Racing For Free - An Exhausting Week

We shall be following the Racing For Change week of free racing, attempting to visit as many of the meetings as possible and to report back on how it seems to be going down.

Monday

Two free meetings to begin the week with Wolverhampton and Towcester being the free courses.

I opted for Towcester but speaking to those who went to Wolverhampton the response was very positive and there was a much better atmosphere than usual on a Monday afternoon.

Towcester was going to be an interesting meeting for the experiment as they already have free admission for most of their meetings and even General Managing Kevin Ackerman was unsure how the experiment would work.

As it turned out 3,360 came along, an increase of 744 on the corresponding meeting last year and Ackerman was most pleased with the result.

The most striking difference I noticed was the number of female racegoers at Towcester on Monday, a very large number and quite a few of those I spoke to were first timers.

The “entertainment” for the afternoon, apart from the racing, was Channel Four’s Derek Thompson or Tommo.

Now Tommo is a Marmite character, you either love him or hate him. However, even his fiercest critics will concede he is great at “working the crowd” and he did this with absolute aplomb this afternoon. Running proceedings from the parade ring with the Tote’s George Primarolo, fresh from running the London Marthon the previous day, as his stooge he entertained the crowd as only he can.

Running free draws, including some excellent racing related prizes, the crowd were certainly engaged and, without doubt, he added to the experience for racegoers.

Tuesday

Two free meetings today, both evening meetings and both successful. At Sedgefield, by all accounts, they had one of their biggest crowds.

I was at Nottingham and, again, the figures were impressive. This corresponding meeting last year only attracted a couple of hundred racegoers but, with free admission, the last crowd figure I heard was just over the 1,300 mark and some unconfirmed figures suggested it could have been around the 1,600 mark.

There was no Tommo at Nottingham, he was commentating at Sedgefield and , compared to Towcester the day before, the presentation was more low key, although Mike Vice did his usual job of engaging the crowd.

It is interesting that John Hunt was commentating both at Towcester and Nottingham and his approach was different over the two days.

On Monday he left it to Tommo to provide most of the information, whereas at Nottingham he was providing more information that would be of use to the first timer, even attempting to explain what the odds of 7/2 mean. However when I suggested he ought to then explain Rule 4 following a withdrawal, he then decided it would be an explanation too far.

There was entertainment provided by an Irish band, the sort of music you could not help but stamp your feet to and there was still a good crowd listening to them when I left half an hour after the last race.

As was the case at Towcester there seemed to be more women at the meeting than usual and a significant number were either first timers or, infrequent attendeed who are put off by the normal admission costs.

Managing Director Pip Kirkby was delighted by the response and she did not rule out future free admission in future, saying they would carefully examine the financials after this evenings meeting. She did suggest, however, they would still retain a “premier” enclosure as an upgrade, even if they did go the free route.

Smile of the evening came when a chap, who had backed an odds-on shot, asked how much he would win for his £10 stake. When he was told he would win £9 he had a hissy fit, demanding to know what is the point of betting if he loses money, even if the horse wins. I managed to calm him down by pointing out he would also get his stake back, so he would still be £9 up – that seemed to mollify him.

One think Racing For Change had promised during the week was clearer announcements for racegoers. I have to say, on the whole, these have been conspicuous by a near absence.

We still hear “photograph, photograph” and “weighed in” when we were promised more meaningful announcements – it is early days though.

One negative at Nottingham was the decision to send runners in the races on the round course straight to the start and not having them parade in front of the stands.

When I spoke to the clerk of the course she explained it was to preserve the ground.

That excuse would have been more valid had the going been soft, however it was officially Firm, although in reality Good to Firm. Also there are two tracks at Nottingham so it would not have been a major issue in terms of ground maintenance.

The amount of extra work it may have created is minimal compared to the experience of racegoers.

As one person pointed out, “you take the children to the front of the enclosures to see the horses before the race and they do not appear.”

Time cannot be a reason either, for one of the contests on the round course the runners were at the post six minutes before the start.

Wednesday

Day three and the free racing roadshow moved to Ascot. In terms of numbers it was a great success with a crowd of 19,215 as opposed to just over 8,000 last year.

A large number were newcomers and contrary to reports in certain sections of the media the additional numbers were not part of a Saga outing.

As with the first two days there seemed to be more women than usual at the meeting.

There were free racecards and free cups of tea and coffee.

Once again a lack of consistency when it came to announcements. Today we had “the result is now official” although more as an afterthought after the usual “weighed in, weighed in” announcement.

The commentator today was Jim McGrath and he made no effort to add more info or add to the atmosphere, just another day for him.

Ascot TV was broadcasting, although competing with other television channels showing racing elsewhere and the snooker. It was a shame it had to compete, as it had some very interesting features and I especially liked the segment explaining what to look for in the paddock.

Today was the experiment in using decimal odds. I should say from the outset I am a great supporter of decimal odds. They are far easier to understand.

It has to be said it was something of a damp squib and, in all honesty, a farcical exercise.

Out of 60+ layers only four firms, on five boards, were using decimal odds and one of them was so far down the line they had very few visitors.

Precisely what such a small scale experiment is going to prove is highly debateable.

The main opposition from layers comes because of the cost. They claim it will cost £2,000 each to convert their systems to use decimal odds. I’m afraid I have to say that is, if you pardon the expression, absolute bollocks. I used to work in IT and it would not cost that amount to convert to decimal.

Think about it, computers cannot work in fractions, the software currently in use has to convert the currently used fractions into decimals before they can perform any transactions.

If bookmakers think paying £2k a shot is the price to pay then I will be more than happy to do it for £1,000 a shot and, believe me, I would still make a huge profit.

However going back to the farcical experiment today, it is this type of half baked approach that is going to get Racing For Change a bad name.

For me the smile of the day came when by the paddock for the last race and I overheard a woman saying to her friend “I like that ginger horse” – priceless!!!

Thursday

Day four and the free road show rolls onto Huntingdon and I am beginning to get some “free racing” fatigue.

Even Tommo, hosting once again, is beginning to grate. Hearing him perform with the crowd for one afternoon is liveable with. Hearing the same patter again gets tiresome and he wasn’t quite on top form with one or two comments crossing the line at a family meeting.

Tony McCoy arrived mid-meeting by helicopter for Thompson to proclaim “Tony McCoy has a big chopper,” then proceeding to chortle as if he had told the funniest, most original, joke in the history or mankind. Sorry Derek it wasn’t original and it wasn’t particularly funny either.

There is also a game being played concerning numbers, something I first noticed on Tuesday at Nottingham.

The numbers I have been quoting for last years corresponding meetings have been the “official” Levy Board figures, which are effectively bums on seats, i.e. everyone attending the meeting.

Hence I quoted last years figures for Nottingham as 724 racegoers and for tonight at Huntingdon 1,176 (tonight by the way is 2,537, a decent increase despite the gloomy weather)

However the figures for last year quoted by the racecourses are differing. Nottingham quoted a 2009 figure of 374 and Huntingdon this evening are quoting a figure of 536.

Why the difference? Well the Levy Board figures include everyone admitted to the course including, annual members, owners, press etc., whereas the figures coming from the courses are for those paying on the gate.

So looking at the raw racecourse figures the initiative is seen in a better light.

I have been moaning about the lack of consistency in the new “clear” announcements. I think I have finally sussed this one out and they seem to be trying a different one every day.

I quite liked this evenings one. Only a subtle change but judge Dave Smith announced the result of each race with “The winner is …….” Instead of “First ……..” a very subtle change but I liked it.

Before racing I was worried how commentator Iain MacKenzie would be with the “engaging the crowd” mode and I have to say he was on pretty good form. Certainly not Thompsonesque but relaxed and informative and some of his very dry sense of humour came through.

Friday

Day five took us to Doncaster on a day which began sunny but the rain arrived mid-afternoon.

This is a new meeting so no 2009 figures for comparison, however the course are delighted with the 9,500 attendance. The average at other Friday afternoon meetings here is around 3,000.

A good mixture of families and ages. As at the previous meetings a larger number of women here and many of them dressing up in style despite it not being branded as a Ladies Day.

A large number of younger racegoers here, by which I mean those in late teens and twenties.

It says something that Doncaster is the only course I have been to which has contraceptive vending machines in the lavatories …. although looking at how the younger generation are enjoying themselves it may not be a bad idea.

The good news is we have no Tommo here and Graham Orange, the front man for Go Racing
In Yorkshire did his usual sterling effort and explaining things for the first timers.

Indeed there was none of the hard sell seen at the likes of Towcester and Huntingdon.

No sign of any “new” user friendly announcements over the PA, although commentator Doug Fraser, not renowned for loosening out, seemed more relaxed than usual and added a few extra snippets as the runners went down.

Certainly fewer gimmicks here but it does not seem to have deterred the racegoers, nor has the light rain.

Saturday

Well day six and over 1,000 miles on the clock we finally reach the end of our week of free racing.

What better place to conclude the odyssey than one of the loveliest courses in the country, Goodwood.

The course issued 11,000 free tickets in advance and this number has been supplemented by some 2-3,000 arriving and paying on the day.

Even the overcast, showery weather has not put people off.

By comparison the official figure for the corresponding meeting last year was just under 8,500.

Of course this being Goodwood there is no brashness or over the top engagement seen at some courses this week.

Certainly no Tommo here. Instead the presentation has been shared by regular Goodwood presenter Lee McKenzie and commentator Richard Hoiles. An excellent combination as both have the ability to engage and explain without going over the top.

One danger with giving too much irrelevant to new racegoers is it has the potential to alienate the regulars.

Of all the courses I have been to this week Goodwood seems to have struck the ideal balance.

As at the meetings throughout this week there are more younger people than normal and, being a Bank Holiday Saturday, more families.

There is some entertainment laid on but, again, nothing over the top nor anything that will detract from the racing.

Even at their “normal” meetings Goodwood run guided trips to the start, with former commentator Robin Gray as the guide. A good, informative experience. Normally the course have this facility for one or two races on the card, today they are doing it for all seven. This is a good initiative ehich other courses should look at.

The one downside of the larger numbers are the inevitable queues but that is, from the courses perspective, probably a positive problem.

I have been to six different courses this week, each of which has handled the experiment differently. Feedback from all the courses has been positive and speaking to racegoers at all the courses the reaction has been good.

However for me the two courses who managed to get the balance spot on were, unsurprisingly, Ascot and Goodwood.

In terms of success the free admission has attracted more bums on seats and it will be interesting to see if any courses follow this up with more free racedays or, if not free, reduced admission prices.

It is not a model which will work for all courses and, being realistic, I cannot see it being financially viable for the larger courses.

From the grandstands the experiment seems to have worked.

There were not that many of the new, “user friendly” announcements and of the ones I heard the only one I particularly liked was “The winner is …..” instead of “First ……” from the judge at Huntingdon.

Biggest non-event of the week was the experiment with decimal odds, which was doomed to fail from the outset – a shame really as I prefer betting in decimals and have been for years.

A Scottish Jinx?

I have to say I consider myself a reasonably level headed person. Coming from a scientific background I tend to believe fact and evidence rather than more nebulous facets such as fate and superstition.

However I am, just ever so slightly, beginning to wonder if I am jinxed when it comes to going racing in Scotland.

Now being based in the soulless concrete monstrosity that is Milton Keynes I have to confess that racing trips to Scotland tend not to be spontaneous. Usually they are planned weeks in advance and they are generally carried out with the assistance of either Mr O’Leary or Stelios – aren’t budget airlines a boon?

My problem is my last eight attempts to go racing in Scotland have all been thwarted for various reasons.

It begins last summer when I was planning to go to Perth. It was a lovely, sunny, summers morning as I left home for the airport at 5:30. The flight was uneventful and I landed in Edinburgh in glorious sunshine. My hire care was waiting for me at the airport and I was on the road by 10:00. Requiring some refuelling myself I stopped at the motorway services for some breakfast and decided to take advantage of the free wi-fi to check for any non-runners.

I had to do a double take as my screen was emblazoned “Perth Abandoned” – despite the current glorious blue skies Perth had seemingly been hit by a cloudburst of near biblical proportions overnight, resulting in patches of false ground making the track unsafe.

To make matters worse the next flight back south was not until 6:30 in the evening so I had to kill the day being a tourist – although that wasn’t all bad as I did drive up to Arbroath and treated myself to some lovely fresh “smokies” for lunch.

Next up was Hamilton. As I get older I am starting to become a creature of habit and one such habit has been my annual “pilgrimage” to Hamilton Park’s final meeting of the season.

Now last year I managed to double book the day having, without initially realising, bought my wife some concert tickets for a concert in Dublin the same evening and no matter how many times I looked at the airline schedules, doing both was a non-starter.

No problem, there were plenty of other meetings at Hamilton, so I booked flights for one in August. Now August was a busy month for me with my nephew getting married in the middle of the month. Luckily he was considerate in planning the wedding for a quite racing day (although I somehow suspect that was more due to luck than any consideration for his Uncle). It did mean I had to miss the Shergar Cup for the stag day but there you go.

My nephew is half British / half Australian, my wife’s brother having emigrated out to Oz some 30 years ago. Of course they were all coming over, on a very rare visit, for the wedding and it was great to see them. Indeed it meant me meeting two of my nephews for the first time.

Their travel plans were quite fluid and not clarified until the last minute but it was decided, whatever dates their flights were, on their last night we would have a big family meal.

I will allow you one guess as to which day was their last day and the big family meal!!! Yep, the day I was meant to be going to Hamilton. Two meetings thwarted.

Less dramatically were a number of attempts to get to Kelso (twice) or Musselburgh (three times). All five attempts thwarted by either the meetings themselves being abandoned or the flights being cancelled due to snow in south east England.

Which brings us onto the most recent attempt – last weekend.

As I have already said, I am becoming a creature of habit and another “tradition” that seems to be developing is a trip to the Scottish Grand National. Normally I have gone on the Saturday as a day trip, this year I decided I would do both days.

The weather building up to the meeting was glorious and the forecast was equally promising.

What could possibly go wrong?

Unless you have been living without radio, television and newspapers for the past week you will know precisely what can go wrong.

A cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland, which grounded all flights.

I was due to fly up on Friday morning and on Thursday afternoon they were hoping the restrictions would be lifted by 07:00 Friday morning. However I received an e-mail from my airline early Thursday evening telling me my flight had been cancelled.

I got in touch with Richard Hoiles, who I knew was also going to be flying up on Friday, albeit with a different airline, and he had also received similar news and he was going to start driving up Thursday evening.

I toyed with setting off then but decided I would get up very early on Friday and try to miss the traffic.

I set the alarm for 4:00 Friday morning but, as is often the case when you know you have to be up early, I hardly slept a wink all night. So when the alarm did go off I was absolutely shattered.

I then had one of those rare sensible moments, where I decided it would be foolhardy in the extreme to attempt a seven hour drive, feeling as tired as I was. So I went back to bed.

I think the decision may also have been swayed by the fact I would have to face the seven hour drive back again on Saturday evening.

So that was Scottish meeting number eight thwarted.

This is now where I switch into public service mode and I issue two warnings to you all.

May I strongly suggest you avoid Ayr (which may be subjected to flash flooding) or avoid flying on and around May 27th – as that is when I next plan to go racing in Scotland.

An even more serious warning will apply in the last three days of June, when I plan to visit three Scottish racecourses over three consecutive days. The Scottish Parliament may wish to declare a state of emergency as they may be attacked by seven plagues.

Alternatively if any Scottish readers would like to pay me substantial sums of money never to plan going racing in their country again, I can be contacted by e-mail.

Greatest Jockey

The Grand National is probably the one race in the calendar which appears in the national consciousness, almost universally recognised outside the tightly knit world of racing.

It may be a quirky race, over an extreme distance and over somewhat unusual obstacles but, like it or not, it is horse racings shop window.

It is the one race non-racing followers talk about. It is the race inn which the once a year punters will have their £1 e/w bets. The form book goes out of the window and people choose horses for the strangest of reasons.

One hack in the press room at Lingfield on Saturday reported his wife had backed Don’t Push It because that is what she frequently says to him when they have a disagreement. He also went on to add “I won’t tell you why he also backed Big Fella Thanks.”

Whatever the reason for backing a horse it is racings big day.

The National is a race which invariably has a human touch story associated with the winner. Be it Red Rum’s three wins, including the heartbreaking clash with Crisp. Aldaniti with the horse recovering from injury and, of course, John Champion winning his battle with cancer and in the process making testicular cancer an issue which could be discussed openly. Indeed how many mens lives have been saved by Champion’s win?

Then we had Jenny Pitman becoming the first and, and until last year, the only woman to train the winner of the National.

The 2010 renewal had plenty of opportunity for “good stories” as well.

Dream Alliance, winner of the Welsh National, owned by members of a working mens club and raised on an allotment – already the potential subject of a film.

Sam Twiston-Davies, son of trainer Nigel, riding in his first national at the tender age of 17.

Barry Geraghty suddenly getting the leg-up on the favourite Big Fella Thanks when, just over an hour before the off Ruby Walsh demonstrated just how precarious the life of a jump jockey is as he was trampled, breaking his arm in the process. Or Richard Johnson, who picked up a “spare” rides as the result of Walsh’s injury.

And so on and so on.

However, discussing potential big stories before the race, there were two which really stood out.

The really big story, the one which would even have knocked the election off the front pages, would have been if Nina Carberry had become the first woman to win the big race. She was not without a chance on Character Building and, with respect to all the female riders who have gone before her in the National, she would have been a most worthy to become the first female winner. She has proved again and again that she is able to compete with the boys.

The other big story would have been AP McCoy winning the contest at the 15th attempt, the one race he really wanted to win above all others, the one that had eluded him. He has managed third place no less than three times.

It is a race in which McCoy seemed to be jinxed. In 2005 on Clan Royal, having overcome a slipped saddle he was six lengths clear approaching Bechers for the second time, seemingly having the race at his mercy, only to be carried out by a loose horse.

Before this years race McCoy actually pointed out, with seeming resignation, that he would feel his CV would not be complete if he did not win the Grand National, despite having been champion jockey for an unprecedented fourteen years.

Well, unless you have been on a desert island for the past 24 hours, you will now know McCoy has finally broken his hoodoo, the monkey is off his back or you can apply any other cliché you like – but shout it from the rooftops, Tony McCoy has finally won a National.

For all his great riding prowess, one criticism frequently aimed at McCoy is he shows little emotion. That was something else firmly laid to rest yesterday.

His relief and, yes, joy was palpable. His celebrations came from the heart, a release of fifteen years of pent up emotions.

He even cried.

"I'm being a big wuss. It means everything to me to win the Grand National," he said.

"I've won lots of big races and I'm supposed to be a good jockey, but to not win the Grand National would be a bit of a negative on the CV.

"I always thought I would win as I always believe that everything will happen.

"I have managed to win a few other races but not a Grand National.

"Everyone on the street knows the National as it is a people's race and from a jockey's perspective that is why it is important.

"After a mile I wouldn't have swapped him for anything else, and I don't just mean horses, as he had totally taken to it.

"I'm delighted for my mum and dad as they've been great for me throughout the years, and for my wife, Chanelle, and my daughter, Eve, who is two and a half.

"Hopefully now she'll be proud of me when she grows up.”

McCoy showed his detractors what those who do know him already knew, namely he is human and a very decent human being as well.

On top of the sheer delight of seeing McCoy win, I also take a perverse delight at the damage he inflicted on the bookmakers. Available at 20/1 on Saturday morning, McCoy’s mount was backed into 10/1 during the day, taking millions out of the bookmakers satchels – some “revenge” for the carnage inflicted on the punters at Cheltenham and the first two days of Aintree.

Lest anyone thinks my eulogising of McCoy’s win is tainted by pocket talking let me say his victory actually cost me money.

Because of his record in the race I did not back him, my money was on the runner-up, so his win cost me money – but you know what? I don’t care, seeing the sheer delight of Anthony Peter McCoy made the loss insignificant.

Unless they have hearts of stone, there cannot be a single person who follows National Hunt racing, a single person in the massive Aintree crowd or a single person watching at home who would begrudge McCoy his victory yesterday or failed to have been moved by his reaction.

McCoy smiled and everyone smiled with him.

For the first time racings showpiece was broadcast in HD. Coincidentally this week I also bought a new large screen HD television.

I was watching the all-weather fare at Lingfield on Saturday afternoon, so ended up watching the National on the television in the press room.

It was a good race to watch and the BBC commentary was good. Jim McGrath, who frankly had a mare on the first two days, rose to the occasion and both Ian Bartlett and Darren Owen were excellent.

However when I got home on Saturday evening I watched the HD recording of the race – well what can I say, it was exceptional. The detail was superb. You could almost reach out and touch the horses, it was just like being there. On the close-up shots you could see the details of the horses muscles, you could see the muscles ripple as they moved.

Watching the HD coverage really was the icing on what was already a very well baked cake.

A Mirage In The Desert

Am I the only one to feel really uneasy at the coverage given to the opening of Meydan racecourse in Dubai, especially some of the near sycophantic coverage being given to the course by certain members of the racing media?

Last weekend the new racecourse at Meydan staged the $10m Dubai World Cup – yes $10m for a single horserace.

To quote the official website the course is, “The brainchild of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai World Cup is a fitting tribute to his love of horses and of horseracing.”

A fitting tribute?

There has been no official confirmation of the costs of building the racecourse but the most conservative estimates suggest there would be no change out of £1.6 billion, yes that is billion.

Yet the course has been built in Dubai, a state teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, having to be bailed out by its neighbours.

A state where the head of state, despite the perilous state of the economy, still spends millions of dollars each year following his passion for horse racing.

He spokesmen, by means of justification, say the money spent on racing is from his own personal fortune.

Where does that fortune actually come from though? Is it not inextricably linked to the economy of the country itself?

I have no problem with individuals spending their money how they see fit but the continued lavish expenditure following a hobby whilst the country is in near financial ruin, makes me think of Nero when Rome was burning.

Even putting aside the financial morality of the situation in Dubai, what sort of racecourse have they built?

Does a racecourse really need a grandstand that is 1.6 Km in length?

Does the car park, indeed the entire site, really need to be built in the shape of a falcon?

The design of the racecourse reminds me of the sort of ostentatious residence that would be built by a footballer or lottery winner to show off how wealthy they are.

Yet for all the outward signs of wealth and the facade which attracts the wealthy and tourists alike, the facilities which make Dubai a prime tourist destination and attracts the “beautiful people” like bees round a honey pot. There is a darker underbelly to Dubai and that underbelly alone should make any decent person think twice before lavishing unfettered praise on Meydan.

Are the fawning journalists and apologists for Meydan and Dubai Racing, most of whom will happily lap up the generous hospitality on offer, really unaware of the reality life in Dubai?

Or are they aware but conveniently choose to turn a blind eye to the realities?

Do they think the course was built in the same way as, for example, the new stand at Ascot? Where workers were paid a decent wage and had to work in compliance with strict health and safety legislation.

Of course it wasn’t, it was built (as is most of Dubai) by, arguably, the 21st century equivalent of slave labour.

Workers, mainly from the Indian sub-continent, attracted by what to them would be a good wage. Only to find the reality is pittance pay (and frequently withheld) as well as having to work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week.

In a large number of cases these workers are accommodated in what are effectively shanty towns, cramped with (by any standards) unacceptable hygiene conditions.

If the workers want to protest about their conditions there is actually nothing they can do as membership of a trade union or even striking is illegal.

Should the worker want to return home early (assuming he can afford the fare) they are prevented from doing so as employers frequently “look after” their passports and “sponsorship” rules mean the workers have to work in Dubai for a minimum period of time.

The BBC Panorama program had a very good exposé on working conditions for migrant workers in Dubai. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7985361.stm).

Perhaps those who are kow-towing to the Dubai Racing Club and Dubai rulers ought to look at their consciences before heaping lavish praise on Meydan (or indeed anything in Dubai).

Of course it could be they are too afraid to say anything, after all any journalist who writes a story that is negative about the country or insults the government is liable to face a huge fine or imprisonment.

A report from Human Rights Watch stated, “Hundreds of migrant construction workers die each year in the UAE under unexplained circumstances. The government can account only for a few of these deaths, primarily because it appears not to enforce its own laws requiring employers to report worksite deaths and injuries. In 2004 alone, the embassies of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh returned the bodies of 880 construction workers back to their home countries. Yet the Dubai emirate, the only emirate to keep a count of migrant worker deaths, recorded only 34 construction deaths that year, based on reports from only six companies.”

Needless to say there are no official figures as to how many workers were killed or injured during the construction of Meydan.

The Government of Dubai say they are “clamping down” on unscrupulous builders and they have minimum standards laid down. Yet it seems construction companies are allowed to flaunt these laws with impunity.

This strikes me as being somewhat odd as, elsewhere, the law seems to be enforced with a rod of steel.

There seems to be an irreconcilable inconsistency where the law seems not to care a jot about the working conditions of migrant workers, yet an innocent peck on the cheek in public is rigorously enforced with one month in prison.

It isn’t just building workers who are badly treated in the country. Women are bought into the country to work as domestics. However there are many reports of these women being badly treated, not paid and even raped and sexually assaulted.

Yet according to Human Rights Watch there have been no cases of the prosecution in the UAE, of employers accused of raping domestic servants.

“This provides a culture of impunity that perpetuates sexual crimes against domestic workers. Our research indicates that all rape cases of domestic servants that are brought to the attention of the authorities, are settled out of court and no one has been prosecuted,”

Yes Meydan may well be the most impressive racecourse in the world, the top horses and trainers may be attracted with massive prize money but to me it is severely tainted.

No matter how good the racing may be in Meydan, I cannot bring myself to support it or shout from the rooftops how great Meydan is – I am afraid my conscience will not allow it, to me the place is obscene.

Both the Office of the Prime Minister of Dubai and the Dubai Racing Club were invited to comment on the issues raised – both declined to comment. The offer to respond is still open.