Let It Snow

Just in case you haven’t noticed, or you are reading this outside the UK, it’s been snowing outside.

Apparently racing is “suffering” as a result with meetings being abandoned left right and centre, although I fail to see how a meeting can be abandoned if it hasn’t actually started, as far as I am concerned unless the meeting has actually commenced it is CANCELLED.

Even the supposed “all weather” meetings have been called off due to, ahem, the weather. Those of you who follow my web site will know I stopped referring to it as “all weather” racing a few years ago and I refer to it as “artificial surface” racing. Surely it is time the racing authorities took the same approach?

I’m very tempted to find some advertising material extolling the virtues of all weather racing and passing it to the Advertising Standards Authority to see what they think of the use of the term.

It isn’t simply a matter of semantics, it makes racing look absolutely stupid, having a product it calls all weather racing, when it patently isn’t, is absurd.

Of course, some would argue that racing is a past master at making itself look stupid, so it should not be any great surprise.

Reading some of the racing forums you would think the loss of racing is the end of the word – well it isn’t – life will carry on. For those working in the industry it’s an annoyance but an occupational hazard which has to be accepted as a fact of life.   

For those compulsive gamblers who cannot survive without their betting fix it seems the bookmakers are going out of their way to accommodate them with betting available on real horseracing from such diverse locations as France, South Africa, United States and even Chile!!

Let’s face it, who in the UK, with any modicum of common sense, would want to bet on racing from Chile unless they have a serious gambling problem?

Then again judging by the sheer number of “races” being shown people are obviously happy to bet on cartoon racing otherwise there would not be such a proliferation of it in the betting shops.

Looking at one leading bookmakers website, between 12:45 and 13:30 this afternoon there are no fewer than 22 virtual horse races being shown, in other words one every two minutes!!!

Another bookmaker has virtual cycling, tennis, horse racing, greyhound racing, football and motor sports.

Why would anybody in the right mind want to bet on these events? Talk about “a fool and his money.”   

Yes it’s snowing but it isn’t the end of the world. It’s highly unlikely anyone is going to die because there isn’t any racing taking place.

I’m old enough to remember the winter of 1963, where racing was shut down for months yet the industry survived.

OK I wasn’t old enough to notice the lack of racing – but I remember the months of freezing.

Listening to the news this morning I am astounded at the number of schools across the country closed as a result of the snow.

I don’t recall schools being closed back in the winter of ’63. In those days we were not ferried to schools by car, indeed most families did not even own a car – my parents never had a car.

We had to walk to school and even my infant school was a two mile walk which we had to do in all weathers.

Nowadays the "precious little darlings" have to be ferried to school by car, quite often even less than half a mile, usually by mothers with complete disregard for traffic regulations.

Heaven forbid children, or even the parents come to that, should have to use their legs and actually walk somewhere.

No wonder there is an obesity crisis amongst the children of today - especially as they are also pumped full of burgers and other junk food.

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.