Onwards & Upwards for British Racing

Before we forget, let us remind ourselves of the unfortunate baggage which we take with us into the future.

1. The whip debate

Fact one: the twenty years it took for dedicated horsemen and racing authorities of the highest quality to come up with the padded whip was not time wasted. The padded whip was the answer and its success throughout the racing world makes that perfectly obvious.

As for the use of the whip, the padding and (more important) the condition of horses closely scrutinised for marks, wheals, etc, immediately after they finish a race should put an end to the suggestion that major changes to the whip rules are required – if only today’s BHA reviewers, who are neither dedicated horsemen nor racing authorities of the highest quality…. if only they will stop pretending that there is a tsunami of intelligent public opinion demanding radical change. There is no such tsunami, except in the minds of dedicated surrender monkeys.

So what next? The PJA must fight like lions, because the BHA is not performing in the best interests of the industry, and the jockeys may need to defend themselves. The same thing happened in 2011. Then, the cowardice of the BHA “reformers” shrivelled and died when Paul Bittar added common sense and extra determination to the principle that a padded whip is not a loaded gun.  Then, as I recall, Sir Anthony McCoy played a big part in persuading the BHA to wake up and see the light.  More of the same would be a welcome seasonal “booster” today.

2. Interference Rules

          The Interference Rules are a mess which is in urgent need of re-writing by someone like Christopher Quinlan who did such a wonderful job defining,  designing and creating the BHA’s Independent Judiciary, a shining example of how sporting justice should be administered.

3. Racecourse Stewarding

          A major problem emerged way back in 2012 when the head of the stewarding department changed raceday procedures, without telling many people. 

          He pointed to the fact that, according to the rules, when a rider was convicted of “dangerous riding” his horse had to be disqualified. As a consequence there had to be an immediate enquiry on the spot and probably an adjustment in the finishing order and certainly a considerable delay in the settlement of bets and so on. Consequently the pattern of the stewards’ afternoon became comparatively hectic.

          ‘In future’ the head of stewarding whispered, ‘we will dispense with the crime of ”dangerous “ riding and call the riding “careless.” But keep that to yourselves.’

          As a result, from that day forward a British jockey could ride dangerously and be punished for being “careless”, which meant a trivial punishment, whereas in fact he should have had the book thrown at him.

          It was a silly thing to do. Dangerous riding is the worst crime that a jockey can commit. Life and limb, life and death, a variety of serious injuries to horses and riders – these are the things that dangerous riding causes.  To reduce the punishment to a mere “slap on the wrist” was lunacy and it was done in comparative secrecy.

          Among the jockeys the word spread: one could take more risky risks and get away with it. Very few jockeys have that kind of sinister mindset, but in the heat of the moment, when the result of a valuable race is in the balance, just an extra nudge could make all the difference.  Not a good attitude, but one that was being positively encouraged by the authorities.

          It was an unnecessary change, too. The rules say “dangerous” riding means the horse concerned “MUST be disqualified.” Change that to “MAY be disqualified “and the stewards can use that extra latitude in their efforts to judge a situation and get it right (if that is what they are after….)

           As for the need for an instant enquiry, that could also be managed. When dealing with dangerous riding, the enquiry should be held at BHA headquarters on the first convenient day. Yes, people would have to wait – so what? When you are dealing with the possibility of serious injury every effort must be made in order to have a proper enquiry, and the convenience of the stewards does not begin to justify the downgrading of “Dangerous” to “Careless.” However, the bad habit has taken root, and the conspiracy nowadays involves all the stewards and their controllers.

          I am reliably informed that not one single “Dangerous” riding charge has been levelled at a British jockey for 12 years. Is one to believe that no British jockey has ridden dangerously during twelve  years? Nowadays one seems to see more and more of its ugly face on our racecourses. It seems that as long as it is called “careless” nobody in authority is bothered.

          What’s to be done? Two things. First, a proper re-write of those Interference rules and, second, the system that requires stewards to pervert the course of justice every time they step on to a racecourse should be abandoned.

          But first of all we must recommend backbone  transplants for the BHA’s Board members. The present Interference scandal suggests that for the last twelve years the top brass have been asleep. In general terms I get the impression that the BHA seldom if ever sacks people for being seriously unsuitable in one way or another. Clearly they are unaware of the fact that in the real world such tolerance does not exist, and quite right too.

          After the recent rearrangement of British racing’s top brass, it was announced that the BHA would make the big decisions for the industry. I have confidence that the Big Beasts who have volunteered to put things right know how to approach the mountainous problems ahead.  However four comparatively minor molehills have defied the best endeavours of the current BHA for more than ten years: the Whip, the Interference Rules, Racecourse Stewarding, and the Starting Arrangements for Big Field NH Races, which we have yet to refer too.

          All four are at the very heart of Racing, all four could be put right in quick time, and the BHA has not scratched the surface of what needs to be done to make them function properly. More than ten years is quite a long time, don’t you think? In terms of inertia that must be championship level.  I suggest that the Big Beasts will have to apply a prodigious wake-up call and eternal vigilance simply to keep the industry’s “engine room” on message, as they say. So very best wishes, and my fingers are crossed.

4. I am a horse

          I am a horse, one of 15 horses on our way down to the start for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury on the 26th November 2022. First prize £142,375.

          In the Start area I am busy with preliminaries: there’s a fence to have a quick look at to remind us why we are here – the main event involves three miles and 2 furlongs over fences. Then I might need to have my tack checked, or the vet might want to have a look at me, likewise the blacksmith, and so on.  All done, I join the rest of the field.

          We are all formed up into a very close-packed scrum (much too close for comfort and an invitation to kick each other) and sent off for a tour of the district which consists of continual changes of direction. When you are in a close-packed scrum, that kind of choreography is really uncomfortable and upsetting. Very soon most of us are fed up to the teeth.  It is the same for the jockeys. We can feel it.

          Eventually we are directed back to the Start area and by the time the starter calls us forward the winter of our discontent is palpable. It was inevitable. Consequently, we have a False Start, followed by a second False Start, followed by a Standing Start.

          For a good start you keep horses calm throughout. But the system we are using today sends them mad.      Why, oh why did we have to leave the Start area in the first place? We could have stayed there, quietly circling with no fuss – something that we are used to, on the gallops at home.  It is called “taking a turn” and can last as long as the circumstances require. Relaxation is guaranteed.

          How did I get on in the race? Beaten half a length. Should have won, but lost ten lengths in the False Starts. Thank you, Raceday Regulator!

Happy New Year,

Donec

(by Dodo out of Necessity).

 I am a horse.