IT WAS towards the end of April 2016 when the BHA announced a number of new initiatives launched by CEO Nick Rust, which included an urgent review of the way disciplinary and appeal panels are constituted and managed. Mr Rust is to be congratulated for grasping a nettle which his predecessors in recent years have preferred to ignore.

On the 4^th of May, the Jim Best appeal hearing blew open a Pandora’s Box of revelation and speculation concerning the very same subject.

The timing was unfortunate, and Mr Rust’s decision to let the Jim Best case run its course (September at the earliest) before going public on the problems besetting racing’s disciplinary arrangements has received a mixed reception. His approach is not unreasonable: the Jim Best case is not going to run away, premature disclosure of information that might have a bearing on that case would be improper, and a breathing space will at least give all interested parties a chance to reflect.

Donec’s reflection has been drawn to the word “bias,” which seems to have meant different things to different people as the debate gathered pace. Perhaps it would be wise to establish what the word means in the context of this particular situation.

In all disciplinary cases or appeal hearings within the British Racing industry, the prosecutor is the BHA and the panellists are chosen by the BHA. So there is enormous bias against the defendant. This bias is not merely a perception that may turn out to be misleading – it is the real thing, and inexcusable.

Donec offers the following imaginary hypothesis:  once anyone who is licensed in one way or another by the BHA has been charged with a transgression within the jurisdiction of the racing authorities, he or she is automatically considered Guilty by the disciplinary authorities, and, if he or she appeals against the punishment imposed, he or she is automatically considered to be doubly Guilty. This philosophy is instilled into those who prowl the racecourses looking for sinners, and is also the philosophy which the disciplinarians find most attractive in their panellists.

At this point the intelligent reader will no doubt exclaim, “This is grossly over the top!” –  and so it is. But when the highly respected Paul Struthers of the PJA goes on record saying that big, bold, grown-up lawyers are sometimes reluctant to act on behalf of jockeys because the judicial procedure is so unfair (so biased)…. well, that might suggest that Donec’s hyperbole is not as hyper as it might at first appear.

Whither turf justice? Mr Rust planned an urgent review, and the Jim Best case revealed exactly how urgent is the need for such a review. There is now a possibility that a most important aspect of British racing (currently in a disgraceful state) will be replaced by something the racing community can trust and respect. Good.

Donec’s only worry is that the Jim Best case may cause the review to be hurried, and thus deprive it of the time, care and attention it requires. In Donec’s view the checks and balances can be, and should be, as near perfect as possible, but the most important ingredients will always be the integrity of the managers, and the integrity and focus of a supervisory system which at the moment seems to be non-existent.

Postscript

“Kicking against the pricks” is satisfying, but progress for the Donecs of this world is slow, and achieving improvements seems to take a long time. So it was a delight to read Sir Anthony McCoy’s contribution to the Disciplinary debate. There could be no better task force designed to move mountains in the racing world than one based on the PJA, led by Paul Struthers and spearheaded by Sir Anthony. As has been widely acknowledged, Paul Struthers has played a leading part in directing attention towards serious mistakes made by the authorities in recent years, and Sir Anthony’s endorsement is just what is needed to make life really uncomfortable for the idle, the incompetent, the complacent and the morally-deficient.  Racing at all levels is about aiming for perfection, and that should apply as much to the BHA as it does to the newest apprentice. We hope that Sir Anthony will continue to use his influence.

 

ENOUGH OF DOOM AND GLOOM

Let us enjoy the memory of a glorious Ascot, a week during which the ground was just a bit softer than the average galloper would have preferred, but the weather simply refused to spoil Her Majesty’s birthday party.

Two other representatives of the fair sex were outstanding.

On day one, in race one, we had Tepin, a five-year-old mare from America, possibly the best one-mile horse in the world. Yes, but…. but what? But she normally runs with the aid of a medicine called Lasix, and wearing something called a nasal strip (to help her breathe). “Please do come,” ran the invitation from Windsor Castle, “but no Lasix and no nasal strip!” By return of post the American representatives of this equine superstar signalled “Wilco”, a code word last used in 1944 when Winston’s final plea for American support in WW2 coincided with Pearl Harbour.  It meant “Yes, of course, and your terms and conditions are accepted.”

Tepin came, she saw, she conquered, and she started at a very generous 11/2 because the Brits refused to believe that she could win without her Lasix and her nasal whatsit. How wrong they were! How good she was!

Day two, second race, five furlongs, for 2-year-olds. Lady Aurelia is another female from America, trained by Wesley Ward, and ridden by Frankie Dettori. This young lady had only run once before – a four and a half furlongs race in America on dirt, which she won unchallenged in a course record. Ascot’s stiff uphill five furlongs on turf softened by recent rain was going to be a hard task, and the experts spoke as one when they suggested that Mr Dettori should take it easy in the early stages. There was much head-banging when he took her straight into the lead and did nothing to restrain her from going far too fast for her own good. Collapse in the final furlong was widely prophesied. Clearly filly and jockey were out of earshot, because, as the combo entered that final furlong, Dettori pressed the button and the beast accelerated like a rocket, and – yes, you’ve guessed it – won unchallenged in what turned out to be the fastest time of the week. That’s how good she is.

Her trainer, Mr Wesley Ward, is in love with Ascot. When he discovered it a few years back, it was comparatively quiet and almost off-limits to Americans. Now the place is stiff with them, and they love it too, and they win.

 

Now here’s the commercial. Before the memory of Ascot fades, all ye who were there, and particularly all ye who watched it on TV, refresh and “indelibalise” the recollection of what you saw.

You saw four races with 17 runners, three with 18 runners, three with 19 runners, one with 20 runners, one with 21 runners, one with 22 runners, and three with 28 runners.

That is seventeen races with big fields, three of which were massive (28).

I bet that you cannot recollect even one second of tension or drama in the starting area before those races.

I suggest that all the horses down at the start were relaxed and happy, and so were their jockeys, as they walked round and waited to go into the stalls. If I am wrong, let me know.

Why this interest? Because next month I intend to get to the bottom of the fact that, in Britain, under NH rules, whenever you have a large field, the runners approach the starter hot and bothered and jig-jogging in a fashion that cannot help but distract them from the job in hand. Bear in mind that the job in hand for jumpers and their jockeys is perhaps the most dangerous sport ever devised – because they have to jump things – and therefore they need to be concentrating on that, and that alone. But they are prevented from so doing by man-made factors which I will describe in a month’s time.

This matter needs to be sorted out. If large fields of horses on the flat can be kept cool, calm and collected down at the start, why can’t large fields of jumpers enjoy the same peaceful experience – which is necessary and to which they are entitled?

If you think I am wrong, or if you have your own opinion on the subject, let me know!

Best wishes,

 

Donec