Tales from the Turf
Page 31
Many races are restricted to horses within a particular range of handicap ratings and so the top trainers, with yards full of equine Porsches, ask ‘Where on earth do I find a race for all the horses I have rated at 90-plus?’ They mutter that if they had a yard full of very moderate nags rated at 40–50 they could find opportunities to race them three afternoons a week and in the evenings and on some Sundays as well. They want less racing with bigger prizes.
‘All very well for them,’ say the smaller fry. ‘But our owners can only afford moderate horses and there must be moderate races for them to win. If there were not lots of moderate horses swelling the racecards, what would happen to the volume of betting and the rake-off from it, however skimpy, on which everybody in racing depends?’.
Both camps have a point. You can sympathise with Luca Cumani’s complaint from one of the best addresses in Newmarket that three-quarters of the racing calendar is made up of races which his horses are too good to enter and that it is bad for racing’s image for it to appear as a mediocre sport. In a world of increasing leisure opportunities, racing has to compete with a number of glamorous inducements for the punter to part with their spending money, and if they acquire the impression that racing is second rate then they will go hang-gliding, play golf or save up for the next ‘final’ tour by the Rolling Stones instead.
But smaller trainers say that if a race produces plenty of runners and a good finish, most people are not too bothered about the calibre of the racing. If there is a cutback in the racing programme, they say, then the number of opportunities for small owners will decline and that cannot be good. As Derek Haydn Jones put it, ‘There are a lot of mediocre horses in training owned by people who love racing but simply cannot afford anything better.’ That includes me.
The extra meetings have come about partly because courses press for more: they can only generate so much revenue from non-racing days staging mini-golf or antique fairs. Bookmakers too called for more racing to increase their turnover at slacker times and were accommodated by racing authorities keen to increase levy income. The present structure which the bigger trainers resent came about partly because they were not content to leave the cheaper maiden races on the less fashionable tracks to the smaller yards but sent their higher-grade horses along to boost their win totals.
There is now too much racing. For evidence, just look at the whey-faced jockeys on the weighing-room steps as they head off, barrel-bags slung over their shoulders for another motorway slog to the next meeting. It has become impossible for anybody outside a small group of full-time professionals to keep up with the form book. And part of the problem is that nearly half the races run on Britain’s tracks are handicaps. It is a system that forces good horses, which have demonstrated their ability, to carry lumps of weight to struggle against indifferent animals. It is a system that encourages manipulation, with trainers seeking to produce well-handicapped horses rather than top-quality horses. It is a system that, at its worst, encourages jockeys to make mistakes that are costly to punters because trainers don’t want their horses to win by too much to the detriment of their handicap rating. And it is a system that drives equine talent abroad. Horses good enough to be forced to carry big weights in handicaps but not quite good enough to run in non-handicap Pattern and Listed races tend to be exported, thinning the talent pool in Britain. Mark Johnston, always a voice to be heeded in racing’s debates, insists there must be reform. Racing, he argues, ‘is not some politically correct version of non-competitive primary school sports where everyone can expect a prize’.
I have much sympathy for the fixture-framers at the British Horseracing Board who have to balance the conflicting interests, and I remain resistant to the calls for much less racing. For racing to mean anything it must be a spectator sport, not a private club, and I fear that an early victim of the ‘too much racing’ lobby would be the Sunday and evening meetings that are bringing in a new kind of spectator. We might lose too some of the smaller tracks and if young people have no racecourse in their area then they will never develop the habit of going racing. But adjustments could be made. Although a jumping enthusiast, I would shed no tears over the end of summer jumping. There should be fewer Flat races in July and August on baking ground and more in early autumn and perhaps a bigger differential between the prizes for winning a 0–60 handicap and those for winning better-class races.
Perhaps the answer in the end will be some kind of premier league, with top courses staging prestige racing getting extra dollops of levy money and smaller courses left largely to survive on their own, offering sparser facilities but extra fun. I won’t expect Ascot when I go to Brighton or to Catterick, but I shall still go. In the meantime, racing should stop squabbling about who gets which slice of prize money and concentrate on baking a bigger cake.
INDEX
Note: Hyperlinked page numbers in this electronic version of the index correspond to the page numbers in the printed edition. Since your e-reader may only show a portion of the printed page, you may need to scroll to find the index topic.
Abdullah, Prince Khalid, 45, 155, 240
Abeyr, 140
Aboyeur, 62
Addleshaw Goddard Stakes, see Sandown
Aga Khan, 67, 132, 153, 168, 266
Ahern, Eddie, 305–6
Aintree, 2, 9, 16, 21–6, 30–3, 40, 89, 109, 113, 315
Becher’s Brook, 19–20, 24, 28, 34
Canal Turn, 16, 26
Chair, The, 16, 33
fences, 21, 27, 32–4
Foinavon fence, 16, 34
Grand National, the, 2, 13–22, 25, 28–9, 34, 73, 81–3, 86, 89–90, 96, 115, 182, 200, 233, 266, 311
Ladies Day, 32
obstacles, 90
Air Marshall, 144
Air Shakur, 132
Airwave, 235
Ajtebi, Ahmad, 291
Akehurst, Reg, 36–40, 210
Al Bahathri track, 161–3
Alberta’s Run, 29
Aldaniti, 25, 31
Aldbourne, 213
Alexander Goldrun, 124–5
Alexander, Lucy, 319
Alhaarth, 308
Aliabad, 168
Allen, Ivan, 285
Allgrit, 276
all-weather racing, 53, 301–6
Amathus Desire, 289
Amberleigh House, 25–8
Ana Marie, 121, 236
Anabaa Blue, 133
Anglo, 15, 82
animal welfare, 17
Anmer, 62
Antara, 121
Apter, Eric, 11
Archer, Jeffrey, 59, 89, 252
Archer, William, 89
Ard Patrick, 152
Arena Leisure, 303
Argentina, 295
Arkle, 80, 231–2
Arkle Trophy, see Cheltenham
As Dug, 43
Ascot, 8, 11, 25, 45–7, 57, 60, 65, 74, 81, 95, 106–7, 116, 120, 126, 129–31, 136–40, 158, 167, 178, 189, 205, 235–6, 239–40, 245, 252, 297, 298, 313, 325
Champions Day, 313
Coronation Stakes, 236, 245, 252
Festival of Racing, 138
Fillies Mile, 244
Gold Cup, 25
Hardwicke Stakes, 136
Iron Stand Club, 57
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, 129–30, 135, 189, 252, 280
Princess Margaret Stakes, 235
Princess of Wales’s Stakes, 251
Queen Anne Stakes, 221–3
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, 47, 63, 129–30, 135, 139, 236, 240, 252, 280
Queen Mary Stakes, 208
Royal Ascot, 106–7, 129–30, 149, 221–2, 227, 251, 253, 260, 290, 295, 317
St James’s Palace Stakes, 221
Tote Festival Handicap, 139
Ashdown, Paddy, 275
/>
Asygritos, 289
Atzeni, Andrea, 127–8
Auckland, 278–9, 317
Aurora’s Encore, 23
Auteuil, 280
Ayr, 11, 188
Gold Cup, 11
Bahrain, Sheikh of, 49
Baker, George, 128
Balding, Andrew, 154, 306
Balding, Ian, 140, 166, 216
Ballabriggs, 18, 27, 311
Ballydoyle, 69
Bangor, 93
Barangay, 282
Barathea, 47
Barber, Paul, 203, 230, 246
Barnes, Ron, 9, 12–13
Baron Blakeney, 94
Barry, Ron, 82–3, 91
Barzalona, Mickael, 65, 71–3, 147
Batchelor, Mattie, 33
Bath, 66
Be Friendly, 36
Beasley, Bobby, 186
Beaverbrook, Lady, 3, 238
Becher’s Brook, see Aintree
Bedford, Duchess of, 170
Bell, Michael, 68, 163, 319, 321
Benny The Dip, 143, 157–8, 284
Benstead, John, 34, 37–8, 48
Bernard, Jeffrey, 7
Berry, Jack, 48, 142, 168, 180
Besiege, 162
Best Mate, 80, 85–6, 232
Best of The Bests, 144–5
Bet Direct All-Weather Jockeys Championship, 306
Betfred Gold Cup, see Sandown
Bevan, Hugo, 273
Bijou d’Inde, 308
Billy the Kid, 159
Bimsey, 40
Binocular, 107
Blair, Tony, 196, 258
Bluerullah, 225
Blum, Gerry, 168
Bobo’s Boy, 97
Bold Arrangement, 218
Bolger, Jim, 125, 192
Bolkonski, 197
Bollin, Eric, 146–7
Border Grace, 14
Bosra Sham, 139, 152, 156–63, 166
Botha, Piet, 300
Botti, Marco, 127
Bower, Rodney, 14
Boyd-Rochfort, Captain Sir Cecil, 11, 196, 224
Brabazon, Aubrey, 77
Bradley, Graham, 193–5
Brasher, Chris, 142
Braughing, 221
Brazil, 136, 295
Breasley, Scobie, 6, 38, 50
Breeders’ Cup, 149, 157, 218–19, 232, 250–1, 278
Breen, Father Sean, 78
Brigadier Gerard, 166, 231–2
British Horseracing Authority, 311–13
British Horseracing Board, 300, 324
British Racing School, 55
Brittain, Clive, 58, 124, 170, 218, 221, 232, 296–7
Broadsword, 94
Broderick, Paddy, 91
Brooks, Charlie, 185, 193
Brookshaw, Tim, 16
Brown, Herman, 295
Browne, Corky, 101, 110
Brunson, Michael, 257
Bryson, Bill, 59
Buckingham, Tom, 177
Buckley, Seamus, 117
Bula, 72–3, 82, 90
Bullet Train, 241
Burj Dubai, 294
Byrne, Ed, 102
Call Equiname, 85
Callaghan, James, 259
Callaghan, Neville, 255, 259
Campbell, Alastair, 258
Canal Turn, see Aintree
Candy, Henry, 99
Canford Cliffs, 238
Captain Christy, 91, 187
Carberry, Nina, 319–20
Carberry, Paul, 86
Carlisle, Nicky, 270–1
Carlton House, 72–3
Carlyon, Les, 1, 180
Caro, 152
Carson, Willie, 46, 129, 220–2, 255
Catterrick, 48
Cauthen, Steve, 197–8, 215–20
Cavvie’s Clown, 84
Cecil, Sir Henry, 37, 43, 121, 128, 132, 154–61, 168, 196–8, 207, 220, 238–41, 321
Celebration Mile, see Goodwood
Celeric, 120
Cesarewitch, 113, 210
Chair, The, see Aintree
Chalk Stream, 11
Champion Bumper, see Cheltenham
Champion Hurdle, see Cheltenham
Champion, Bob, 25
Champions Day, see Newmarket
Chance, Noel, 304
Channon, Mick, 74, 204, 302
Chapman, David, 302
Charles II, 162, 165
Charter Party, 84
Cheap Metal, 49–50
Cheltenham, 30, 40, 75–81, 84–5, 88–95, 102–3, 106–9, 115–16, 178, 207, 246
Arkle Trophy, 78
Champion Bumper, 109
Champion Hurdle, 24, 29–30, 77, 89–92, 96–101, 110, 175, 194, 203, 207, 232
County Hurdle, 14
Festival, 3, 14, 25, 29, 76, 79, 81, 86, 89, 96, 100–1, 106–8, 177–9, 182–5, 192, 207, 247, 312, 320
Gold Cup, 19, 29–30, 73, 76–7, 80–3, 89–90, 101, 106, 113, 115–16, 182, 187, 193, 203, 207, 230, 232, 233, 246, 247, 248–9, 318
Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup, 14
National Hunt Chase, 320
Queen Mother Champion Chase, 76, 85, 116
Ryanair Chase, 30
Supreme Novices Hurdle, 94, 109
Triumph Hurdle, 76, 94
William Hill Chase, 86
Cheltenham Literary Festival, 172
Chepstow, 31, 83
Cheshire, 26–7, 277
Chester Cup, 210
Cheveley Park Stakes, 235
Cheveley Park Stud, 237
Chief’s Song, 40
Childs, Greg, 286
Chippenham Market, 219
Choisir, 260
Christian, Simon, 266
Cigar, 294
Cima de Triomphe, 261
Cirrus des Aigles, 240–1
Clan Royal, 28
Clarehaven, 161, 242
Clark, Tony, 168
Classified, 102
Clay, Diane, 318
Clear Height Stables, 51
Cleeve Hill, 79–80
Clonoe, 40, 48
Cochrane, Ray, 140, 163
Cocks, Michael, 258
Collingridge, Hugh, 302–3
Colonel Baker Cup (Mauritius), 297
Comedy of Errors, 90–1
Commander-in-Chief, 11
Cook, Robin, 254, 258
Cool Alibi, 14
Coolmore Stud, 68–70, 74–5, 147–8, 198
Copper’s Evidence, 224–5
Coral Distaff, see Sandown
Coral-Eclipse, see Sandown
Corbiere, 23, 31–2
Coronation Cup, see Epsom
Coronation Stakes, see Ascot
Corsini, 140
Coshocton, 67
Cottin, François, 195
Couldn’t Be Better, 193
County Hurdle, see Cheltenham
Cousins, Eric, 9, 11, 27, 36, 277
Cover Up, 120
Cox, Clive, 203
Craganour, 62
Crepello, 219
Crisford, Simon, 293, 297
Crisp, 24, 34, 82–3
Crossley, Colin, 9
Crowley, Jim, 175
Cumani, Luca, 68, 163, 196–7, 236–7, 261, 323
Cyborgo, 230
Cyprus, 278, 287–8
Turf Club, 287
Daily Express, 64
Daily Mail, 17
Daily Telegraph, 317
Daliapour, 132, 285–6
Dancing Brave, 166
Dan
cing Sherpa, 300
Dar Re Mi, 155
Daring Run, 93
Darley, Kevin, 45–7, 146, 305
Davies, Bill, 22
Davies, Bob, 31, 170
Davies, Hywel, 177
Davison, Emily, 62
Dawn Run, 76, 203, 232
Daylami, 130–1, 250
Deauville, 197
Decorated Hero, 139
Dempsta, 300
Denman, 29, 230–1, 246–9
Dennis, Barry, 128, 265
Dennistoun, Ginger, 216
Derby, Lord, 125
Derby, the, see Epsom
Desert Orchid, 77, 80–4, 114
Dettori, Frankie, 4, 29, 71–2, 86, 125, 131, 134–41, 145–50, 171, 201, 221, 252, 285–6, 289, 291, 296, 305, 308–14
Devon Loch, 24
Dickinson, Michael, 77, 98, 114
Dickinson, Monica, 316
Dicta Drake, 64
Diffident, 138
Dig Up St Edmunds, 259
Dikler, The, 82–3, 187
Directory of the Turf, 52, 281
Ditcheat, 230, 246
Djeddah, 114
Dobbs, Pat, 128
Don’t Push, 29–30
Doncaster, 11, 106, 142–4, 147–50, 177, 225–7, 244, 251
Portland, 11
St Leger, 133, 142–50, 227, 308
Town Moor, 149
Donoghue, Steve, 63
Dooney’s Gate, 18
Double Trigger, 117
Doumen, François, 114, 194, 206
Doumen, Thierry, 194
Dow, Simon, 40–1, 51, 54, 168
Dowdeswell, Jack, 211–14
Downs House, 37
Doyen, 135–7
Dragon Dancer, 67
Dream Ahead, 319
Dream Alliance, 247
Dubai, 20, 133, 250–2, 276–8, 290–7, 304
Carnival of Racing, 294
World Cup, 20, 276, 290–3
Dubai Millennium, 133, 293, 296
Dublin, 187
Duffield, George, 152, 218, 309–10
Duller, George, 89
Dunlop, Ed, 125
Dunlop, Harry, 105, 204
Dunlop, John, 133, 143–4
Dunraven, Lord, 197
Dunwoody, Richard, 95, 103, 170, 174–5, 182–3, 194, 312
Durdans, The, 42
Durham Edition, 24
Dushyantor, 146, 162, 308
Dutch Gold, 65
Dwyer, Martin, 66–7, 119
Dylan Thomas, 67, 196
Easby Abbey, 91
East Molesey, 5, 254
Easterby, Peter, 91–2
Easterby, Tim, 146–7
Ebor, the, see York
Eclipse Stakes, see Sandown