RESUMPTION (OF RACING)

If the BHA has prepared a resumption plan that will work, it has done well. If it has decided to factor in the greatest good for the greatest number of those afflicted by the virus (i.e. the bigger picture), it has done even better. The industry has everything to play for. Fingers crossed. Well done, Mr Rust.

CORONA

I am fed up to the teeth with people slanging the government for conditions, situations and problems, most of which are the handiwork of those dangerous comedians Blair and Cameron.

The most recent onslaught goes like this:

Question: “Why has the government been so late with the Test & Trace process that is now being rolled out?”

Answer: “Because the machinery available to the nation earlier was totally inadequate.”

Boris said that on the 27^th May 2020 at teatime.

I suggest that his critics must either call him a liar, and expatiate on the amazing technology that was available to him months ago, or they must  transfer “failure to Test and Trace sooner” to the charge sheets of Blair and Cameron, and make up another fiction with which to inconvenience Boris.

As for the Dominic Cummings issue, I scratch my head. If he interpreted the lockdown rules incorrectly (which he denies, and the facts support his denial) in an attempt to safeguard the health of a child, his actions were eminently forgivable. The call for the firing squad is way over the top. The call is like the braying of several asses and the faces of the asses concerned are often smug, sanctimonious, self-serving and repulsive.

EWART

The name will echo through the corridors of the racing world for quite some time, and for good reason. As I understand it, a trainer named Ewart saddled a horse prior to a race, and a weight cloth failed to be included in the burden which the conditions of the race required the horse to carry in the contest. Why? Because the weight cloth had been covered by a sheet (part of the horse’s clothing) in the straw on the floor of the stall in which the saddling was taking place. There it was found by another Ewart (possibly a relation) who tried to muddy the waters by fabricating a story to divert the arrow of guilt away from the Ewart family.

Why is this significant? Because for ten years Donec has been begging television to stop sending women of the chattering class to interview trainers while they are trying to saddle their horses. At the races trainers have many duties, but by far the most vital is the correct saddling of their horses. I would suggest that the racing authorities step in and ban cameras and chatter from the saddling areas. Knowing the racing authorities, no action will be taken.

THE SUCCESSION

We haven’t heard much about the search for the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). Donec has dared to suggest that the future of British Racing depends very largely on how that search is conducted.

Since 2004 the BHA has organised about eight “selection processes” to appoint either Chief Executives or Chairpersons. In every case bar one the result has been disappointing. The exception was the choice of Paul Bittar, arguably the best racing industry brain in the world. He took office as CEO in 2011, having had to extinguish a forest fire over whip rules before he had even “entered the building”. Sadly, he declined to extend his tenure beyond the two years of his original contract. Why? Perhaps he didn’t like what he found at the top level of British Racing once he got up close and personal. I wouldn’t blame him.

Apart from Bittar, since 2004 a succession of applicants have satisfied the BHA Succession process and have moved into the seats of power in High Holborn. The racing world has held its breath. If it was expecting miracles it has been disappointed.

The one major change between 2004 and today has been the betrayal of the industry by its own senior management in the matter of the pool betting legislation – the Tote. When the opportunity to fight for the Tote was there for the taking, no effort whatsoever was made by racing’s senior management to safeguard an asset which had been created for one purpose only – to secure racing’s financial viability. All credit to Fred Done for seeing a bargain and grabbing it. No credit whatsoever to the BHA for letting it go.

Bottom line: the BHA selection process needs to raise its game if it is to do a proper job. The next CEO needs to be a great all-rounder. He or she needs to be comfortable with the scale of the industry for which he or she becomes responsible. He or she needs to be a financial genius and a political wizard. He or she needs to be a brilliant and charming leader, preferably with an intimate knowledge of every aspect of the racing industry. If the chosen one does not have that knowledge of racing, he or she will need the constant support of one or two adjutants who can fill that gap and save him or her from the worst pitfalls of the learning process.

POSTSCRIPT TO CORONA

There have been moments when I thought the BBC were encouraging newsreaders Huw Edwards and Clive Myrie to enhance their texts by adding anti-government comments of their own to their coverage of the virus.

Maybe I shall have to revise my opinion. On a recent Newsnight programme lead performer Emily Maitlis, whose behaviour is unpleasant and pretentious at the best of times, said some very, very rude things about the government in general and Boris in particular.

The next day the BBC issued a statement distancing “Aunty” from the rantings of the Maitlis, citing bias as the reason for its disapproval. It also announced that she would not preside over the next Newsnight.

All parties concerned were a tad coy as to what that all added up to. I would suggest that the Maitlis was being fined a night’s pay and was being reminded that she was just as sack-able as any other unpleasant, pretentious and biased employee. Maybe we will never know the truth …

If Maitlis is now in some sort of anguish, I trust it will get worse. Reader, have a look at her, if she hasn’t disappeared for good. See if you find her as resistible as I do. There’s bias for you!

If the BBC can penalise Maitlis for being unnecessarily rude, what about the little round fellow, who keeps jumping up and down. Over the last 7 weeks Mr Ian Hislop has converted a 30-year-old TV programme noted for its wit and wisdom (Have I Got News for You) into a one-man-rant against a Prime Minister who is  actually doing a pretty good job in difficult circumstances.

He rants and often his fellow panellists look embarrassed. That’s a formula which surely adds up to nul points in the “Entertainment” column. I would suggest that if the BBC wants to salvage something from the wreckage, that something should not include Mr Hislop. There is also the possibility that the weekly rant might be  a little bit over the top as regards bias.

Now then, enough of this sordid media talk.  Horseracing resumes on Monday June 1st. I am bursting with hope that this will be the start of a great national recovery. But remember the words of the Prime Minister (I paraphrase): Tiny steps, and instant reverse gear if the numbers scream a warning. It makes sense.

Best wishes,

Andrew Simpson. 14.28 p.m. Saturday 30^th May 2020