BMW Drivers and Drunks

Time for another rant this week, one racing related the other not.

So let’s get the non-racing one sorted out first of all.

One of the disadvantages of going racing as often as I do is the number of miles that have to be covered, invariably by road. It is also the most tiring aspect of racing as you need your wits about you with some of the idiots you find on the road.

Now I am probably going to risk alienating a number of readers here by saying the worse car drivers on the road seem to be those who drive BMW’s.

I’m not saying all BMW drivers are equally culpable but if there is some idiot hogging lane three of the motorway it is a fair chance it will be a BMW driver.

If there is a car tailgating you have a look when it goes past and it’s a fair chance there will be a BMW manqué on the vehicle.

Queuing somewhere, to leave the racing or when lanes merge on a motorway you can bet your bottom dollar the car trying to push in will be a Beamer.

I have come to the conclusion that BMW stands for Brainless Moronic W*nker, as that seems to sum up the attitude of a large number of BMW drivers. It is almost as it they have a superior arrogance that makes them think they don’t have to follow the same rules as everyone else.

You think I’m making it up – just take a look next time you are off on a long drive.

If the marketing guys at BMW were switched on they could have the strapline “a frontal lobotomy free with every car.”

Speaking of frontal lobotomy’s that brings me onto my next moan – drunks at the races and I’m not talking about jockeys who fail an on-course breath tests.

No I’m referring to those simple minded idiots who seem to be unable to do anything without a drink in their hand and in so doing inflict their boorish behaviour on others.

The extreme instance is an outbreak of fighting of which there have been recent cases at Sandown, Newmarket and Newbury. Thankfully not that too frequent an event but once is too often.

At the next level there are loud boorish groups who pour beer down their throats and become rowdy. Some may think chanting of football songs is cool – maybe it is at a football stadium - it is not appropriate behaviour at a racecourse. On one level it is not pleasant for the majority of racegoers who are there to enjoy the racing.

There is also the safety concern that a jeering crowd could spook a horse leading to a nasty accident. OK it hasn’t happened yet but I’m sure that is down more to good fortune than anything else.

The raceourses do not help matters. Granted they are not charities and they need to make money and believe me having once been a licensee of a social club I know exactly how much profit can be made from booze sales. However the courses actively encourage drinking.

At one of the meetings where there was recent violence there were innumerable young lads walking round actively selling beer to racegoers. I lost count of the number of times I was approached and asked if I wanted to buy some beer. The look of incredulity when I said I didn’t want a drink had to be seen to be believed.

The trouble is some racecourses actively encourage their customers to drink as much as possible – they then shrug their shoulders and tut tut when there are problems as a result.

Indeed there are some courses who actively encourage heavy drinking – there is more than one course who encourages customers to by their drinks in two pint containers – one even pushes beer in four pint jugs.

It is actually illegal for a licensee to sell alcohol to a customer who is drunk – yet at most courses this rule is not enforced. This isn’t helped by the fact that most of those selling the alcohol are barely 18 themselves and do not have the confidence to refuse to serve those who are intoxicated.

There are those who will argue that drinking at the racecourse is not a big problem, it just reflects what happens on most high streets on any Saturday night. Does that make it right?

I avoid high streets on Saturday nights because of drunken morons, why should I avoid going racing to avoid them?

I have no problem if people want to have a drink as long as they don’t make a nuisance of themselves.

The RCA / BHA should implement (or should I say enforce) the following rules straight away.

Anyone who is intoxicated at a racecourse should be ejected immediately.

• Anyone who is drunk and disorderly at a course should be banned from all racecourses for twelve months. For repeat offences a lifetime ban should be applied. The banning orders can be enforceable in the same manner as football banning orders.
  
• Anyone who is violent at a racecourse should be banned from all sporting venues for life. Again this can be a legally enforceable ban.
  
• Any racecourse who fails to enforce the rules of its licence should have its licence removed.
  

I want the racecourse to be somewhere I can have an enjoyable afternoon, where I could take a maiden Aunt without her having to come face to face with drunk louts. I don’t care what happens on the high street, I don’t want it happening on my racecourses.

Tarnished Sovereign

On Wednesday, with a great fanfare, the Sovereign Series was announced.

This is a series of ten of the top flat races which will have funding of £10 with a substantial prize going to connections of the horse which scores most points in the series.

At first glance it sounds a brilliant initiative, a huge injection of funds into racing, a chance to raise a profile of the sport in the eyes of the general public. A large number of whom think there are only two horse races a year, The Grand National and The Derby.

Of course it is very easy for the marketing men to grab a quick headline but, as often happens, the devil is in the detail.

It has to be said the more you look at the detail of the proposed series, the more difficult it becomes to justify the series.The most serious show stopper surrounds the terrestrial broadcasting rights.

The powers that be want the series covered by a single terrestrial broadcaster. The proposed races are currently shown by both the BBC and Channel 4. These is also an expectation that the terrestrial broadcasters will have to bid for the rights.

Quite how this fits in with the Channel Four financial model where they are currently being paid to broadcast racing every Saturday is not clear.

Should they obtain the rights to the Sovereign Series would they still wish to show the “bread and butter” racing the other weeks.

Another major issue is the BBC currently hold the rights to Royal Ascot. Ascot racecourse have said they are not prepared to have terrestrial coverage of the Royal Meeting split across two channels. I can’t see the BBC being wiling to give up their Ascot coverage, one of the “Jewels In The Crown”.

Will the BBC therefore bid for the entire package?

Looking at how they have drastically reduced their coverage in recent years I cannot see that happening.

Again the question will need to be asked if the BBC get the rights will the C4 walk away.My suspicion is whichever terrestrial broadcaster doesn’t win the rights will almost certainly walk away from coverage of racing – that will not help the sport at all.

There are also questions surrounding the races that have been selected for the series.

With such large sums of money at stake, what will be the impact on the non-Sovereign races?

The one that immediately springs to mind is the Champion Stakes at Newmarket, which is the same weekend as the Arc. If a leading horse is in contention for the Sovereign Series big prize will they potentially by-pass the Arc to run at Newmarket. Arguably the Arc is the far superior race.

Why aren’t all the classics being included in the series?

Will the series be supported by all of those in the sport? This will be a showcase series and it will, hopefully, put the sport in the public eye. With that comes responsibility. Those involved, owners, trainers and jockeys need to be accessible. What the series cannot do with, is surly jockeys whose stock answer to general questions from the media is to respond with a two word reply the second of which is off.

Finally I do have one other concern, which may not go down well with the public. We are currently experiencing a credit crunch, people are being asked to tighten their belts. Yet they then see racing launching a £10 million, ten race series and when encouraged to actually come racing and watch the racing live they are charged extortionate amounts to enter the racecourse.

Also the question has to be asked – can the money not be better spent? Certainly there are more pressing needs outside racing but that is another issue. There is talk of a £2m prize to the horse that wins the series – the chances it will go to one of the big stables and the question is do they need the money?

Are there not other areas in racing where the money could be better spent?

Arrogant Bully

Bullying is something you expect in the school playground, perpetrated by immature children.

It is not something you would expect from supposedly top racing trainers.

Yet racing is looking at the unedifying spectacle of trainers like Mark Johnston and John Gosden publicly bullying a small trainer like Christine Dunnett.

The background is trainers are unhappy with the level of prize money available at Yarmouth racecourse on Easter Monday. A group of supposedly senior trainers unilaterally decided to boycott one of the races at Yarmouth, without even having the common courtesy of discussing the matter with the “smaller” trainers who held entries in the race.

Consequently only Christine Dunnett’s runner Southwark Newsboy remained the only runner resulting in a walkover.

So how do these supposedly mature men respond – by sending offensive and bullying e-mails to Mrs Dunnett.

How good it is to see these “respectable” trainers showing their true colours. Gentlemen they are not, arrogant bully boys they are.

Everyone agrees there is a paucity of prize money in UK racing and something needs to be done about it. However the pathetic token protest arranged by racings bully boys hurts nobody other than small trainers like Mrs Dunnett – there is no financial impact at all to the big stables.

Johnston’s attitude in particular stinks of rank hypocrisy, this is the trainer who has spent the winter sending his decent horses to farm low value all weather races. This to the detriment of the smaller trainers who are trying to eke a decent living in the close season. Financially Johnston does not need to run horses at that level.

More to the point what right do the likes of Johnston and Gosden have to tell other trainers where to run their horses? I can imagine Johnston’s or Gosden’s reaction if Mrs Dunnett had dared to tell them where to run their horses.

I used to have a great deal of admiration and respect for Mark Johnston. Note I made that statement in the past tense. Johnston’s true colours have emerged in the appalling mail he sent to Mrs Dunnett.

Both Johnston and Gosden may be good trainers, however their character and personality seems to have something to be desired.

I’m sure Johnston and Gosden’s arrogance is such that they care not what I think, however nothing would make me happier if some of their owners saw them for what they are and took their horses elsewhere.

If there were any justice in this world they would both end up a small trainers themselves.

Cheltenham Festival 2008 - 4

Although nowhere near my best festival financially, I found it the most exciting Festival in many a long year.

I was greatly impressed by the flexibility of all sides in the rescheduling of Wednesday's races. I know we are often, rightly, critical of the authorities at times, however on this occasion they deserve nothing but praise. I somehow think if the same had happened ten years ago we would have lost the days racing without any attempt to save it.

The only downside of a ten race card, with large fields, is it is physically and mentally exhausting. I have to admit in the Kim Muir on Thursday afternoon (race nine) I completely lost it trying to read the race.

The highlight for me has to be Master Minded, although a heavy losing race for me financially, I don't thing anyone can fail to be impressed with the way he absolutely demolished the field. The sobering thought is he is only a five year old.

Then, just over an hour later, we saw a totally contrasting hero in Inglis Drever - never flash, only just doing enough, but what guts.

The Kauto Star / Denman clash wasn't quite the gladiatorial contest most envisaged, however it was a privilege to watch all the same.

Add to that some exciting finishes, especially in the early races on Friday then the Festival must have something for everyone.

There were some disappointments, Sizing Europe amongst them and there are still as many questions posed as were answered, but that is the joy of racing?

It is after races like Master Minded’s and the Gold Cup that I sometimes wish I had children – so in years to come I could bore my grandchildren with “I was there” tales.

Cheltenham Festival 2008 - 3

What a difference a day makes.

Yesterday Cheltenham was abuzz with excitement and there was an interesting days racing.

Definitely a bookies day.

A killer day for me with only one winner and two placed horses. Mixed feelings for the Carberry family A big hug for Nina, not only because she is pretty, but for the great ride to win the cross country. However a kick in the nuts for brother Paul for screwing up a big straight forecast bet I had in the last. I thought Ashkazar to beat Grand Schlem was the best bet of the afternoon. (Pleased for Emma Lavelle though) C'est la vie

Today, well what a difference?

Racing abandoned due to high winds. The course is like a ghost town, albeit a very windy one. Many people are complaining but to me it is a “no brainer”. Conditions are potentially dangerous and no sensible person could take the risk.

As the saying says “every cloud has a silver lining”.

Wednesdays races are going to be rescheduled over the remaining two days.

This means on Thursday we have ten races and Friday we have nine.

Heaven help me – I was knackered after six yesterday.

Tomorrows capacity has been increased from 55,000 to 65,000 – going home will be fun.

Last night it took me 1½ hours to get out of the car park.

Cheltenham Festival 2008 - 2

I’m sitting here on tenterhooks, one television is tuned to ATR and the other to the news channels watching the storm moving across southern England and Wales.

I have also just seen photographs of damage caused to some the temporary stands at Cheltenham.

Why is it this storm has had all winter to wreak its havoc, yet it decides to turn up the very day before the greatest festival of the year?

Of course the local situation at Cheltenham is only part of the problem, horses have to get to the course and who would want to drive a horse box in these windy conditions?

Oh well, we shall have to assume everything will be OK.

The cards are now available for the first day and no great surprises.

For what it’s worth I have already put some each way money on last years winner Sublimity for the Champion Hurdle, however I will also be having an investment on Sizing Europe, who now looks like the probable winner.

The opening Supreme Novices’ looks like being a lottery and will probably be a “no bet” race.

The Arkle is another double bet race for me – the favourite Norland will have to have a really bad day at the office to lose, and he is a must bet proposition. However I want to play for the forecast and I will have some money on Irish Challenger Clopf.

In the William Hill Trophy I have always had a liking for David Pipe’s Abragante and will probably have a small investment on this enigmatic gelding. However a case could be made for most of the runners and it is not a race to be dogmatic about and there are question marks over most of the runners.

The Cross Country chase has long been an Irish benefit and I see nothing different this year. I had originally opted for the favourite Wonderkid, however I now have a leaning towards Garde Champetre from the yard of Enda Bolger who has a brilliant record in Cheltenham cross country races.

The racing ends with the Fred Winter and I have been keen on French trained Grand Schlem since an impressive second at Kempton. However the winner of the Sunderlands Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday, Ashkazar, has been entered and with a £50,000 bonus on offer he cannot be ignored.

Cheltenham Festival 2008 - 1

As I write this there are just over 53 hours to the scheduled start of the first race at the Cheltenham Festival.

Not I use the expression “scheduled start”, this is because the Met Office are forecasting the mother and father of all storms to arrive overnight tonight and into tomorrow.

Indeed if some reports are to be believed it is not only the mother and father of storms, it looks as though they may be inviting the entire family along as well.

It is not so much the rainfall that concerns me but the wind and the damage it could do to the tented areas at Cheltenham. I was at Huntingdon last year when a min-whirlwind hit the course, with strengths nothing like those forecast in the next 24 hours. There tents and marquees were lifted like matchwood and some brave soles fought to contain the damage, but it bought home the damaging effect the wind can have.

Even if Cheltenham escapes there will still be potential problems getting some runners to the course …. oh it is so worrying.

It isn’t as though there is not enough to worry about, without the weather concerns.

On Friday the Gold Cup looks to have the potential to be one of the greatest of all time as stable mates Kauto Star and Denman come head to head for the first time.

The champion taken on by the great pretender. If Kauto Star wins he will go down in the annals of racing history as one of the greats. If not he owes nothing to his connections.

Of course there are twenty-one other races at Cheltenham this week – bring them on.