Even More Random Musings

I did something quite novel this week, I actually went racing just for the pleasure of it and I had forgotten just how enjoyable an experience can be.

Normally my trips to the races mean arriving 1½ hours before racing, then dashing between the parade ring, the stands and the press room, barely having time to draw breath. Even watching the race requires so much concentration you can lose the enjoyment.

This time it was relaxing, being able to take a leisurely look at the runners in the parade ring without having to scribble notes, being able to amble back to the stands. Having time to put a bet on based on what I had seen in the parade ring.

Not having to battle to find an unobstructed view of the racing and not having to watch the race like a hawk, lest I miss some incident. Best of all I was able to watch one of Fontwell’s chases from the centre of the course, crossing between two of the fences to see the horses jumping “up close and personal” something wholly impractical on a working day.

Add to that some excellent company and it was a pertinent reminder of how enjoyable a day at the races really can be.

Having visited all the UK racecourses and around half the Irish courses it is quite a novel experience for me to experience the anticipation of visiting a racecourse for the very first time. In what has been a different week for me I was able to add a new racecourse to my portfolio – Leopardstown.

I have to admit I was disappointed – no there is absolutely nothing wrong with the course, my disappointment was I had left it so long to make my first visit.

If you read most UK produced racecourse guides they invariably refer to Leopardstown as being “Ireland’s Sandown”

That epithet is somewhat patronising as Leopardstown is a great racecourse in its own right, indeed it stages more high class races annually than Sandown so, nowadays, it could be equally valid to describe Sandown as “Britain’s Leopardstown”.

Even though this was my first visit to the Dublin course, there was a mild feeling of déjà vu, as the course is very much modelled on its Esher cousin. Indeed in the not too distant past it even had a separate, straight, sprint course. OK they do race the opposite way round but it is easy to see how the comparisons are made.

However Leopardstown is no clone and it has its own unique selling points.

I am not sure if there is more than one way into the course but the main entrance has a long, sweeping, tree lined approach road, all the more attractive with the autumn colours.

There are a couple of delights to be found at the main stand as well.

The first is Madigans Bar, approach it from inside the grandstand it looks like any other racecourse bar. Step outside the grandstand it has a façade like that of a typical Irish Bar – it looks incongruous against the main grandstand, but it equally a fun addition.

Equally strange, and I have yet to find the reasoning behind it, is the area opposite the bar has a number of advertising hoardings extolling the virtues of living in Australia – quite why anybody would wish to swap Ireland with Australia is quite beyond me!!

The other “hidden gem” is an area next to Food Hall where there are a number of cabinets displaying racing memorabilia, well worth spending a quarter of an hour having a browse.

Much as I love the Irish rural tracks I have to say Leopardstown has that intangible something extra. It is a course I felt happy and relaxed at from the moment I arrived and although I waited a long time for my first visit, I am already checking flights for my next visit.

If you are in Ireland when there is racing at Leopardstown make a point of visiting. Even if you aren’t in Ireland and are UK based still make an attempt to get there – you will not be disappointed.

I am one of those people who love flying but I have to say I am glad the flight home from Dublin on Monday was not my first, as I would probably never fly again. It was with the Irish based “cheap and (sometimes) cheerful” airline, the one with the gaudy yellow interiors, who play a really annoying fanfare whenever a plan arrives ontime or early.

Actually their punctually claims are quite fatuous because if you look at the times they schedule for their flights, they are always at least 20 and sometimes 35 minutes longer than the flight actually takes, therefore giving them plenty of leeway to arrive “on time” or early.

For example the flying time from Dublin to London is 55 minutes, yet they actually schedule up to 1 hour 25 minutes for the flight, giving themselves 30 minutes flexibility.

Anyway as is common with this airline, most of the cabin crew were eastern European and whilst the senior cabin crew member spoke excellent English, two of her colleagues English was so poor they could not be understood – you do wonder what would happen in an emergency situation.

Speaking of an emergency situation, I was sitting in the front row, next to the main door and was somewhat perturbed to notice the fitting holding the emergency exit slide to the door was almost hanging off.

Throughout the flight itself my ears were continually popping due to fluctuations in cabin pressure. At first I thought I may just have been me but I then herd other passengers complaining about it too.

Then finally the landing was almost sufficient to remove ones fillings. Anybody who flies regularly, or who has flown at all, will know the touchdown is a relatively gentle affair. First of all the rear wheels touch down, both together if it is not too windy, or one at a time if there is a cross wind. Then a few seconds later the nose wheel touches the runway before the plane begins to brake.

Not on Monday night, the pilot came in far too fast and steep and instead of a gentle touchdown the plane almost belly flopped. Instead of the wheels touching down gently they slammed into the runway with there being barely a second between the rear and front wheels hitting the tarmac. The front wheels coming down so hard I really was half-expecting the nose-wheel to collapse.

A very bumpy end to an otherwise enjoyable day out.

Racing United?

The latest gimmick to appear in the battle around the funding of racing is the launch of Racing United, basically a petition sponsored by the Britiah Horseracing Authority (BHA), Racecourse Association (RCA) and the Horseman’s Group .

In launching the campaign, Nick Coward, BHA Chief Executive states, “The launch of this public campaign is the latest step in pressing home Racing’s case, a comprehensive case that is built on rigorous analysis, and which we have been advocating on behalf of the sport. Our objective is to secure what is right for the future of the whole sport, and the campaign is intended to leave no-one in any doubt as to the strength of support for it across the whole of Racing and its followers.”

All good words but vacuous all the same as racing shows a complete lack of imagination in continuing to pursue an antiquated, out-dated funding model.

Turning to the Government to sort out racings finances is, effectively, a tacit admission by racings rulers they do not have the wherewithal to run the sport.

Multiple champion jockey AP McCoy has lent his support to the campaign but speaking on BBC Radio he also said he believes racing needs changes at the top of its management structure. A very true comment and surely a statement that should be heeded, coming from somebody with a high profile in the sport, yet not renown for making “political” comments.

Also what is a petition, from what is effectively a self-interested constituency, going to achieve? I am sure, if polled, most turkeys would vote for the abolition of Christmas

The first change at the top of racing should be the immediate removal of BHA Chairman Paul Roy.

He has already amply demonstrated that he considers his ego to be more important than the interests of racing, continually becoming involved in purile, schoolboy mud-slinging with leaders in the betting industry.

That may be a character flaw, which although a potential embarrassment to the sport, it not necessarily terminal in terms of his position as head of the BHA.

What does make his position as Chairman untenable is his hypocrisy and double standards.

Roy has turned criticising and knocking betting exchanges into something of a cottage industry, taking any opportunity possible to criticise their business model and the perceived effect they have had on racing.

Yet this is the same Paul Roy who jointly heads an investment company which attempted to buy £40m worth of Betfair shares when the company was launched. A company which when only able to purchase £5m worth of shares then proceeded to hoover up as many shares as possible when they hit the market.

Now I am not criticising the decision of his investment company wishing to invest in Betfair, it is a very sound commercial incestment.

Yet this shows poor judgement on Roy’s part.

Firstly how does he reconcile his scathing condemnation of betting exchanges with this company’s acquisition of Betfair shares?

Notwithstanding the above there is a more serious “conflict of interest”.

Being a major shareholder in Betfair, via his company, Roy has an obligation to ensure optimum shareholder return and value in his investment. Yet in his role as BHA chairman he is espousing changes which would harm investors in Betfair. Is that not a conflict of interest?

Want another demonstration of his double standards?

Clearly from his background in investment banking and his on-going involvement in investment companies he is, at the very least, a supporter of a free market. Yet in his role of BHA Chairman he is calling for Government involvement in securing the future funding of racing. Is this not another example of double standards and hypocrisy? I have little doubt he would be the first to complain if the Government began restricting how his investment companies could invest or fund.

Also his criticism of bookmakers moving offshore is also somewhat rich. As an investment banker he knows the duty of organisations to secure maximum return for investors. Is that not what bookmakers are doing by relocating offshore?

Those who know me will also be aware I am no fan of bookmakers, but I do believe in a free market and bookmakers cannot be blamed for securing the best returns for their investors either by offshoring or reducing expense, be it minimising levy payments or other means of cost savings.

I wonder how many members of the BHA or RCA boards employ accountants to optimise their income by making the most of tax advantages and loopholes in the system?

Is that any different to what the bookmaking fraternity are attempting?

Now I have never met Mr Roy so I have no personal axe to grind per-se. Those who know him say he is an honourable man and I am sure he is kind to his family, friends and pets.

However there is a clear conflict of interest between his role as BHA Chairman and his other business roles, as well as some of his public pronouncements bringing the sport into disrepute.

For the good of racing it is time for Paul Roy to go.

Finally on the subject of Racing United, it would be better for the sport if racing was properly united, into a single group with appropriate business acumen and the ability and desire to fundamentally change the structure and funding of the sport.

Yes bookmakers do need to contribute more to the sport, yes exchanges do need to contribute more to the sport.

However it will not be achieved by Government intervention. It will not be achieved by leaders on both sides engaging in public slanging matches, allowing their egos to interfere with commercial interests.

It will be achieved by effective negotiation and a rationalisation of the number of fixtures so the sport is run to fit the funding not by demanding funding to support a bloated fixture list.

Two very quick observations regarding funding:-

Twilight fixtures serve no purpose, other than to feed funds into the bookmakers coffers, if the bookmaking industry want twilight fixtures they should fully fund them themselves.

Northern Racing offer appalling levels of prize money, yet their last annual accounts show a profit in excess of £3m pounds, likewise Arena Leisure show profits in excess of £4m. Why should they not be forced to provide more money to bring prize money to an acceptable level.

It would be very simple for the BHA to immediately impose a meaningful minimum prize money level.

So instead of silly, facile, false “Racing United” exercises why don’t those who are suppose to be running racing actually do their job properly.

If they cannot then move over for those who are capable of doing the job, although I am not holding my breath.

Government Stepping Back

Just in case you have been on another planet for the past week or so, the United Kingdom is in the midst of a massive spending review.

The people of this once great nation seemingly never learn from history. After all, every time there has been a Labour administration, the country has ended up in a financial mess or close to financial and economic ruin.

Although it has to be noted under the stewardship of Bliar (not a typo) and Brown, the level of fiscal incompetence and pecuniary sleight of hand has plumbed new depths.

If I applied such creative accounting to my company accounts I would soon feel the full force of the authorities, yet such creative accounting of the national accounts is seemingly allowed to pass with impunity.

Anyway, part of the review has been a look at Quango’s, an exercise which has seen many, although not as many as should have been, abolished.

Interestingly this particular exercise could have a significant impact on horse racing.

There are three Quango’s specifically related to horseracing and each has a differing fate.

There is the Horserace Totalisor Board which, as has already been announced, will be abolished and sold off.

There is the Horserace Betting Levy Appeal Tribunal, which will be retained in its entirety as it “performs a technical function which should remain independent of Government.”

Finally there is the Horserace Betting Levy Board, which like the Appeals Tribunal is being retained and for the same reason. However there is a rider which states, “modify functions to remove Secretary Of State’s role in determining Levy.”

That rider is interesting and, indeed, most welcome as the Government should have no role in deciding the funding of any sport.

When I first read the summary I assumed the Government was planning to step away completely and was delighted, however it seems my delight may have been somewhat premature.

Jeremy Hunt, the secretary of state for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, believes there is no longer any need for any political involvement.

In a statement the Department For Culture, Media and Sport said, "We plan to remove the role of the secretary of state from determining the Levy scheme to give the body greater independence and help further to reduce Government involvement in horseracing.

"What will we put in its place? That's yet to be decided.

"Ministers will discuss the options with the Levy Board and the Racing and Betting industries with a view to ensuring the funding for racing is fair and collected from as broad a base as possible.

"An announcement will be made on all this in due course."

The BHA have responded predictably.

Nic Coward, chief executive of the BHA, said: "Racing welcomes the announcement from Government that they are retaining the Levy and laying out plans to modernise it.

"In particular, we welcome that this is a first step by Government to a legal framework that will, in their words, 'ensure that funding for Racing from betting is fair and collected from as broad a base as possible'.

"The principle behind the Levy and the Levy Board - that of a fair transfer of funds from betting businesses to Racing - remains fundamental, and this Government announcement sweeps away any uncertainty about this for the future.”

Paul Roy, chairman of the BHA, stated, "(the) announcement is one part of what Racing has united to call for.

"It's a huge step, but it will only deliver a fair return for Racing in future years.

"Action is needed under the existing system to deliver a fair return in 2011. The matter should not need to land on the secretary of state's desk.

"But under the current process, the power and responsibility to come forward with realistic proposals is solely with the Bookmakers Committee.

"The proposal they are sticking to is a long way from one that could even be considered, and they have shown no sign of moving from it.

"On current forecasts, their proposal would mean a contribution of less than £50m to the Levy in 2011 down from over £100m just two years ago.

"They appear intent on exploiting loopholes for as long as they can, with catastrophic consequences for our sport and Racing people.

"Meanwhile, however, one major bookmaker is stating that exchanges are short-changing the Levy and Racing by tens of millions of pounds, and exchanges point back at big bookmakers joining others offshore and exploiting loopholes in the threshold system, estimated as hitting the Levy just as hard.

"They are both right. The Bookmakers Committee have to come forward with a proposal to deliver a return that is fair to Racing."

I hate to say it but Coward and, especially, Roy are beginning to sound like one trick ponies, spouting out the same tiresome rhetoric.

This is the same BHA management who had no Plan B when faced with a 2011 Levy return which was significantly lower than their, arguably, unrealistic expectations.

The same management who blustered about having to impose, much needed, drastic cuts to the 2011 program, yet then rolled over and published a fixture list with a token reduction of the number of fixtures, spreading the decreasing prize money even thinner.

It is a subject I have approached before and have no desire to revisit in detail again here.

Regular readers will already know my views on the CV’s of the BHA board and their ability to effectively manage a multi-million pound business.

Their slavish adherence to a single funding method, namely the Levy, shows a clear lack of financial acumen, foresight and an inability to view the wider issues.

The Levy is anachronistic and I have yet to seen any argument, yet alone a compelling one, as to why the Levy should be the means of funding the sport.

Why should racing alone receive a Levy contribution from bookmakers?

I had to smile, in particular, at Roy’s comments about racing being united. Racing is not united and never will be unless it is radically restructured. There are far too many disparate, vested interests in the sport for it to be unified.

The BHA is a vast improvement on its various predecessors, however it is still closer to being the Old Boys Club that was the Jockey Club, than being the effective custodian of a multi-million pound business.

The BHA needs to pay particular attention to the final word in its title, it needs to assert its authority and unite the sport as a single, cohesive grouping.

There needs to ba a funding model that is realistic and appropriate in the 21st century and not reliance on an anachronistic, unworkable model.

The BHA needs senior management who are not narrow minded, confrontational and who are ego-free. Individuals who are able to climb out of the deep, narrow furrow they have ploughed for themselves.

Watching the public pronouncements, from both sides of the debate, surrounding funding of the sport is like watching two alpha-males arguing over who has the biggest (or should that be smallest) penis, the on-going public spats are unedifying, achieve nothing and indeed discredit racing and the betting industries.

Most importantly racing, like any other industry in this country, needs to rationalise, indeed rationalise severely, to fit the funding available.

Yes it will mean a massive cut in fixtures, yes it will mean job losses, yes it will mean a decrease in the horse population. It means racing having to face the realities of the real world, realities others have been having to face for some time now.

Racing needs to emerge from its insular world and come into the real world and certainly the Government should not be getting involved in the macho posturing surrounding funding of the sport.

I would much prefer Government time and effort being dealing with defence, the NHS and education rather than becoming involved in debates about the funding of what is, in reality, a minority sport.

Instead of bickering with the bookmakers, perhaps those mandated with running the sport should concentrate their efforts in ensuring the Tote comes fully under the control of racing, although looking at their current track record that may well be a recipe for disaster.

Perhaps the Hong Kong Jockey Club, who really do know how to manage a racing set up, should come in and take over UK Racing and the Tote - lock, stock and barrel.

Racing Quango

I am writing this on Monday 11th October 2010.

Yes I know it isn’t the usual thing to begin an item with the specific date it is being written, however in this case it is significant.

Earlier this morning I popped over to our local supermarket, the one where the colour orange predominates. It is a modern supermarket with two floors of underground parking and some snazzy moving walkways to whisk you from the car parking to the store itself.

I was half way to the store when I caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of my eye, I was hallucinating surely?

But I wasn’t – looming in front of me was a 12’ tall, fully decorated Christmas tree.

There was worse to come, when I reached the shop floor the entire supermarket was festooned with Christmas decorations and, yes, it is only October 11th

Christmas seems to be beginning earlier every year.

OK I know winter is approaching as the evenings are getting darker noticeably earlier.

Also this weekend heralds, what for many is the traditional start to winter, Cheltenham’s first meeting of the season.

This weekend also sorts out the National Hunt followers from the flat followers as Newmarket hosts Champions Day, or at least the last Champions Day in its current format.

This year, as in previous years, it is a no brainer as to where I will be this weekend – it will be amongst the rolling hills of the Cotswolds rather than the open plains of Suffolk / Cambridge.

Although actually it isn’t quite true about it being a no brainer as, originally, I was not going to either. It was going to be a week long holiday, taking in Amsterdam and Brussels.

However with both sets of parents giving us assorted health concerns we have decided to remain in the UK. So Cheltenham it is.

Next year, however, it will be a major dilemma as to where I will be.

Next year Cheltenham’s first meeting of the season will not clash with a Champions Day in name only it will (no pun intended) be clashing with the Real McCoy, the new all singing, all dancing Champions Day at Ascot, featuring Britain’s most valuable card ever staged.

Part of the Racing For Change initiative it is designed to provide a fitting end to the flat turf season and, in theory, I have no great issue with the initiative.

However I do have a couple of concerns with regards the timing.

Firstly is it the most intelligent planning decision to have such a major fixture on the same day the jumping season has its first major fixture?

Some, but not all, racegoers are polarised into the flat and NH camps. There are many like both codes equally, or almost equally. For people like me, having two big, contrasting, meetings on the same day will produce a major dilemma as to which meeting to attend.

I have a suspicion I may have to compromise and do Cheltenham on the Friday and Ascot on the Saturday.

My other concern, and it is one I have touched on previously, is the proximity of the meeting to the Arc meeting at Longchamp.

For me we already have a championship day here in Europe, held the first Sunday in October where Longchamp stage six Group One races – culminating in the Prix de l’Arc deTriomphe.

Could having the British Champions Day just 13 days after Longchamp end up diminishing both?

Part of the fixture changes relate to having a “narrative” throughout the season, to this end a champions series of races has been formulated.

To me it looks suspiciously like the ill-starred Sovereign Series in just another guise.

More worryingly a new company called British Champions’ Series Limited (BCS) is being created to oversee the marketing and media rights for the entire series.

Is this not an incredible waste of money and does it not add yet another level of unnecessary administration into a sport which is already bloated with far too many vested interests.

Frankly the industry should be looking at rationalising not further fragmentation.

By creating BCS are the powers that be suggesting Racing Enterprises, who are supposed to be marketing the sport are not capable of marketing the Champions’ Series.

Or is it yet another example of unnecessary expense to line the pockets of the marketeers?

Another criminal waste of money along the lines of Racing For Change, money that could be better spent, for example, on prize money.

Looking at Racing For Change, what has all the money invested actually returned.

As far as I can see the only “benefit” I have seen has been the larger number cloths.

We had a week of free racing, by all account well received by courses and punters alike, yet what has happened to that … or are we awaiting responses from focus groups?

Then there was, in my view, the excellent suggestion to look at decimal odds. In the end there was a half-hearted “experiment” at one meeting, which was doomed to failure.

One enduring, and I mean enduring in the painful sense, aspect of Racing For Change is the “enhanced” on-course presentation. Usually hosted by Derek Thompson, Matt Chapman or, for reasons which defy all logical explanation, James McQuillan.

These are aimed to enhance the racegoing experience – take it from me they don’t, for every person the approach attracts you will alienate many more. Choosing two of the most Marmite characters in racing, Derek Thompson and Matt Chapman, for these presentation roles is a short sighted decision.

Those who like them will accept what is happening, those who do not will be alienated and driven away. Unlike the television where you can press the mute button or switch off, on-course the only escape is to go home.

It seems Matt Chapman has been employed to host Towcester TV, making his first appearance last Wednesday.

Now if you meet Matt when he is not near a microphone he is a pleasant, personable enough chap.

Put a microphone in his hand and I am afraid his ego takes over and he becomes unbearable. His performance at Towcester was, to say the very least, excruciating last Wednesday and, despite it being my local course and very convenient for me, I’m afraid I shall not be returning to Towcester as long as Matt is doing the course presentation.

Perhaps racing should take a note from the coalition Government who are cutting back on Quango’s – perhaps racing should begin the cull with Racing For Change and, even better still, put BCS out of its misery before it even sees the light of day.

Longchamp Diary

Saturday 03:30

Is it just me but whenever you set an early alarm because you have to be somewhere, you then have a sleepless night worrying you are going to miss said alarm.

This was certainly the case for me with the alarm set for 03:30 to catch my flight to Paris, it was a case of tossing and turning and waking up almost every hour.

The shower sort of wakes me up and I am out of the house by 04:00, although probably too tired to be driving.

05:25

The 06:00 flight to Paris is one of the first flights out and the call to the boarding gate goes out.

I paid extra for Easyjet’s speedy boarding and it pays off today. The flight is almost full and, for most of the time, I am the only one in the speedy boarding area with the other 126 passengers being herded into a general waiting area – a real illustration of what cattle class travel really is.

As more people are crowded into the departure lounge I sense I am getting some dirty looks as I am in comfortable isolation. Luckily two other speedy boarders join me and they can share the visual daggers.

5:50

Still no sign of boarding the plane, due to depart in 10 mins, looks like it will be late. Then an announcement – they are a member of crew short on the flight and are waiting for a standby crew member.

06:10

Finally allowed to board – well the speedy boarders are anyway. It is good to sit down and I am happy I have my favourite front row seat so I can stretch my legs out during the flight.

After 10 minutes the standby flight attendant arrives but there was still no sign of the other passengers who were still crammed in the departure lounge.

06:30

The other passengers now begin to board and I (and the other speedy boarders) all get even more intense daggers from some very unhappy fellow passengers. I can feel some sympathy with them having been crammed into a hot stuffy lounge for almost an hour, whilst we – at least – were in relative comfort. Then again, they too, had the option of paying extra for the speedy boarding.

06:45

Everyone on board now. Sitting in the front row has the added advantage of being able to hear conversations between the crew and it transpires that because of the delay in getting the full crew we had missed our slot.

Normally getting a new slot would not be a problem but the French air traffic controllers were working to rule and initially the first available slot would be four hours later. This was not going to be a good day.

Anyway the Easyjet control centre managed to negotiate a 7:40 departure slot, which in the circumstances was not too bad, although it meant sitting on the plane at the gate for ages.

07:20

The Captain comes on, “good news, they have bought our slot forward and we should begin push back in the next two or three minutes.”

07:35

The Captain comes back on, “you may have noticed we still have not moved, this is because of poor visibility here at Luton and they are restricting the number of aircraft on the taxi-ways at any one time”

What the remaining passengers did not hear was his chat with the Senior Cabin Crew which was, “if we are not off the stand in the next ten minutes we will not be going anywhere as we will be out of hours on the return trip.”

Was I facing another doomed attempt at a long distance race meeting?

The plane finally pushed back to muted, ironic, applause with just five minutes to spare.

09:50 CET

The plane finally touches down on French soil, only 90 minutes late in the end. I almost felt like kissing the ground when I finally got off the plane.

To be truthful I wasn’t overly upset with a 90 minute delay as I knew I was going to have to kill two hours in Paris with the early flight.

10:25

I finally get my train ticket into Paris and make my way to the RER station for the 35 minute trip to the racecourse.

Access to the platforms is sealed off.

I eventually find a sign saying the RER is closed for engineering work all weekend.

So, this is the weekend of the Arc, The Paris Motor Show and, apparently, a big fashion show and they decide to carry out engineering work on the rail link between the airport and the City. A weekend when there are tens of thousands of international visitors. I thought that was something that would only happen in the UK.

11:35

I finally arrive at Longchamp, hungry, thirsty, tired and in a foul mood.

Neil Morrice, erstwhile PA reporter, brings me back to earth as steam is still issuing from my ears – “just chill and relax, you are here now.”

Fair point.

This year there is a new media system – we have bar coded badges to give us access to the media centre and after many problems with the internet over the past three years, there is a new wireless system and we l have our own individual log-on …. most impressive.

Well not quite I couldn’t log in – eventually tracked it down to my having a pop-up blocker switched on in my browser. Apparently their login system uses a pop-up to control access.

12:30

Well I managed to file a couple of updates but keep getting logged out of the Wi-Fi network, this could be a painful afternoon.

12:50


he Wi-Fi finally dies completely, something of a problem when you are providing updates on a web site.

Surprisingly I am quite laid back by it all, I just carry on writing updates as though it is working OK. having worked in IT for many years I know shouting will not get it fixed any sooner.

13:30

My decision not to get uptight and start shouting was somewhat vindicated by watching a US correspondent failing to show such restraint and making a complete idiot of himself.

With a deadline looming he was shouting at the poor girl who was acting as an intermediary.

I was almost tempted to start a book as to which would happen first – either him thumping somebody or him having a coronary.

13:55

An anti-climax with eth US correspondent as all bets are void as he storms off back to his hotel, where there is a working Wi-Fi connection.

15:05

Finally Wi-Fi service is resumed, they have scrapped the new system and are reverting back to last year’s system.

Most have connected OK – I have not.

15:28

I am finally back on track – I still had a record of last year’s Arc meeting connectivity in my network settings and that was stopping me connect this year. All reset and happily working.

17:50

Decide to call it quits and miss the last race. It had been a fraught day so far and I still had to find my hotel the other side of Paris.

19:20

I managed to find my hotel at the first attempt. Only drawback is the hotel has no lift and I am on the third floor with the only access a spiral stairase – I’m glad I packed light.

Room is a typical Parisian hotel room, small and functional. It has a great view as it is opposite the Chateau De Vincennes, what a shame there is no racing at the nearby Hippodrome .

19:40

I had packed my “best” camera with assorted lenses as my intention had been to go back into Paris and take some night time photographs of what must be the best illuminated city in the world.

In the end I was so tired I barely ventured 100m from the hotel and after dinner it was a couple of hours work back in the hotel and bed.

Sunday 08:00

A crap nights sleep, room was hot but opening window meant noise from the main road outside – catch 22.

The good news being a gloriously sunny day.

A brilliant breakfast, there is nothing better than a croissant and half a fresh baked baguette with butter and jams, whilst sitting watching the world go by.

09:15

Out of the hotel early because I want to arrive at Longchamp early to ensure I get a seat in the busy press room.

10:00

Arrive at Porte Maillot where the shuttle busses to the course depart from, only to be told the first one does not depart until 10:30.

Decide to share a cab with the Reuters correspondent.

10:15

Finally arrive at Longchamp to find the media centre almost deserted and those who were there were all Brits – it was a real home from home.

And – the Wi-Fi was working a treat.

13:00

Racing finally underway, a card with seven Group One contests – what a delight.

The crowds do not really build up until late in the afternoon, so I watch the first race with the crowds in the Grandstand.

I had to laugh at this old French guy, clearly used to “normal” Longchamp days when there are no more than 50 racegoers.

He was sitting on the Grandstand steps and getting really agitated when somebody stood in his line of sight.

14:00

Like Sandown the Longchamp sprint course is in the centre of the track and it is impossible to see the race from the terracing on the stands, not least because there are hospitality tents between the stands and the track.

So decide to watch the race from the press terrace, which is high up in the grandstand but about a furlong from the finishing post. At least I was able to view the race.

Decide this will be my vantage point the remainder of the afternoon.

15:50

Well I have just had a hissy fit.

Was watching, or shall I say trying to watch, Goldikova and Paco Boy fight out the Prix De La Foret when a member of the press corps who, despite sitting in the front row of the seating area decided to stand up at the crucial moment blocking my view – I was not impressed and made him aware. He was so arrogant he almost ended getting smacked. What’s more he wasn't even French - but Irish which is unusual as they are usually decent guys.

16:30

Well after all the pre-race doom and gloom that we had a sub-standard Arc this year all was forgiven as Workforce won the roughest Arc in years.

A long Stewards Enquiry and somebody “in the know” retuned one of the TV’s in the media-centre to show the same feed the Stewards are watching as they take a look – what a great idea.

Every time we see a replay another incident comes to light, it was a very, very rough race.

16:40

Although there has been no official announcement and the enquiry is on-going we assume the winner is OK as the presentation is about to go ahead.

18:00

It has been a great afternoon, seven group one races (eight if you include the Arab Gold Cup)

Now to try and get back to the airport and after yesterday’s fiasco decide to go for the airport bus rather than train.

18:45

Despite all the horror stories about escaping from Longchamp I arrive at Porte Maillot. Whilst there was I queue I managed to get on the second shuttle bus from the course.

Soon realise my plan to catch the airport bus was flawed as it seems everyone else had the same idea, with a 200m plus queue.

Decide to bite the bullet and get the train, still had time as flight was not until 21:50.

20:35

Finally arrive at the airport – tired and hungry.

Usually have a meal in the airport restaurant but will be cutting it fine.

20:55

Find a Pizza Hut and have a couple of slices of hot and spicy pizza.

Whilst eating decide to get my documentation together.

Absolute panic – I had checked in online but could not find my boarding pass.

I had it at the racecourse, ready to put into my jacket pocket – it was not there now. I must had left it on my desk at the racecourse.

21:05

Just make it to check-in before it closes and the very helpful young lady prints me off another boarding pass and does not charge me for the airport check in.

I also realised I had left the receipt for my pre-paid airport parking behind as well. So I quickly log into my laptop to get the reference number.

22:30 BST

Back on British soil.

22:45

Whenever I pre-book parking at Luton there usually ends up being a problem, only once has the automated system worked.

This was to be another failure day.

The theory is you put your parking ticket in the exit machine, it recognises your car registration number. Cross-matches it to the booking and you are away.

That is the theory. I put the ticket in and, lo and behold, it requests £70 for two days parking in the short term car park.

I press the intercom for help and it rings and it rings and nobody answers. Meanwhile a queue is building up behind me to try and get out of the car park and I am going nowhere, I just stick my hazards on and those behind back away but I get evil looks as they drive out in the adjacent lane.

Eventually after seven minutes a voice answers and within another minute I am finally on my way.

I suppose a perfect way to finish the weekend.

Despite all the difficulties it was a good weekend. The racing on Saturday was good but the racing on Sunday was absolutely top notch. It would be hard to find a better single days flat racing, anywhere.

I just hope the proposed Champions Day back here next year does nothing to diminish Arc day, it would be a terrible shame if it did.

Catch Up Time

This week I thought I would revisit some of my recent musings.

A few weeks ago I was making the point, regarding the mooted 150 cut in the 2011 fixture list, it would not be enough and a cut of around 500 fixtures would be required if the sport was to become financially viable.

Last week the 2011 fixture list was finally published and what did we see, a cut of 23 fixtures after, it seems, racings rulers caved into pressure from the Horseman’s Group, one of the many self-interested faction sin racing, who seem to lack either the ability, desire or intellect to see the parlous state the industry is in.

Can racing really survive with the current levels of prize money?

As I write this I am on my way to Newcastle races where three of the contests offer first prize money around the £1,500 mark, yet the BHA are saying courses should be aiming for a £3,000 minimum – why is this being allowed to happen.

Those who disagree with me will point out these low value races are oversubscribed. That’s as maybe but they are oversubscribed by frankly useless horses, who should not be seen on a racecourse.

The 2011 fixture list is not all bad, there are some good initiatives coming from it.

I like the idea of season Champions Day and especially at Ascot rather than Newmarket. My one reservation is the timing as it looks to be planned too close to Arc weekend, which is fast becoming the fitting climax to the European season. It is a pity the BHA have seemingly ignored French concerns.

I also like the idea of weekend Premier fixtures, providing a focus for weekend racing.

I would however like to take the initiative a step further.

I would like to see a two tier system of racing in this country.

The top tier would roughly equate to the current Class 3 or better with the lower tier the current Class 4 and lower.

The top tier fixtures would be fully funded. There would be at least one top tier fixture each day from Wednesday to Sunday, with a minimum of two each Saturday and Sunday. In addition there would be a minimum of two top tier fixtures on a Bank Holiday. Provision would also be allowed to retain existing Monday or Tuesday Festivals.

There would be additional top tier meetings allocated subject to a) sufficient funding and b) sufficient horses in the population.

For the tier two meetings there would be one half-funded meeting every day with two scheduled Monday and Tuesday’s.

Other tier two meetings could be scheduled but they would have to be fully funded by the racecourses and / or bookmakers.

Opponents of a wholesale slashing of the fixture list point to the knock on effects in terms of trainers going out of business and the associated job losses.

Whilst such losses may be distressing at a personal level, it should not be a reason not to introduce such swinging changes.

Nobody has a God given right to be in business as a racehorse trainer, the racing industry should be subject to the same financial constraints as the rest of the world. If a business is not viable then it has no right to survive.

If a training establishment cannot be viable then it should shut down.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It seems I managed to upset the Racing Welfare Charity when I railed against James McQuillan’s performance at their fund raising day at Huntingdon on August Bank Holiday Monday.

In one comment it was implied that by criticising McQuillan I was also criticising their fund raising efforts.

Let me put on record here and now I have the utmost respect for the work carried out by Racing Welfare and I wish them every success in all their fund raising ventures, which are for a worthy cause and I would encourage anybody with an interest in racing to support them.

They also pointed out that McQuillan provided his services for free at Huntingdon that day. For that he is to be applauded, although I would expect anybody providing a service for a charity to provide their time for free.

The worthiness of the cause nor the “celebrity” providing their services free of charge does not, however, change my view that McQuillan is wholly unsuited to carry out MC duties at any racecourse, regardless of whether it is a charity day or not.

Racing Welfare also tell me they had more positive than negative feedback regarding McQuillan’s performance …. It would be interesting to see the demographic breakdown of those commenting. How many of the positive comments came from those who were really interested in the actual racing.

If he was fund raising at a village féte or at an event away from an actual race meeting then, by all means, use him.

There people are attending an event, in this case a horse racing meeting, where the charity fundraising is secondary to the main event, then those attending should not be subjected to such asinine utterings … especially when the onslaught was relentless.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I also mention my attempt to visit all the UK racecourses in 2010, which floundered when transportation issues thwarted a trip to Redcar.

With two further Redcar meetings scheduled it was still theoretically possible to complete the “full set” but other events have now prevented the achievement.

Ironically the course that finally prevented the goal being achieved was Perth, ironically one of the courses I also failed to visit last year.

I was all set to visit their final meeting of the season. My flight was booked, car hire was arranged.

I even went to bed early as the alarm was set for 04:30. A hour into my slumbers the phone rang, the type of call one always dreads, to hear my Father had just been taken into hospital.

So that finally was the end of the full set quest for 2010.

I don’t think I will bother in 2011.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This weekend is the Arc meeting in Paris and it is fast becoming one of my favourite meetings of the year. Not only do we have the Arc itself but the undercard is now beginning to ooze class.

It was a close shave this year. Normally obtaining Press accreditation for the Arc has been a relatively simple process. You wrote to France Galop in July and you received confirmation within ten days.

This year, due to demand exceeding availability, they introduced an online system for requesting accreditation, with a closing date of mid-September.

All well and good but decisions regarding accreditation were not made until after the closing date, which means accreditation was only confirmed in the last fortnight. Somewhat difficult when there are flights and hotels to book.

Last weekend at Ascot there were some very illustrious correspondents complaining there were, at this late stage, no hotel rooms available in Paris for Arc weekend.

One often sees caravans parked up in the Bois de Boulogne and I understand the owners are very “accommodating” – perhaps some of the hacks could stay there.