STARTING

I am pleased that chaos (at the start of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National) has not triggered the kind of knee-jerk reaction that can only make matters worse. If one can take the “Whitbread” weekend as the end of the jump season (even though the new season bounces into action with unseemly haste), one can think in terms of an interval during which wisdom can be given free range and measures can be designed which will ensure that the future of NH racing will not suffer any of the disasters at the start which have marred the last decade. The powers-that-be have only to assemble a ninety-minute TV compilation of starts from the past to realise that starting, properly done, is not a problem.

If, in addition, the powers-that-be were to take a closer look at the history of the subject, they would find that great starters were a feature of the racing scene of yesteryear, revered by the public, trusted by the jockeys and responsible for providing British racing with starts that were, by and large, beyond reproach, and far superior to those of its international neighbours. That quality of service could be restored, if the correct approach to the problem was adopted.

If British NH racing is to deserve a place of honour among the great competitive sports of the world, it cannot afford to be identified with a starting system which can so often be seen to be unfair, unsafe and improper in its treatment of horses and jockeys alike.

Here’s an aspect of the process that deserves a paragraph to itself. Visualise a twenty-five horse field, formed up in five close-packed rows of five and jig-jogging round in clockwise circles, as per the current procedure. Next, someone signals to the jockeys in the front rank to leave the circle and to head straight for the starting gate. At this stage, one thing is certain: the fourth and fifth rows will be heading in precisely the opposite direction when the signal is given, and will have to complete the circle before horses 15 to 25 are facing in the same direction as those ahead of them. Does that sound fair? Does that sound practical? Does that sound acceptable?

 

BOOKS

Introducing a Book Column. Something new, which will appear from time to time. Probably not too often and probably with a finite life-span, because good books are few and far between.

Criticising bad books is easy and helpful, because it warns the reader against spending time and money on rubbish. Recommending good ones is trickier because the last thing a reader wants is to be given a sneak preview of good stuff that he or she would far prefer to find for themselves.

My policy is to say such-and-such a book is terrific, if you are interested in such-and-such a subject. End of story. Here goes:

If you haven’t read MEN AND HORSES I HAVE KNOWN by the Hon George Lambton, you are very lucky, because one of the greatest pleasures that life has to offer awaits you. It takes the reader into one of the most glittering eras the British Turf has ever known (think Fred Archer, Ormonde, Cloister, Manifesto, Todd Sloane,  John Porter and the Prince of Wales). Its author was a man who was at the heart of everything he describes, and who wrote English of enormous charm. I’ll say just one more thing: when you have read a borrowed copy, you will buy your own; and that copy will bring you dollops of comfort and joy for the rest of your life.

 

In 1856 and 1858, The Druid (pen-name of Henry Hall Dixon) wrote THE POST AND THE PADDOCK and SILK AND SCARLET, two collections of essays on sporting subjects. Much of the contents of these volumes is interesting, but “the special ones” are the last essay in the first book (DICK CHRISTIAN’S LECTURE) and the first essay in the second (DICK CHRISTIAN AGAIN – no doubt composed in response to popular demand).

Dick Christian turns out to be a delightful character as he reminisces about the forty-five years he spent breaking, schooling, and hunting horses for the cream of the Leicestershire fox-hunters during a period when the fences were really big, the ditches really deep and money no object.

The author (Mr “Druid” Dixon). puts life and limb on the line in his pursuit of a good story, and the end product is well worth the effort. This is journalism garnered very close to the heart and the heat of the action, punctuated by a recurring vein of good humour. It is another eternal pleasure that should be essential reading for anyone who takes an interest in the history of horse and hound.

Next month I hope to bring you a review of a few more classic tomes, including something called MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE, by William Allison. I haven’t read it yet, but I am hot on the trail of a copy.

 

Hannon

I am delighted to see that the Hannon stable has got off to such a good start under the leadership of Richard (Junior), but I can’t think why he should be losing the “Junior” suffix. It is what distinguishes him, the new licence-holder, from plain and simple “Richard Hannon”, in whose hands and under whose guidance the Everleigh establishment reached the eminence which it now enjoys. One might suggest that father Hannon could become “Senior”, but I don’t see why he should change his name at his age.

If one were to leave the “Junior” where it has been for some time, it would simply remind all interested parties that the younger man has a father – and what a father!

To win a multitude of races, year after year, with horses bought from the cheap end of the yearling market is so difficult that it’s almost impossible – yet he did it with apparent ease.

As success attracted more capital in his direction, the form book makes it very clear that he was just as capable of winning top class races with a better class of horse.

However, when British racing began to attract vast sums of money, and trainers were stopping at nothing in their determination to ingratiate themselves with the very, very rich, he was as steady as a rock and maintained his independence.

So, when the best of times arrived, he welcomed them on his own terms. He continued to win races at the top level, and thereby won the ultimate accolade, the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen.

He is a very great man, and, I firmly believe, a man with no enemies.

 

A bouquet of roses for C4 Racing

I am sorry to return to the starting topic, but this is a matter of credit where credit is due. The Scottish Grand National is the case in point. At the first false start, the horse that hates starting (Battle Group?) wasn’t even on the track when the stampede began. Another system-failure.

Guess what? C4Racing immediately pointed out this anomaly – not in a whisper but with a shout! And survived! No question of them being beaten up by BHA heavies. Congratulations, people! I say it again: you are the eyes, ears and voice of the racing public and of the racing industry. You are important. You will deserve all the plaudits that will come your way, if you will get stuck in where necessary. Racing needs you!