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20th July 2010.

The following is part of a letter I wrote recently which is following and commenting on Alistair Down's article in the Racing Post on Sunday 18th July.  I have only just re-read what I wrote back when the snow was lying and sadly it seems that little has happened for Racing to find strong leadership.

On a brighter note for the yard, 2010 has seen some great days for us with Dandino winning at Epsom on Derby Day and breaking our duck at Royal Ascot.  He has been an absolute pleasure to train and has given me one of my best days (so far!) of my training career at Ascot.  So far he is unbeaten in his 4 starts and I can not remember having a horse whose form has been franked so frequently and so strongly.  Next week he heads to Goodwood and the Gordon Stakes to see if he can get a five timer!  Only Trick or Treat has managed a five timer for us before, but Dandino's fifth attempt is in a Group 3, so fingers crossed. 

We have run recently some exciting two year olds with Fenella Fudge (named after the Radio 2 news reader) only just being denied a winning debut at Doncaster last Thursday by a narrow margin behind two smart two year old types.  She is a big three year old type, who clearly is going to improve as she matures and so it was so exciting seeing her run so well so early.

Marjury Daw thoroughly deserves congartulations for a three timer and only failing last night for a four timer by having the misfortune of bumping into a massively improving three year old who won by 7 lengths easing down.  It does not sound like it was much of a fair contest.  

This is indicative of one of the problems of the system of racing our horses in this country which is almost exclusively dependent on the handicapper's opinions.  The BHA are launching a review of the handicapping system, chaired by Jim McGrath, which I hope will throw up ideas which will improve our current system.  The current system is broken, as it can not be right to base a sport on losing to enable you to win.   (A little like it can not be right for non-bookmakers to bet so that a losing result wins for them, but that's for another day).  However I have not heard of a better system that is possible within the constraints of the diminishing levels of our funding.  It will be interesting to see what is come up with.

On a sad note, John Ellis who has been a long term supporter of the yard and the breeder of Wunders Dream, passed away recently.  Our thoughts go to his family.

Early Spring 2010.

Well 2010 is starting covered in snow, very picturesque, but not very compatible with exercising and racing horses!  Let's hope it improves soon. 

Thinking of hopes, my hopes for the year include (as they mostly have done each year for a number of years now!) that racing gets some strong leadership, bringing as many of the different warring factions together to benefit the whole industry and sport, for racing is both of these.  For too long racing has represented itself as a herd of angry tom cats.  While each faction should not behave as sheep, it would be rewarding for all if they attempted to copy at least a species with some sort of herding instinct of self preservation for the mutual benefit and greater good of all. 

Clearly the Levy is staggering ineffectually to its demise and a fair and new system of the betting industry paying for the racing product it requires to function is necessary.  This has brought the interesting alliance of the bookmakers and racing's leadership (such as it is) together to try to get a fair payment from the exchanges for the data and images central to the conduct of their business.  As yet no one seems to have been able to define the exchanges and introduce an equitable form of tax, levy or regulated and fair payment by them for the benefit of the supplier of their raw material.  Let's hope in 2010 that this is achieved.

Too long a number of assumptions have been made concerning racing, which include owners being taken for granted and advantage of, and that we have some of the best racing in the world.  In the typically British way, we have thought of our premier flat race as The Derby, but more commonly I have heard it referred to as The Epsom Derby.  A worrying indication of what lies ahead I fear .  We can not afford to let the best of British Racing slip away, but at the same time we must protect the middle and lower tiers of racing, without which there can be no top order.  Difficult times for those that accept their salaries in exchange for trying to improve our lot!  As always the interests of the owner needs looking out for.  Too many peolpe are attracted to the sport and then after a year or two, and all too often a large outlay with little reward financially or in enjoyment, leave the sport, disillusioned with their experience.  Racing must do better looking out for the owner, who, despite the view of some, do pay for the whole show.

Racing For Change has a challenging brief, trying to steer a course that is effective, creates positive changes for racing and attracts a new and wider audience, which will lead to improved revenue for all (including the betting industry!)  But at the sametime overcoming the British malaise of its natural resistance to change.  Most accept that changes have to be made, but not to the bits we each hold dear!

The BBC has dropped its coverage of the Shergar Cup which is yet another indication of how racing is viewed from without.   The team nature of the event has never really captured the imagination in the way it was hoped, but I feel an opportunity was missed when the chance of a women's team taking on a man's team under identical conditions was passed up.  That would have without doubt attracted a wider audience, if only to see a fair battle of the sexes unfold.

On the theme of the BBC, 2010 is the year of the next Sport Relief charity event.  This is a golden opportunity for racing to throw open its doors and show that we are not just the introverts that I suspect many from without percieve us to be.

On the home front as all trainers say at this time of year, we have a very exciting bunch of two year olds, who are all still swans!  They are getting exercised in the covered ride and when Jack Frost loosens his grip we will get them back out on the gallop and see which are flying machines!

Let's hope that 2010 does bring an improvement in the health of our sport which will lead to a stronger industry.  Also I sincerely hope that my ratio of winners to seconds last year is reversed!