More Random Musings

On one of the main racing forums there has been some discussion about the variable quality of food at racecourses.

However after an experience at Portsmouth greyhounds last Friday I am now very loath to criticise any catering at a horse racing course.

I was in what was loosely called the "restaurant" and the food beggared belief.

The paté way the type that comes out of a tin.

The "steak" at least answered the question as what they do with retired greyhounds, accompanied by tinned mushrooms and tinned peas - it says a lot when the chips are the highlight of the meal.

And the cheese board was some bright orange luminescent processed cheese with a cream cracker and a grape.

It was that bad, about 15 mins after going to bed the heartburn was so bad I thought, for a moment, I was having a heart attack!!!

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I recently had my annual trip to Cartmel and if you have not been there – why not?

For a racing purist it hardly ticks any boxes, it is in the middle of nowhere, viewing of the racing is appalling.

However I defy anyone to have a more enjoyable days racing.

The atmosphere is fantastic, the setting beautiful and the sticky toffee pudding is to die for. Park the car in the centre of the course, take a picnic and enjoy.

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Today (1st June) we have had the news of the death of undoubtedly the greatest trainer the sport has ever seen.Vincent O’Brien graced this earth for 92 years, 51 of those spent as a trainer.

He trained winners of Grand National three years running, the Cheltenham Gold Cup on four occasions.

Whilst with flat racing he won the Epsom Derby on six occasions between 1962 and 1982.

In total he won 16 English and 27 Irish Classics, 25 Royal Ascot victories and 23 Cheltenham Festival successes in a career that spanned over half a century.

His CV of flat trained horses reads like a Who's Who of racing - Nijinsky, Sir Ivor, Alleged, Sadler's Wells, Golden Fleece, The Minstrel, El Gran Senor, Ballymoss and Roberto to name but a few.

Had he just trained in one code he would have been a great, to have achieved so much in both codes is a feat that will never be equalled.

As his family mourn his loss they should also be proud of what he achieved.

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It looks as though the final nail has been hammered into the coffin of Great Leighs.

A statement from the BHA said: "A sub-committee of the Board of the British Horseracing Authority has considered a Racecourse Licence application from Great Leighs Racecourse Limited and has today declined to grant that entity a racecourse licence.

Great Leighs Racecourse Limited will therefore not be entitled to take part in the 2010 Fixture Allocation Process."

The track went into administration and a great deal of the "blame" for the situation must rest with the management team and in particular John Holmes.

It is also my understanding that those behind the new venture are close friends and business associates of John Holmes and I also believe John Holmes still owns some of the infrastructure of the course.

With John Holmes seemingly having already burned his bridges with the BHA then I suspect his perceived involvement may well be a stumbling block.

One colleague summed it up perfectly in relation to John Holmes continued involvement. "It is like buying a house where the previous owner still owns the bathroom."

Although I am not the greatest fan of all weather racing Great Leighs undoubtedly has the best racing surface of the all weather courses and it serves an area which is somewhat devoid of racing.

Whilst its seeming demise is no great surprise, it is a shame nonetheless.

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This week we also heard the news that broadcaster Clare Balding is being treated for thyroid cancer.

Thankfully thyroid cancer responds well to treatment and the prognosis is good.

It is sobering news and it hammers home that nobody is safe from this terrible disease.

We wish her a full and speedy recovery.