KING GEORGE VI CHASE, KEMPTON PARK, BOXING DAY

The ground (good to soft, officially) played a major part in the way things turned out. Bryony Frost and Frodon set a pace that was comfortable for them and perhaps just a bit demanding for most of the others on that ground, and the winning team’s jumping did the rest, because after each fence the toiling masses had to make up ground lost through the air.

Consequence? When they reached three out Frodon was still comfortable and the rest had had enough, apart from Brian Hughes on  Waiting Patiently. They finished second and would certainly have won had there been another half furlong. I hope that the first two (and the rest of the field) went home safe and sound and that the principals can meet again at Cheltenham.

A sour little postscript: the stewards decided that Frodon had interfered with Saint Calvados (which finished fourth) as the field turned into the final straight. Jockey Frost received a two-day ban for careless riding. I must have been asleep, I said to myself, because I had seen nothing untoward on TV. I re-viewed the film six times and still saw nothing. There was never contact and at no point did Frodon take the other horse’s ground. This morning I had another look: no infringement took place.

So what do I think? I think that the standard of racecourse stewarding is absolutely vital to the integrity of our racing and to its good name. This particular example makes British racing look bad – for no good reason. If somebody is trying to make a name for himself, this is not the way to go about it. 

Out of the King George story two women emerged: jockey Frost was amazing and flawless in every way from start to finish (whatever the stewards may say). So was trainer Ruth Jefferson, trainer of the second.  Her runner had been off the course for 385 days. Training a horse to run that well at that level of competition after such a gap is a wonderful achievement. In addition, as far as I remember Waiting Patiently was entered in the race “after closing”, and therefore at great expense. The Jefferson neck was on the block in no uncertain fashion. Well done her.

Which takes my mind back to December 23^rd 2020 at Cagnes sur Mer, where another lady was doing her stuff. Sophie Leech took two horses down to the Mediterranean coast (“sur mer”), engaged jockey James Reveley and won two races (totalling £40,000) – with ease in both cases.

Two years ago she had an old hurdler with a certain amount of ability which she ran in prestige handicap hurdle races with vast amounts of prize money, which sometimes rewards the first half dozen to finish. In such races bookmakers may pay five or six places as regards each-way bets.

I kept backing it each way, simply because I had met Mrs Leech once, long ago. When the bet paid 3 places, her horse finished 4^th, when the bet paid 4 places it finished 5^th, when 5 places earned money it finished 6^th, and I do believe that once the generous bookmakers offered 6 places and it finished 7^th.

As a result, I lost £60 and it earned £29,000 in place money. Something of that sort. I have forgotten the name of the horse, but at that stage I recognised Mrs Leech as a wonderful trainer with an eye for the main chance, and her recent foreign foray underlined her talent.

BHA

More women, and this is vital material for the whole British Racing industry. The Chairman of the BHA, who has been in place for some months, is Annamarie Phelps, a woman. The newly appointed Chief Executive, who takes over this week, is also a woman. Her name is Julie Harrington.

Whether by accident or design, both these ladies had recent experience in the field of “Sporting Authorities which were not performing properly”, and in each case the ladies in question did the business. They made a difference. Is that important?

You bet it is. For the last sixty years British Racing, in spite of supposedly being the best in the world,  has fumbled and stumbled from crisis to crisis (usually financial) because it cannot put its house in order. And why is that? Because every time there is a vacancy at the top of the BHA the job has been given to a friend, or a good fellow, or a jolly nice chap, or someone who has two hunters down on the farm.  Result? Fumbling and stumbling and another four years down the drain.

It is not a sickness that pervades the whole of the industry. At the coalface British racing is indeed the best in the world. It is just the top tier that consistently betrays the rest of the establishment and the whole of the community. Do you understand what I mean? Are you feeling the pain? I am.

This is the first time that the two people who have the top jobs have “form”: they know how to change things for the better. This is an interesting moment for both of them, and a vital one for the industry. Annamarie Phelps was comparatively new to racing when she took office; this would certainly have limited her confidence up to now. Julie Harrington, in contrast, has done plenty of jobs in racing and has been on the BHA Board in a previous era. This means that she can do wonders on her own account, and can advise Mrs Phelps if the latter needs advice, which she will, on occasions. As a team they should be exceptional. I wish them the best of luck.

HORSEMANSHIP

How about the 12.40 at Cheltenham on the 11^th December?

Five horses flew up that formidable hill towards the winning post at a hundred miles an hour with no signs of distress, ridden by Buckley, Deutsch, Quinlan, Johns and Gillard. Not by any means household names, but can they ride? Yes, they can! Young jockeys showing immaculate judgement when dealing with a problem – the Cheltenham hill – which has for years and years been destroying the self-confidence of senior jockeys because they “got it wrong!” There is no shortage of very good riders just now.

Blink twice and you are suddenly reminded of Holly Doyle and Bryony Frost. This really is a Golden Age. Which reminds me….

BREXIT

In 2003 a dodgy decision by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) torpedoed British Horseracing’s attempt to achieve access to a proper return from betting by means of a copyright situation. The judicial torpedo surprised and shocked in equal measure. Well, seventeen years later, the ECJ no longer rules in Britain, thanks to Boris. It might be an idea to revisit that area of policy…..

And  another thing…..The 2019/20 performance of the “new” Tote engineered by Alex Frost could turn out to be the basis for the extra money stream that British Racing so badly needs. If I was advising racing’s two top women I would suggest that they seriously consider launching the warmest possible long-term relationship between themselves and Mr Frost.

JOCKEYS’ CHAMPIONSHIPS

Recently there has been some debate about the competitions that are settled every year. I think all sane jockeys should be made aware of an important difference between flat and jump racing in this regard.

If a flat jockey finds himself or herself in the running for the title, he or she might well suggest that his/her agent might try to rustle up such spare rides as are available, and it is unlikely that an increase in the total of his/her rides will zoom high enough to affect his/her chance of injury. That’s why the annual flat “race for the crown” is generally a comparatively light-hearted affair.

Over the sticks it is a different matter. If a jump jockey decides to go for the title, a significant rise in the number of his rides means a significant rise in his chances of falls and injuries. In terms of quality as well as quantity there will be cause for concern. Most top jockeys have a nucleus of trainers for whom they ride in races and at home. Spreading the net wider means accepting rides for trainers they do not know particularly well, and on horses about whom they may know very little.  So I would suggest that jump jockeys should not allow a championship to affect the care with which they select their rides.

In my riding days I soon established (to my own considerable satisfaction and relief) the fact that I was a full-blooded coward. I therefore speak on this subject with the authority of someone who has given the matter a certain amount of thought and with the impartiality that comes from having had no personal involvement in any form of championship (although there was a stage in my career when I was well ahead of the late great Pat Eddery…. but that is another story, and one that very few people believe.)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

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WAKE UP