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