Amen

Well it is almost a year since I last went horse racing* and, at the time, I said I would review if I had any future with racing after a year has passed.

However, like a beloved pet who is in the final stages of their life it is better to humanely let it go rather than drag things on unnecessarily.

So I have reviewed, cogitated and digested and the very simple answer is I will not be returning to racing anytime in the near future.

The reality is I have not missed the sport at all - I have missed some of the great people I met whilst going racing. Some I am still in contact with and hope to remain so. One or two I have, sadly, lost contact with but I hope I will be able to catch up with them again in the future.

When I attended my final rules meeting at Fontwell many said I wouldn't last more than a couple of weeks without going racing - indeed the very same thought had crossed my mind. One of my racing buddies sent me a text almost every week saying "going to 'so and so' tomorrow?"

Would I get cold turkey?

Absolutely not - no withdrawal symptoms at all, indeed with the terrible wet weather last winter there was many a day when I though "I'm glad I'm not racing in this weather."

I did wonder how I would be come Cheltenham but that passed without any twangs of guilt, indeed I didn't even watch it on television.

I did almost end up working at Royal Ascot (non racing related) but that fell through.

I've barely watched any racing on television - I think I've watched a few "part" races and the only race I watched all the way through was, surprisingly, the Grand National.

I had planned to watch the Arc, my favourite flat race, last Sunday but actually forgot to turn it on and that probably sums it all up.

I've been keeping half an eye on the racing scene, mainly via the excellent Racing Forum web site, but frankly nothing has changed. The sport is still disorganised. The move to even more artificial surface racing moves relentlessly on and on with the re-opening of Great Leighs as Chelmsford City - you can change the name but will it be any better than its former incarnation. Then there is the planned desecration of Newcastle Racecourse and its conversion to artificial surface racing as well.

It hasn't all been bad news, Paul Bittar who promised so much but delivered so little, turning out to be the great appeaser, is on his way out.

This year has been a revelation in terms of how keen some people are about racing. I had kept the racecards from every meeting I have ever attended, bar three. With the exception of a couple of "sentimental" racecards I decided to sell them all this year and I could not believe how much money I made for them - it did help a lively bidding war developed for them on a certain well known online auction site. Similarly my collection of admission badges also raised a not insignificant sum.

I also kept half an eye on the racing through my dear father-in-law who loved to have a bet and I would put his bets on for him - sadly he passed away in July and that finally broke any final contact I had with the sport.

In a final move I staked the entire contents of all my bookmaker accounts on one final bet and, somewhat fittingly, it lost - had it won I would have bought a new car and had a holiday in memory of father-in-law as it lost it finally broke the link.  

When I gave up the racing I planned to spend more time relaxing, planning to play golf - I haven't touched my clubs once.

I planned to start up a new, non-racing, web-site but I'm still getting round to it (I'm still hoping it will be complete by the end of this year - but I'm not holding my breath).

Talking of web-sites I finally put www.ors-racing.co.uk out of its misery on 1st October, the site name and its content is now up for sale.

Will I ever go racing again - well as the saying goes - "never say never" - I undoubtedly will one day but it will be as a casual observer rather than an enthusiast and it's more likely to be something like the Arc meeting or Cartmel, two of the most beautiful settings for racecourses anywhere in the world.

So to all of you who have followed my rants, moans, hopefully some winners from paddockside a sincere thank-you.

For those I'm still in touch with please stay in touch. For those I've lost touch with (you know who you are) please get in touch.

To all of you may your bets be winners and may you continue to enjoy the sport you follow.

* I said I hadn't been racing for a year, well that wasn't quite true as I did attend a point-to-point meeting back in April, my first in 25 years and only my second ever.      

A Symmetrical Year

In terms of racing there has been a certain symmetry to 2009.

The year began with the racing program being decimated by bad weather and the year is ending the same way.

Both the flat and National Hunt scenes have been dominated, literally, by stars.

We have seen the 25th anniversary of all-weather racing in the UK and continued decline of racing coverage on the BBC.

Also the sport is having to face the realisation of the wider economic slump.

It is ironic with all the talk of global warming racing has been badly hit by freezing conditions in 2009. January and February saw the loss of 52 meetings, whilst December is also seeing a spate of weather related cancellations.

Racing authorities responded to the spate of cancellations by scheduling extra all weather meetings, mainly – or is that exclusively – at the behest of the bookmakers, who seem to be champions of the sandpit racing. Presumably because it is fodder for the mug punters.

Indeed the bookmakers have again been flexing their muscles in 2009. To the extent one seriously has to ask who actually runs racing – is it the BHA or is it the bookmakers. One sometimes wonders.

Hindsight is wonderful but I must confess if I could turn the clock back to 1961 when betting offices were “legitimised” I would fight the bill tooth and nail. Looking back I do not believe the bookmaking industry has been good for racing and racing would have been better served has we had a Tote monopoly with a fixed percentage going back into the sport. With such provision the sport would, I believe, be in a better financial situation than it currently is.

We are now faced with the situation where the industry basically has to go “cap in hand” to the Levey negotiations to try and get money from the bookmakers, most of whom are now based offshore.

Indeed the Levy is archaic. With racing accounting for only a small percentage of bookmakers turnover it seems incongruous the industry should be treated as a special case. If racing receives a levy then why shouldn’t football, rugby, tennis, golf or cricket?

On the track we have been treated to two super stars, one in either code. This year it is impossible to claim the two champions are not stars as it is in their name. In the yellow corner, for the flat team we have Sea The Stars and for National Hunt, in the green and yellow corner, we have Kauto Star.

John Oxx’s Sea The Stars is the undisputed star of the flat in 2009. He overcame a training setback to win the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The Derby was the next target, a race he approached with doubts about his stamina over 1½ miles. As he demonstrated his fantastic turn of foot The Derby was won without even breaking into a sweat. His detractors claimed he was lucky in the race was run to suit him


Next up was the Coral Eclipse at Sandown, down to 1¼ miles but taking on his elders for the first time. This time he had to work hard for victory but victorious he was beating fellow three-year-old Rip Van Winkle by a length with their elders four lengths plus in arrears.


Then the Juddmonte at York, only three rivals all from the O’Brien yard with Mastercraftsman his only serious rival. Riding a waiting race jockey Mick Kinane asked for an effort a furlong out and Sea The Stars eased into the lead for another length victory.

It was back to home territory in September as he lined up in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. Once again his main challengers came from the O’Brien yard and although O’Brien runners took 2nd, 3rd and 4th places the winner was invariably Sea The Stars with a comfortable 2½ length victory.

His swan son was in, arguably, Europe’s greatest middle distance race the Prix De l’Arc De Triomphe at Longchamp. Two furlongs out it looked as though he was going to blot his copy book. However his veteran rider Mick Kinane did not panic and when a gap appeared he weaved his way through, the horse showing fantastic acceleration and a furlong out he was in front.

The rest, as they say, is history.

I was privileged to be in Paris that afternoon. I have never seen or felt such raw emotion at a racetrack. Standing in the press viewing area, surrounded by wizened and hardened hacks I wasn’t the only one to have tears running down my cheeks.

The brilliant horse, having achieved the unique Guineas / Derby / Arc treble has been retired to stud. Hopefully next year he will cover Zarkava , the 2008 Arc winner.

His rider Mick Kinane also decided to hang up his boots – not sure if he is off to stud as well – after a brilliant career and a season it would be impossible to better.

Also on the flat Ryan Moore was, once again, champion jockey.

Kieran Fallon finally returned to the saddle to show what a good rider he can be and he can put his demons behind him he could be the one to give Moore most to worry about next season.

On the jumps it was the other star Kauto Star who has taken most of the plaudits.

Having won last years King George for the third time his 2009 debut was in the Blue Riband Cheltenham Gold Cup, where he faced stablemate Denman (returning after a heart scare) and his old rival Exotic Dancer.


The race was over three from home when he hit the front and powered clear to record a 13 length victory over Denman with Exotic Dancer a further 2½ lengths back in third. In winning the race he became the first horse to regain the Gold Cup.

After his summer break her returned to Haydock for the Betfair Chase, where last year he unseated Sam Thomas at the last. He put in a clear round this year but his backers had a fright as Imperial Commander made him fight all the way to the line, with many observers thinking the champion had been beaten. After what seemed ages Kauto Star was awarded the race by a nose.


His final appearance this year was his attempt to win a fourth consecutive King George. Lining up against a high class field he put in what can only be described as the perfect performance.

His jumping was sublime and foot perfect. Taking the lead turning for home the judge needed binoculars not a camera to determine the winning distance as he came home 36 lengths clear of his rivals.

Of course his stablemate Denman cannot be ignored. Coming back from his heart scare he had an easy introduction back, coming second to Madison du Berlais at Kempton.

Next up was the Gold Cup, where he was arguably still not fully fit, and his second to Kauto Star.

He reappeared quickly in the Totepool Bowl at Aintree where he took a crashing fall two out. The screens went up and he was taken away in a horse ambulance but luckily the worse he suffered was a bad cut. The news was not so good for Exotic Dancer, runner-up in the contest, who sadly collapsed and died in the stables after the race.

After a summer break Denman was back at Newbury for the Hennessy. Burdened with a top weight of 11st 12lbs he was giving 17lbs plus to his rivals.

Despite this welter burden he came home a convincing 3½ length winner.

Elsewhere Venetia Williams became only the second woman to train a Grand National winner as 100/1 outsider Mon Mome took the Aintree showpiece.

It is hard to believe 2009 saw the 25th anniversary of all-weather racing. To some a great racing format to others the spawn of the devil.

It was mixed news for racecourses in 2009. Attendances seemed to buck the recession with a slight year on year rise on 2008.

January saw the demise of the ill-fated Great Leighs a course seemingly fated from the outset, late opening and seemingly dragged down by poor management.

By contrast the UK’s newest course Ffos Las opened to near universal acclaim. Its well drained racing surface attracting praise from some of the toughest critics – the top trainers.

Mixed news for those who rely of terrestrial for the television coverage. The BBC announcing they are greatly reducing their 2010 coverage on television.

BBC Radio has fared little better with their plumbing the depths and turning their racing coverage into a pantomime farce on the Friday of Royal Ascot.

A new agreement has been reached with Channel Four, however at a cost to racing where the industry is paying C4 to cover the sport – another case of the tail wagging the dog?

As in the real world the recession has hit the sport. The Levy being reduced with a consequential drop in prize money. Even the top owners are cutting back, some reducing their strings others leaving the sport entirely.

It will be interesting to see what impact the financial crisis in Dubai has on the Arab involvement in the sport. They are saying the funding issues are separate and unconnected. However I fail to see how, morally, the rulers of Dubai can continue to inject such huge funds into the sport when their country is verging on bankruptcy.

All in all 2009 has been an eventful year – I wonder what 2010 has in store for us?

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!!!

- - - - -

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.

- - - - -

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.

- - - - -

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.

- - - - -

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.

Random Winter Musing

It is hard to believe we are already in February, what on earth has happened to January?


More pertinently what has happened to January’s racing, with over 30 meetings being lost to the weather.


February is starting in an even worse manner, with even so called all weather meetings being abandoned.


Isn’t it about time we did away with the misnomer of all weather racing and come up with a more appropriate name?


How about AS racing?


AS being Artificial Surface racing. Some would consider sandpit racing to be more appropriate.


But please no more All Weather.


*****


I have to confess I am feeling something of a jinx when it comes to the current bad weather. As I go racing about five times a week this time of the year I tend to plan my racing in advance.


In January I planned to attend 20 meetings – I actually managed to attend only nine and two of those were last minute reschedules.


For February I have 19 meetings planned and the first of those, Market Rasen on 3rd February, has already been abandoned.


So I have the following offer to racecourse managers. If you want your meeting to go ahead and not be at risk of being abandoned due to the weather, please feel free to make any financial inducement you see fit, so I do not plan to visit your course.


Otherwise the curse of The Beast may hit you.


*****


It is good to see the BHA staging additional fixtures to replace those that have been cancelled.


Let us hope the bad weather does not put the mockers on these additional meetings.


*****


In The Old Beast Almanac I predicted the closure of at least two courses in 2009. Little did I think the first closure would have come so quickly, nor did I think Great Leighs would be the first to go to the wall.


Administrators are looking to sell the course off, let us hope they succeed.


*****


Finally, on a non-racing matter.


I know most parents all think the fruit of their loins are the most wondrous creatures in the universe. However they need to bear in mind that others may not see your children in the same light.


I have just been on a flight where, for almost an hour some parents were happy to let their child run up and down the aircraft aisle, as if it was some adventure playground. They were quite oblivious to the nuisance their child was being.


Indeed they seemed more interested in enjoying their wine.


In the end a flight attendant put out an announcement for the parents to claim their child.


Guess what, they actually seemed miffed they were being asked to look after their brat?


You do wonder is some people should be allowed to breed.