Another Year Over

Do you remember when we were children how time seemed to drag? It seemed like eons between Christmas’s and even school holidays seemed to last for ever. (Although there are many parents who still say school holidays drag on far too long)

Now, as I approach my twilight years, time just flies by. It seems only yesterday we were moving from the frozen desolation of December 2010 into the frozen desolation of January 2011, a period where we were seriously bereft of racing.

It is really a year ago that the entire Boxing Day program was wiped out?

I have this theory about “quickening” time as you age.

When you are 10 years old one year represents 10% of your entire life. When you reach 50 one year represents a mere 2% of your life so, relatively speaking, it is a much shorter period of time.

So will 2011 be a classic year for racing, despite some great equine performances it will probably be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

The 2011 renewal of the Grand National was not the best showcase for the sport, run in hot conditions we saw horses finishing exhausted and the winner being very much on the wrong end of his riders enthusiastic use of the whip. If that wasn’t bad enough viewers were “treated” to some appalling BBC camera work which showed two dead horses, one just covered by a sheet of tarpaulin.

We then had the controversial new whip rules. I have no intention of re-igniting the debate here, suffice to say I think it has been universally agreed, by both sides of the argument, that the timing of the implementation – just one week before British Champions Day was the biggest, of many, own goals by the BHA.

We also had the ridiculous, ill conceived,  tariff system from the Horseman’s Group, the incredulous delay to the issuing of the 2012 fixture list, the conclusion of a huge corruption investigation as well as innumerable smaller embarrassments.

Luckily we had some great equine starts to more than compensate for the ills delivered by racings administrators.

The brightest star in the racing firmament is undoubtedly Frankel.

Even those of us who prefer the “twig jumping” side of the sport cannot help but admire this exceptional beast. Unbeaten, he still seems to be able to win, even when impossible situations.

His victory in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket must rate as the most devastation demolition of a filed in a Classic ever. Even the, normally emotionless, tones of Ian Bartlett reflected what an awesome performance it was.

There are, as always, some detractors who say Frankel has only performed over a mile and to be a great horse he has to perform over further and show versatility.

I know I was embroiled in a debate as to whether Sea The Stars or Frankel was the greater horse.  In the end I narrowly sided with Sea The Stars simply because he has demonstrated a greater versatility in terms if distance. It was a close call.

In 2012 it seems connections will be willing to step Frankel up to 10 furlongs. If he continues to dominate at that distance I will willingly place him on top of the pile – I am really looking forward to seeing him again next season.

British Champion’s Day was heralded with strong views both for and against.

Fortunately for the organisers the racing Gods were smiling on the big day. Yes there was the controversy over a certain whip ban but even the most curmudgeonly person will agree the day was a success. The sun shone and the presence of a superstar, Frankel all helped to make the day a great one. I have to say it was only the second time I have seen a spontaneous round of applause as a flat horse entered a parade ring before a race. (The other, also as Ascot, was when Yeats ran his final Gold Cup).

Much as I love Ascot I do, however, think organisers Should consider alternating Champions Day between  Ascot and a northern course to give racegoers based in the north to see such high class racing.   

On the twig hoping side we saw the, possibly brief, emergence of the younger generation as Long Run took the delayed King George and The Gold Cup.

However the old guard were still to have a big say and the first indications actually came in The Gold Cup.

Although Long Run came home the deserved winner it was the continuing battle between Kauto Star and Denman which caught the imagination.

It was strangely ironic this was the first Gold Cup for a few years which had not been dominated by the Kauto / Denman clash in the build-up. Yet this race gave up the best battle between the two. It was the battle between Kauto Star and Denman which really did get the hearts racing that Friday afternoon in Gloucestershire.

The pair had mixed fortunes later in the year with Denman being retired and Kauto Star performing near Lazarus style performances.

Many, including myself, had called for Kauto Star to be retired after his seemingly poor performance in the delayed King George. Looking back with the benefit of hindsight I should have listened more closely to Lee McKenzie. When we were discussing the January King George he pointed out that Kautoi Star’s time for the race was within a going adjusted half second of the times he had recorded in all but one of his previous King George runs and that Long Run had recorded an exceptionally fast time.

The Betfair Chase was to be make or break for Kauto Star. As we all know he won that day, holding off a late challenge from Long Run.

So it was back to Kempton, with the King George back where it belongs on Boxing Day. Another clash between Kauto Star and Long Run, with the youngster sent off favourite.

Well we all know what happened next. The packed house at Kempton almost blew the impressive Kempton stand all the way to Heathrow as the Star really was the star and he recorded an unprecedented fifth King George win. How long before his statue is alongside that of Dessie beside the Kempton Parade ring.

There must be special mentions too for Big Bucks as he continues his domination of the staying division and for Carruthers, who was a great winner of the Hennessey for the wonderful, delightful but sadly ailing Lord Oaksey.

So a curates egg of a year but one where the equine heroes managed to salvage the poor efforts of the humans.

May I wish all my readers a Happy New Year and let us hope racing makes the front pages for all the right reasons in 2012.

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I have received quite a few e-mails following my last article about the commentator’s review, every single one agreeing with how poorly they are being treated and how badly the situation has been handled.

A few people have asked me about the so called “fifth man” as some reports had mentioned five commentators under review. The four names I mentioned in my article were already in the public domain, having been published in the Racing Post.  As far as I am aware the fifth name is not in the public domain which is why I made no mention of them.

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?

Another Fine Festival

For most of us who love the jumping game the pinnacle of the racing year takes place over four days each March is a delightful corner of Gloucestershire, near a small village called Prestbury - the meeting more widely known after the name of the nearby town – Cheltenham.

It is a recent innovation to move the Festival to four days, some still wish it was spread over three days and that having the extra day dilutes the Festival. I don’t think it does, the extra races are competitive handicaps and they give an opportunity for decent horses to run at Cheltenham, who would not otherwise get a run.

Indeed it could be argued, over the years, some of the lowest rated horses to have run at Cheltenham have run in the Championship races. Races in which they have no chance of winning, but are entered solely for the vanity of their owners.

Anyway that is by the by, we have a four day festival and I have relished every moment of it – well almost all.

On the equine front we have seen more than out fair share of shocks with some very fancied runners being turned over – even in the Championship races in which Binocular and Kasbah Bliss were turned over in the Smurfit Kappa Champion and Ladbrokes World Hurdles respectively. Being beaten fairly and squarely by Punjabi and Big Bucks respectively.

Of course the other two championship races went to the stars, with Master Minded winning the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, albeit with a below par performance but still winning by seven lengths. The runner-up’s performance was also a particularly emotional one with ten-year-old Well Chief overcoming a near two year absence.

The Totesport Gold Cup also produced an emotional 1-2. Kauto Star put in a near faultless performance to become the first horse to regain the Cup. Equally emotional was Denman coming home in second place, finally showing he has seemingly recovered from his cardiac problems and his dire performance at Kempton was a one off.

After the race it was one of those occasions where the runner-up received as many cheers as the winner.

Of course looking ahead it raises, assuming trouble free preparations, the potential of a decider between Denman and Kauto Star – what a prospect?

Away from the Championship races there were some inspirational performances.

Tony McCoy getting Wichita Lineman home on Tuesday showed why he is the greatest jockey – no other jockey would have got the horse home.

In the preceding race Forpaddydeplasterer received one of those welcomes that only the Irish can provide and you would have to have a heart of stone not to have been pleased for connections.

Appropriately on Thursday, Ladies Day, Venetia Williams had a magnificent 277/1 double with Kayf Aramis and Something Wells and , for good measure, she also trained the runner-up of Something Wells race.

We also saw some future stars – Dunquib was a very impressive winner of the Bumper, arguably the best performance of the four days.

The Queen made a rare visit to Cheltenham on Friday mainly to see her runner Barbers Shop compete in the Gold Cup. Of course there was not a Royal winner – imagine the response had there been one!!

Despite the credit crunch the crowds were not down that much and betting turnover was pretty much as expected.

The Cheltenham crowds are legendary with a massive Irish invasion. The black stuff flows – literally most of the puddles in the village were spilled stout as opposed to water.

The good aspect is although the beer flows the atmosphere is still pretty good, somewhat noisy though.

There was a band performing in the Guinness Village – they were situated pretty close to the media centre and I have to say their set was pretty good – first time around. However when you hear the set about six times a day over four days it does lose its attraction.

The queues, of course are legendary, especially for the toilets – the golden rule don’t drink too much and have excellent bladder control!!!

One improvement this year is the traffic control seemed a great deal better than in previous years – it only took 40 minutes to get away from Cheltenham on the Friday!!!

Now, of course, life returns to normal – it doesn’t mean, of course, we can’t start discussing next years Festival.

So, who will win the 2010 Gold Cup?

The Big Clash

I had not realised it has been so long since I last updated the blog.

I could make excuses like holidays in Portugal and Sardinia – however they aren’t really excuses as wherever I go the laptop goes with me.

Rather than spend too much time looking back, this is the time to look forward to four days of high class racing in the Gloucestershire countryside.

I refer, of course, to the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival, or as everyone else calls it – Cheltenham. The remainder does not need to be said.

Every year there is the sense of anticipation, however the 2008 renewal has the greatest expectation in a long time and it is all down to one race. The big race.

The racing forums have been abuzz with heated debate as to who is the better horse the defending champion Kauto Star or the pretender, Denman. The clash made all the more intriguing as both are trained by Paul Nicholls.

Many die hard racing fans had a sleepless night on Saturday, following reports of Kauto Star suffering an injury and, heaven forbid, he would miss Cheltenham . Luckily it seems rumour control was working overtime and what was, a one point a carer threatening fetlock injury, just turned out to be a minor infection.

So with a little less than three weeks to the Gold Cup we are still on course for one of racings big clashes.

Or are we?

How many times have we been promised do or die races, only to end up disappointed. It must be remembered this is a Gold Cup, a field with plenty of top horses.

Exotic Dancer would, had he not had the misfortune to be around the same time as Kauto Star, in all probability have been a Gold Cup winner himself by now. He is also a horse that loves Cheltenham. The presence of the top two have really forced out his odds and I would suggest he is the each way banker of the Festival.

My Cheltenham dream is to see Kauto Star, Denman and Exotic Dancer rounding the final turn together, clear of the field. What happens next – we will have to wait unti just after 3:20 og March 14th.

Meanwhile I am returning to the reality of frost and abandoned race meetings – Baby It’s Cold Outside.

No racing then the King George

Day one of those three dreak days each year when there is no racing.

OK I am being selfish, the hard working stable staff deserve a break, even though the horses still need looking after over Christmas.

To get an appreciation of a day at the races for a stable lass may I recommend the following http://www.theracingforum.co.uk/features/ it is a very good read.

After the break racing is back with a vengeance, with no less than eight meetings on Boxing Day and on Thursday there is the Welsh National.

The highlight of the Boxing Day fare must be the King George at Kempton, where Kauto Star attempts to win the race for the second year running. In all his previous races over the past two seasons I have made arguments for him to be beaten and have only been right once.

On Wednesday he faces just six rivals and I find it hard to find a horse to beat him. His arch enemy Exotic Dancer is happier left handed and does not like Kempton. Hi Cloy is good but the King George is too high a class race for him. For My Way De Solzen, although he has some hurdles form over 3 miles I still have doubts as to whether it is too far against such classy opposition. Racing Demon is another who I think 3 miles is pushing the limit. Taranis gets the 3 miles and cannot be ruled out, although he would need to improve a few pounds to challenge Kauto Star.

This leaves Our Vic, who at 9 years old is pretty much exposed and who is arguably better over 2½ miles than three. However the Pipe stable are in great form at the moment and the run of Vodka Bleu at Ascot on Saturday shows that Pipe can still get something out of his old boys. At around 20/1 I think Our Vic could be a good each way investment.
Whatever you are doing over the coming few days, have a good holiday.