Since the long passed days of Wilson, Lindley, Hanmer and O'Sullivan covering the sport with polished professionalism, we have always had to endure the odd cringeworthy moments, many on the old C4 with Derek Thompson involved. 

However, this past week surpassed all for gooey, condescending presentation, most eminating from arguably the worst frontman ever to present the sport in this country.

That feigned look and sound of surprise when he turned to the viewers to repeat John Gosden's remarks on the inept Dettori ride on Stradavarius, his repeated praises for the so called present well being of a struggling sport in crisis, his repeating of co presenters statements with an added false wow factor emphasis, his reluctance to get involved on the subject of jockeys being jocked off, - in fact his reluctance to address anything remotely controversial.

Then there is the agenda which he and most of his co presenters willingly embrace for the programme, whereby all is well within the sport, that the sport is thriving, that there are no animal welfare issues to address within the sport - at every opportunity we are told how the horses receive five start treatment on and off the course, with the cameras used to support this view and with figures of officialdom interviewed to press this over to the audience.

I seem to remember that not so long ago the show promised that they would be returning to the wastage issue, vowing not to sweep it out if sight under the carpet - something precisely that they seem to have done such is the enthusiasm behind wall to wall upbeat themes.

If this latest renewal of the Ascot Gold Cup had been run during the 1970's or 1980's the aftermath would be covered in a no frills straight to the core style. The BBC viewers would be taken through a full replay of the race with Julian Wilson and Jimmy Lindley. It would of course be in Lindley's nature to show a degree of empathy to the rider, but not delivered blindly without criticism. Anything on the lenient side would be countered by Wilson and if Gosden had come up to the box and uttered the sentiments of last week, Wilson, on conclusion of the interview, would stonily faced turn to the viewing public and sum up by fully agreeing with the verdict.

Walsh picks out race changing moments from the box with what one would expect from a successful ex rider but, and probably due to too much time the directors put aside for trashy features, it's not a full replay alongside what  no doubt would be an apologetic frontman, something may be we can be thankful for.

What is so galling about all of this is that terrestrial TV, had in Nick Luck, the most professional and capable front man since the days of Wilson and Brough Scott yet discarded him in place of the master of smugness, they have made the grave mistake of choosing to present the sport to the mainstream television audience, never mind some of the others deployed alongside him.

It really is head scratching finding a single area of racing presentation that has improved since the end of the 1980's. The paddock coverage is very good now but so too was it excellent when carried out by Lindley. There wasn't the close up roving camera following the horses around but paddocks were not chokker like they are now on big days so perhaps not essential.

Nowadays a camera from outside the paddock area would be hindered by the masses inside - syndicates along with all sorts. The day Frankel ran in the Juddmonte, God only knows on what grounds so many gained access - even when Sea The Stars won the same event a couple of years earlier the paddock had licence holders in completely unconnected with any of the runners, such as Richard Fahey.

Chamberlain’s absence from his place in front of the cameras in the so-called ‘ Sunday Series’ is neither here or there as this is pretty unwatchable anyway - hyped up in the main poor fare and we even now have new additions to racing speak, including ‘ Sunday horse', to describe an animal placed to thrive in these mundane events -oh to return to the days when the Dianne would have been the whole focus of last Sunday, having the stage to itself.

And in contrast to what was an all time low week to the coverage of one of the jewel in the crown fixtures of the sport, we were treated to first rate coverage of the US Open Golf, showing how top level sport should be covered without any dumbing down  - anyone genuinely fond of a particular sport will find themselves fascinated by professionals speaking to professionals using in house language. In golf we are served full and detailed analysis of golf swings. They don't say, let's taylor to suit the casual viewer and simplify it all, or are prompted by a colleague to translate if they do.

One had to accept that a fashion element has to be covered at Royal Ascot, which along with Prix De Dianne day at Chantilly are the two long standing traditional ladies days - the majority of others only sprouting from the late 1980's onwards with relatively low standing Warwick Oaks day one of the first of the rest to push on on this area.

But while it would be too much to hope for the frontman link up with lead fashion presenter to return to the Julian Wilson - Eve Pollard, mode, there was no need to axe James Sherwood who ironically was arguably the last fully speak the mind character to form part of a horse racing presenting team.

The only temporary respite last week came from the class action on track but overall the five days confirmed that there is no question now that most areas of this sport are right up Shit Creek and it's sadly far, far too late to do anything about it. 

From a time when horse racing was a truly major sport in the UK. A wonderful tune from the original artists  -  a cover version of which topped the charts. Glad to see it regularly on the set list of the current tour - a gig from which I've had the pleasure of attending. Two hours ten minutes on stage working out at less than £25 per half hour, and that's not including a quality support band beforehand. How long are the cheesey acts that form after race entertainment on stage for, and with the hiked up entrance fee how much do the 'racegoers' pay for the act.

NIL GROUNDS FOR OPTIMISM

It may have gone unnoticed by many as the days ticked down to Derby weekend, but arguably the most significant development in the racing world this week were the hard hitting, from the hip sentiments expressed by John Egan.

This is someone not burying his head in the sand and fully awake to the mess that UK horse racing had got itself into. Among his observations, Egan stated that felt sorry for his son in the sense that the young rider's promising career is going to evolve within a sport that increasingly lacks stability.

And his bleak views on the free for all fixture list are vindicated by glancing through the cards today. Look at Musselburgh for example -  decent prize money for racing that is basically underwhelming. 

The apprentice race has £25,000 added in prize money but almost half of the runners rated in the 60's. Admittedly there is a Listed race with £ 50,000 added but not a single runner fielded from a genuinely big name trainer.

While Irish racing is not free of pressing problems and perhaps an impending crisis too - the fixture list is better controlled and not head spinningly wall to wall. A similar event with the same level of prize money would be sure to attract  representatives from Ballydoyle, along with the other top Irish yards.

Although the Musselburgh cards have numbers, Egan was correct to highlight how the present UK fixture list affects the size and quality of the fields, with so many options for connections. Fields will begin to cut up more than ever before during the coming weeks and months. 

And there can never have been a time like this for lack of correlation between prize money and quality of animal. As an example, the five day entries for the concluding 4.40 at Haydock Park on Wednesday include three horses rated in the 90's, and a further seven rated 85 or over - the prize money, a pitiful £15,000 added. 

You can find numerous similar examples  which will become more prevalent. From August we will likewise have to bear the second staging of that ridiculous Racing League - the concept of retards. For a period of six weeks Saturday cards will have handicaps stripped of quality due to runners being diverted to the League, adding to the already depth lacking events due to the amount of racing.

No one wants mass job losses within the industry but the present system is unsustainable and planned trimming will have little effect - it needs tight control and the numbets cut in half. This will happen but not through planning, it will come when the whole stinking, greedy system collapses on itself.

Hopefully, what will be left will be a smaller industry but not one lacking too much in quality. One where you can get a grip on what is happening. One or two fixtures a day, a maximum of three on a Saturday. The five day entries would stir up interest and anticipation, fields with depth, numbers and quality. 

Of course,  this is only a best case scenario - the worst scenario would be a cut down to size industry but one were the quality too suffers too and cards similar to this coming Tuesday's card at Brighton commonplace - 3 x 0 - 50 's, 2 x 0- 55's and lo and behold a single 'classy' 0-60.

In reality though Brighton will be one of the venues that may go under in the near future. Most that fold will be predictable but there'll be a surprise or two as well.

Meanwhile, as for now, the courses will continue with their theme days, competing to pull in as many 'fans' as possible  with a business model built around hope of attendees who spend endlessly on overpriced drink and food. Unfortunately for most locations the crisis has already hit and crowd numbers are suffering - and this is without the further blow that will come when the Big Brother affordability checks on gambling are applied.

95 % of punters will rightly be shouting stuff off if asked by bookmaking firms to disclose copies of bank statements and presumably, rather than completely lose custom, firms will be forced by Government to impose a mandatory across the board monthly loss limit. 

With as little as £100 per month being mooted then racing will be crippled. Put it this way, £100 per month - are you going to be looking at cack run of the mill handicaps or save it for a Golf tournament, T - 20 cricket match, or even a Tennis tournament or Grand Prix. And what happens when the footy season starts again?

It's clear that it will be horse racing that will suffer. A shortfall in levy through punters, a shortfall in takings from drink and food spends on course. And this added to an already lack of engagement with the sport from the emerging generations. It's not good at all. It really isn't.

image taken from Wiki

This album was arguably a level below previous releases by this band but still listenable from start to finish. It went on sale the week before Troy won the Derby. Racing was in a very happy place at the time - a return to which will never happen again.

IT HAS BECOME A HOLLOW SPORT

It's eerie that the person who to most racing fans of a certain age was the most iconic figure of the sport, has passed at a time when this once great sport whose future seemed safe and assured is in a state of turmoil with no easy solutions on how the decline can be halted.

Make no mistake, when the sport was on a tier a couple of levels above now which it perilously sits, the true legend of Lester Piggott was a household name on the level of Ali, Roger Moore, Jackie Stewart and Joan Colllins. 

The aura emanating from him was not as hectic and coloured as some other household names, but he was wholly revered by racing fans, an idolisation that crossed over into non racing confines, similar to non tennis fans looking up to Bjorn Borg, or those who don't consider themselves golfing fans looking up to Jack Nicklaus as though he was a figure of worship.

A chapter ends as we are left with an emerging generation of ' racegoers' who call the horses by numbers, and talk of their 'accas' on the footy, never visit the paddock, drink themselves stupid and often snort white powder too. 

Ironic really when the great man fought against the scales for his whole riding career without becoming hooked on drink - a regressive habit that took hold of many other great riders who by no means should be criticised or thought less of for finding solace and comfort from the bottle.

Eddery, Cauthen and Swinburn junior amongst those falling under the spell of various alcoholic potions. In fact it's amazing how many work colleagues of both sexes that you will discover to your surprise are hiding a drinking habit and hiding it well, such is how well they function.

Testament after testament indicate beyond doubt that Piggott was  fervently self disciplined, and would restrict himself to a single glass, mainly of champagne, to accompany his cigars and classical music. A difference to those of us who without being alcoholics find comfort in a bottle of red or the odd long session on the beer, and who peruse offers from the wine club they belong to with the excitement they displayed as a child when watching the toy adverts on the telly as Christmas approached - come to think of it I never did get that Evel Knievel toy that was popular in its day.

Luckily, I've managed to gather a tiny collection of Piggott memorabilia which I cherish. From his library of form books, presumably sold off when he moved to Switzerland a decade back, I have his 1965 Raceform Annuals, which on opening, fittingly landed on the page recording Meadow Court's King George success.

Thousands of maturing racing fans may or may not be able to recall the first time they saw this icon in the flesh. I think I was first present at a meeting he was riding at some time during the summer of 1976, but what I'm more certain of was the first time I saw him ride a winner live was not until August 1977 on the Tuesday of the York Ebor meeting, quickening late on to seal the Harewood Handicap on the popular Derek Kent trained sprinter Epsom Imp.

Piggott had been turned over earlier in the day on the Mrs Getty owned Artaius in the Benson And Hedges   Gold Cup. His stable companion, the charismatic dual Derby and King George winner The Minstrel, had just been retired in order to beat an impending USA horse import ban in the face of an outbreak of equine gonnorhea  - by York week he would already have been in Kentucky in preparation for his first season at stud the following year.

Eclipse winner Artaius looked set up to take over the mantle of the top three year old but found the long priced previous year's Derby runner up Relkino too good for him. In another twist to the chapter, another Ballydoyle colt, a certain Alleged, took York by storm the following day when destroying his rivals in the Great Voltigeur. He would win the first of his two Arcs that autumn and topped the middle distance ratings in Europe.

But my most memorable day involving Piggott would be eight years on in 1985, when the master showed he had just as good a clock in his head as Cauthen when executing a wonderful ride from the front on Commanche Run ( in picture) to deny the Kentucky Kid aboard the mighty Oh So Sharp.

Other live moments from the top of my head would be another fine front running ride in the same race on Hawaiian Sound back in 1978. The Barry Hills trained colt had been narrowly beaten in both the Epsom and Irish Derbies under the miniature, stateside established racing icon Bill Shoemaker. Many were under the impression that the little man been jocked off but the truth was The Shoe was committed to riding at Saratoga that week, the nearest equivalent North America has to Royal Ascot.

Then two days later, in the William Hill Sprint Championship on Solinus, an animal who never really got the credit he deserved - he'd won the Kings Stand and July Cup in his previous two starts. 

And finally pulling up Miller's Mate and holding him and probably saving the animal's life in the 1985 Chester Vase after he broke down, meaning the Mill Reef colt could be saved for stud where though far from successful, would still achieve a small portion of fame by siring the dam of Best Mate. 

Then there was the time I experienced a most bizarre moment when a baby faced York native who claimed he was on friendly speaking terms with Piggott when he worked in Newmarket, and who would approach him at York fixtures for a chat, actually rang the legend up and spoke to him - one of the daughters initially answering the phone and handing over to her father,

I and one other person were in the phone box and we heard the legend's unmistakable nasal tones who advised that he thought Popsi's Joy would go well for him in the following day's Cesarewitch - he made the frame. During the brief conversation the York native, who could have been cast for a role in  'Kez', addressed Piggott as ' Less'. 

Fast forward to the present and I did not hear a single mention of the great man's name in the workplace today. That is testament to how far horse racing in this country has fallen. Hardly anyone has any respect or appreciation for the game or any of its participants. It's a game truly on the skids.

image taken by author

This track from a strong throughout album without any real filler, which was released less than a fortnight on from Sir Ivor's Derby triumph.

A TIME TO SIT BACK AND LAUGH

Hardly a day or two now passes without a negative report expressing concern for the immediate future of horse racing in the UK. Prize money, the impact of the pending affordibility checks, racecourse attendances - on all these fronts there is no bright sky far on the horizon.

Observing the Chester May meeting via  TV, it was clear from the paddock shots that the crowd looked down on what would normally be expected. I chuckled at this sight. And these visual impressions were backed up by the facts - the crowd for the whole three days was an eye popping third down compared to the corresponding three days in 2019, the last time it was staged pre covid.

Many of us maturing racing fans have fond memories of a Chester racecourse with a gentler atmosphere,  when the actual racing racing was the focus point. I first visited on the day Mr Bigmore won the Summer Handicap in 1976 and would never have believed that I would one day take delight at misfortunes suffered by this historic venue.

Attempting to pinpoint when Chester racecourse began to turn from class to trash involves some subjective guessing but the signs were there as you moved towards the late eighties. It was certainly evident in the nineties, the decade when there was an increasing trend up and down the country to target the party racegoers who'd pack the bars all day long. 

In the noughties the changes took hold at an increased tempo, all days being theme days, then soon after the likes of the Chester May meeting and York's Dante and Ebor fixtures moved forward a day to take advantage of the cult attendees increasing availability the closer to the weekend the race days fell.

Chester became too big for it's boots once the noughties arrived, becoming almost unbearable as recent time progressed.Tatts was no more the home of the normal racing fans who sought a day of visiting the paddock, placing a bet and watching the action. It had become a second club enclosure, for the suited and groomed, but with only a secondary interest in the racing, meaning a day watching the action from the centre field enclosure became more preferable - even though you have to endure that irritant, endless, waffling voice reverberating from the speakers. 

My last visit was on the day the hugely talented but ill fated Sir Dragonet stormed home in the Vase. I intended to go into Tatts, unaware they had seen fit to bring in, out of the blue, a strict dress code, no doubt having become pretentious enough to change the long established status of Tatts, a domain for keen racegoers who don't want to go in the club enclosure, are most comfortable in casual attire, and for the real genuine fans, having access to the paddock - something that had long been the norm at all courses.

I arrived well over an hour before the opener. The gates were quiet and as I pulled out the cash to purchase my ticket I was met by four gate staff, three male, one female, all in the 40 - 60 age group, none of them the most friendly looking individuals.

"Unbutton your jacket", one of them demanded. Surprised because this had never happened to me before entering Chester's Tattersalls enclosure, and despite appearing what I would class as smart casual quickly, I was not in the mood for protest thus made a quick decision to opt for the Dee Enclosure, the entrance conveniently being at the same location.

"Show me what's in your pockets", another of the four ordered. On producing a home made ham cob I was offered the choice of eating it right then on the spot or binning it - I chose the latter as it was meant for later to avoid being ripped off by the ' Carvery' or whatever fancy name they apply to the just average in quality food stands whose vendors admittedly pay trumped up charges and would have been hit hard the other week.

Finally, as I entered through the gate the character handing me back my portion of the ticket, cautioned,     "make sure you keep hold of that because if you're asked to produce it inside and don't have it, you'll be told to leave." As I descended the steps, already befuddled, I heard the eldest of the four declare, "they think they can just turn up." 

Well, switch the clock forward just a few years and we have the same venue now on the verge of pleading with the masses to 'just turn up' as a third of their attendees have had their fill of ridiculous entry fees,       (particularly at the weekend meetings that host relatively mediocre cards), overpriced drink and food, arrogant staff, and an overall trashy ambience.

What is so tickling about this recent development is that these falling numbers are made up predominantly of the cult attendees whom Chester and numerous other courses went out if their way to court, happy for them to replace the traditional racing fans

Those racing fans will not be returning in any meaningful number. Moreover, the prioritised cult attendee numbers won't be on the increase again. In fact their numbers will for sure continue to shrink. Remember, they fit the profile that other sectors of the entertainment industry will be seeking to entice. And as the actual racing is not the core interest of these attendees, then the likes of an outdoor beer festival  would be capable of diverting many away from the course as a venue such as Chester could not compete on a cost level, and even it's cheapest spot, the course enclosure, would offer little in rivalry.

The bubble has finally burst with little help on hand to ease the casualties. We can have a good guess which venues will sail through with limited damage, while also having a list of those who could be close to locking the gates for good. Chester will no doubt survive but will cease to be the Chester Race Company Ltd's cash cow it had become since the turn of the century. It's self inflicted and something to rejoice over.

This was high up in the charts in the week Sea Pigeon won the first of his two Chester Cups in 1977, when race days were designed primarily for racing fans. 

 

AN EXODUS COULD BE ON ITS WAY

Masen would be an animal appearing in many written or mental note books as one who would pay to follow this season. He was progressing nicely with Ger Lyons last season after being gelded, the son of Kingman looking certain to have a future in valuable contests.

It would therefore come as something of a surprise when on scanning the entries, or being notified by tracker e-mails, to discover that he was engaged in a Grade 1 event at Keeneland the Friday before last and was now running from the Chad Brown barn.

We know Juddmonte have long operated successfully stateside, from the times when John Gosden was based in California, followed by Bobby Frankel. In fact the rise in the number of valuable Group races in Europe confined to older fillies and mares was a response to the number of female horses continuing their career in North America.

But in this case with a lightly raced four year old gelding who evidently is not a bleeder, the only reason he could be continuing on in another continent while remaining in the Juddmonte ownership would be for prize money reasons only. He was touched off by a nose at Keeneland and received over the equivalent of £70,000 sterling for his efforts. 

It's hardly a new trend. Theatrical who was a smart performer with Dermot Weld went stateside with great success in the mid 1980's. The 1990 Juddmonte owned Derby winner Quest For Fame, continued on with Bobby Frankel and won a moderately contested Grade 1 at Hollywood Park. He had been a below average winner of the Epsom race. Further back, the 1974 Derby winner Snow Knight continued on in the states, not to mention three notable French trained animals in Flying Water, Exceller and the legendary Dahlia.

And in recent times the Epsom Derby runner up Main Sequence improved massively over there - though in his case he bbv'd regularly when racing in England and clearly left to take advantage of the anti bleeding medication permitted in most of the North American states.

It  probably would be unfair to include the top 1976 juvenile J.O. Tobin. Noel Murless was retiring and his American owner preferred to take the colt back home, a move that most certainly impacted on some of the top mile and ten furlong races in 1977. With Blushing Groom remaining in France for the Poulains you would have at least expected him to have won the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas in which Nebbiolo defeated The Minstrel. As things turned out he proved a massive success racing in the land of his birth. 

For someone who in 1976 was in his second year of being completely smitten by the sport, you had to wonder whether top of the tree juveniles would be regularly making one journeys across the Atlantic, as from memory you had no precedent to go on.

But returning to the present, the possibility of an increased number of horses moving to another continent before even being tested in the early stages of their three year old careers is disquieting. The Donnacha O'Brien trained Sissoko was a highly promising juvenile who finished runner up to Luxembourg in the Vertem Futurity and being by Australia appealed as one who would be a much better three year old, up to competing in the valuable middle distance events.

Many would therefore have a little bewildered when the announcement was made that he was bought to race on in Hong Kong, a peninsula that is better known for sprinters with the majority of purchases from Europe falling into this category. His new name is not yet listed over here but he has gone for sure, holding no future European entries and missing from the list in O'Brien's entries in Horses In Training. One surely would have thought that they would at least give him half a season in Europe to accurately assess the level he could reach.

This long established trend whereby horses sold to race in Hong Kong undergo a name change seems unnecessary and to a small extent messes up many of the modern, computerised form books.Timeform’s database will at least have a note in the entry under the original name, that the animal has moved to Hong Kong to be campaigned under the stated new name. If on the other hand you search under the new name, there is no link to the animal under the original one. There are no updates as of yet with Sissoko.

The Racing Post database is even more unhelpful. Once an animal changes name it copies over into all previous races. Thus if for example you look at the 2006 St Leger Yearling Stakes, the one staged at York when they were rebuilding the stand at Doncaster, you may be a tad baffled at not being able to remember the winner, Helene Brilliant, ridden by Frankie Dettori.

The runner up will of course be most familiar being the following season’s 2,000 Guineas victor Cockney Rebel, making that renewal of the York race one of the most significant events of its type in the last couple of decades. But you’d need to dip into a paper form book to discover that Helene Brilliant won that restricted sales race under the name of Doctor Brown ( in picture).

Similarly, as the significant Derby trials will soon be upon us, many might start refreshing the memory by delving into the Dante’s over the past 15 years to assess whether the race is holding up its significance as a trial. 

The 2009 renewal which resulted in Ballydoyle filling the first two places headed by Black Bear Island, was not one to have an impact on the Epsom race, but you’d need the loose leaf editions of the form book to assist after wondering why the name of the runner up, Straight Forward, fails to ignite the memory cells - again being another Hong Kong export job, the Galileo colt’s original name Freemantle perhaps vaguely still being in the memory. At least he was allowed to race for half of his three year old season in Europe, culminating in a fourth place finish in the Grand Prix De Paris, marking him as very smart but clearly off the very top level.

Admittedly, the purchase and transfer of horses to race in other jurisdictions has not up to now had any real notable detrimental impact on the sport here, the exception being horses being horses sold to race in Australia and the Middle East, who in times gone by would have been eyed up as prospective hurdling recruits by the big jumping yards.

But sooner or later something that is not even a steady trickle of equine talent to other continents may turn into a running tap with a continuous one way flow away from this part of the globe. It’s a trend now predicted by some of the most influential and respected voices in the game, a result of course of the failure  of the overall prize money levels here being unable to even keep the other continents in sight. This is nothing new but the gap is widening and will increase at an alarming rate once the after affects of the unavoidable soon to be imposed gambling affordability checks.

This gloomy expectation now appears inevitable.Tradition and prestige only have so much mileage. And prestige itself cannot run on fresh air - it requires continued prize money boosts. In a time when programme changes and new races appear at a rate previously unimagined, expect to see more potentially top class horses leaving this continent before beginning their three year old career -and don't rule out one even in the J.O. Tobin league leaving early.

image taken by author 

This tune was prominent in the charts when J.O.Tobin won the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

A SPORT UNRECOGNISABLE FROM THE PAST IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

I cannot recall racegoers being surveyed over plans to introduce a cashless operation for food, drink, tickets and race cards - it’s not yet been extended to cover bets, but that time may be closer than many think as the racecourse itself would offer an escape route for those wishing to avoid the proposed affordability checks.

The first time I had to endure the card only policy was Becher day at Aintree back in December. At the time it was reasonable to assume that this was only a temporary restriction, introduced for Covid reasons which meant it could be just about be tolerated.

But when returning to the venue last Thursday it became clear that this is a permanent measure, brought in quietly through the back door. No doubt all the racecourses under the Jockey Club banner will likewise have brought in what to many over a certain age will be viewed as an unnecessary restriction.

A great many are comfortable with cash - card payments open the door to a wide range of unscrupulous ploys. I doubt there is hardly anyone in existence who has not had to have a card replaced after noting transactions made in stores hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of miles away.

Those running the courses would perhaps point to their own security concerns regarding large amounts of cash accumulating on course and having to be transported away. Though I have no stats to support this, the methods of securing the passage of cash to a bank along with the devices set up so as to render anything stolen unusable, have surely made these type of robberies extremely rare - certainly compared to the days when they seemed to occur numerous times each month- the culprits being tracked down by real life Thaw and Waterman and Sewell and Mower type characters.

Truth no doubt is that the card only system allows them to undertake a detailed analysis of the attendees habits, forming trends that will enable them to pinpoint where profits can be maximised. 

Last Thursday was to me a glimpse into the future of how the courses that survive will operate. In a gambling prohibitive society the only way the game would survive will be racecourses turning their business model entirely to one based on enticing as many visitors as possible through the gates to spend as much money as possible on food and drink.

 One must remember that picture rights and levy from gambling go hand in hand - affordability checks will massively reduce the desire and need to view live feeds of the sport meaning that the value of live broadcasts will drop accordingly.

The racing itself will become more detached than ever before- forming a backdrop to the real business of the day. Didn’t the paddock side look very spacey on Friday and Saturday ? A true sign of this transformation, the horses themselves of zilch interest to the masses.

I was with two non racing fan drinking buds on Thursday, outnumbered, I experienced the day as the category of racegoer who most racing fans cannot make heads or tails of. Well behaved yes, but showing  no passion towards the quality equine fare on show.  Enjoyable too, and I did successfully manage to drag my two companions out of the bars and down to the last for the juvenile hurdle, and to the paddock for the Bowl, ( "these horses are household names to racing fans") and they’ll be back next year but again just for a day out and they are unlikely to watch a televised race in between, not even the Grand National In Name Only Handicap Chase. 

No doubt very soon all of the racecourses will have fully embraced the get all and sundry in to spend practice, which they consider now offers them the best way of keeping in profit. But they must also have taken heed of the negative feedback from these modern ‘racegoers’ who attended Cheltenham, many vowing never to return due to what they considered were exorbitant prices charged for food and drink.

Aintree were charging in between £7 - £8 per pint of all the normal stuff they have on tap. Even allowing for the fact that the price of alcoholic drinks have increased across the board, and that racecourse prices have always been up to 30% to 50% higher than your average high street pub, it was still beyond justifiable.

Make no mistake, the movers in the business world who have the wherewithal combined with the nous to make things happen will spot opportunities to structure rival attractions to lure these 'racegoers' away. All the fun of a big racing day, more competitively priced, with gimmicky events replacing the racing that won't be missed at all by the modern attendees. Very quickly, a day at the races for those indifferent to the sport will not be the chic thing anymore.

The sport is not in a good place at the moment. The mirage that is the Grand National In Name Only Handicap Chase will not paper over these cracks. Influential figures in the sport are now coming out and voicing their concerns.The game is in for a harsh reality check  coming very soon.

image taken by author 

A terrific track from a terrific album when this band were at the height of their powers talent wise, and when horse racing, both European and Stateside, was in its element and a couple of tiers higher in popularity than now.

FULL OF THE MISSING AND INCOMPLETES

The latest edition of Horses in Training is out for purchase and being realistic one could only have hoped rather than expected a general increase in co-operation from licence holders who after all have no obligation to volunteer detailed information about their strings to a commercial publication.

That said, when they start to complain about what will be a general devaluing of prize money in parallel to their running costs, maybe those who haven't given their secretaries time to complete the forms or who have returned the form with half completed strings or even not competed it at all, will consider that it would have done no harm to have contributed to what is a historical work of reference. 

It cannot be said enough that when someone becomes properly hooked on this game they will be punters for life. It's their ticket in. They do not own or train horses but their judgment of how they will run can at times affect their level of living and how much spare cash they have to splash out. And this is something that even applies to so called responsible punters.

The time of publication means that on going through the pages your attention is drawn to the prominent flat strings, particularly the strength of their juveniles and whether they have any new notable patrons, or if any of their most powerful supporters have chosen to cut off supply.

If the annual was published in October the jumping strings would be the focus of attention as you'd turn to the large yards and note the number and quality of new recruits sourced from France or the Irish pointing fields. 

During the 1970's I'd turn first to the Seven Barrows team of P.T.Walwyn, followed by M. V. O'Brien, Major Hern and H.R.A. Cecil. In the later part of the decade you could hardly fail to notice how two great owner breeders in Lord Howard De Walden and Louis Freedman were beginning to favour Cecil over Walwyn for the cream of their products.

When  comparing the strength of yards nowadays, you are left having to guess and fill in the gaps. The Gosden yard have yet again failed to supply details of their juveniles, and so too has Michael Stoute. While one must appreciate that the latter is slowly winding down with no apparent heir ready to take control, these annuals have been viewed by enthusiasts as works of history and if trainers are not willing to provide such details to save what they may feel is embarrassment of revealing how the strength of the yard has weakened, then they are giving scant regard to the greater picture and how the present will be viewed in future years.

Mind you, if truth be told, the whole game as we know it could be up soon and I doubt in fifty years time that Horses In Training annuals will collectables and eagerly sought. In fact, that sort of enthusiasm has long gone as can be seen by the pittance that most of the old Timeform Annuals go for on e bay. 

On acquiring the annual this year it wasn't a showcase yard I turned to first, it was the Great Habton set up of Tim Easterby to see whether they had been given a reprieve by King Power Racing, who had not provided any juveniles to the stable last season, a clear decision that they were winding down their patronage to the yard but one which looked misjudged when Winter Power triumphed in the Nunthorpe, providing the owners with their most prestigious victory in their entire ownership.

Last year Easterby only listed twenty one juveniles, leaving out those who he'd not yet acquired an owner for, or syndicated, or had yet to purchase at the breeze up sales - he begins this season with sixty three year olds which is why the eleven juveniles listed for 2022 will be way off the true number. Nevertheless, there is no sign of any fresh support from King Power and this is backed up by looking at the entrants for the very valuable Doncaster sales race in which the owners are represented by four entrants, two with Roger Varian and one each with Richard Hannon and Andrew Balding.

The popularity of the breeze up sales makes you wonder why they don't delay publication of this annual until May. It would make it more accurate as a work of reference, and let's face it, the days when you'd get buzzed up for the start of the flat and look excitedly forward to the Lincoln have long gone, thanks or should I say no thanks, to the expansion of all weather racing along with the Meydan Festival.

Horses In Training certainly does catalogue changing fortunes in the game. Compared with times past Marcus Tregoning has been struggling in recent years. His now thirty four strength yard is made up of sixteen older horses, eight three year olds and eight juveniles. Amongst the juveniles are two from Shadwell, and one from Kirsten Rousing.

Jane Chapple-Hyam who trains Claymore, the horse they all want to buy, is listed with only a single two year old, while Peter Chapple-Hyam is listed with no juveniles. These things make compilation of the publication pretty meaningless. Mick Channon has forty five two year olds, a long way off the number when the likes of Sheikh Ahmed supported him to the hilt. The yard was then full of Green Deserts - now there are Sixties Icons in every other box!

Channon cut his teeth with the Hannons and over at Herridge Racing Stables there are two hundred and thirty five horses housed, over half of them juveniles. It's been the same successful modus operandi for decades with the Doyle family operating for them at the yearling sales. The types purchased generally being animals who will be active as juveniles but will also train on. Generally with sprinter/miler pedigrees from the middle range of the market - though he does have an unnamed Sea The Stars filly purchased for 400,000.

Elsewhere, Ian Williams who has reputation for making good from others cast offs or bargain basement purchases has two juveniles, purchased for over 40,000 each. Will be fascinating to observe what he makes out of these two colts, one by Expert Eye, the other a Ulysses. And what of who arguably is the best pound for pound trainer in operation, Clive Cox. Well, looking at the pedigrees of his two year olds there is no doubt he is still stereotyped as a trainer of speedster - this someone who trained an ex Donald McCain horse to beat an Arc winner in the Prince of Wales.

There has not been much co operation from the French trainers - something which rarely happened in the past. Looking at the mighty Argentine Angel Penna's string in the 1977 edition, his thirteen older horses included three English classic winners from the previous season in Flying Water, Pawneese and Crow  - not to mention a certain Buckskin.

Joseph O'Brien is another handler who had not submitted the form but his father has returned details of the  Ballydoyle string and what is fascinating is that only seven of the eighty two juveniles are Camelots, which could well be indication that they don't believe the son of Montjeu will prove himself as a sire of flat sires, despite him going into this season being represented by leading classic hopeful Luxembourg. 

Another interesting aspect of the Ballydoyle juvenile string is that there are no American Pharoahs, a clear sign that the outstanding triple crown winner has not delivered as expected, certainly as a turf sire, and there must be some prayers offered in the hope that Justify makes a brighter beginning to his stallion career. They have ten two year olds from the first crop of the monster chestnut.

Charlie Appleby's string is as strong as ever before and closer in quality than ever before to the Ballydoyle one. In fact, going into this season his string of older horses which include Derby winner Adayar, and the best St Leger winner in recent times in Hurricane Lane, are stronger than those housed with his Irish rival. It's also a toss of the coin call as to who has the best team of three year olds - a situation that you could not have envisaged even just a couple of years back.

Anyway, always a handy dip in dip out publication to have on hand but unfortunately more incomplete than ever before and not one which can now be looked back upon as an accurate historical work of reference, a category which it fell comfortably into a few decades back.

Racing fans who purchased this album, released in December 1969, would likely have had copies of Horses In Training resting nearby. And they would have been true works of reference at a time when even the most brusque charactered licence holders would dutifully provide details of their strings