SPORT 102 (1ST MARCH 2020)
Mar 1st, 2020 by admin
Apprentice pay changes
I understand that the new arrangements come into force at the beginning of the 2020 Flat season. Just about now, I imagine.
The BHA was asked to deal with a small number of trainers who do not reimburse the legitimate expenses incurred by, and paid by, their apprentices. This project was well within the BHA’s capacity. However CEO Nick Rust decided to stand the whole financial structure of apprentice expenses on its head. He explained that it was just a matter of removing money from the trainers and giving it to the apprentices direct. Result? Andrew Balding is closing the Kingsclere Jockeys Academy (a world leader in its field) for the simple reason, I imagine, that the running of his academy costs a huge amount of money, and Mr Rust’s adjustment would remove, at a stroke of the pen, the money required to keep the show on the road.
Chairperson Mrs Phelps declared that the change was no more than a long-overdue contribution to the tender loving care which the sport owed to its young entry. Strangely enough, Donec has never previously encountered the suggestion that giving young people loads of money is good for them.
Unless I have misunderstood the facts, the BHA was asked to arbitrate in this matter because the Trainers Federation had a difficulty making up its own mind. If that is true it is very sad: by now the NTF should know that the judgement of the BHA in matters equestrian is by no means infallible. Between them, Rust and Phelps have reminded me, and the racing world, that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Starting
Having shafted Kingsclere, Mr Rust announced that he will be moving on at the end of the year. It is my hope that seeing light at the end of his personal tunnel will free him up and allow him to do great things before he says goodbye. Big-field starts under NH rules are still in dire need of his intervention. The present mayhem (constant false starts) is evidence of chronic neglect as regards the two priorities essential to Starting in any sport – the Even Break and Safety.
The process requires the starters to ensure that the cunning jockeys do not get “a flyer” and that the inexperienced jockeys do get a fair break when the tapes go up. A more-or-less even break for all is the ideal to which the starters should aspire – and I am sure they would, if they were ever consulted by a succession of Australian Raceday Directors who know very little about British jump racing.
The process should also ensure that all horses have a good view of the first few obstacles. Hence it should include the opportunity to spread out laterally, so they can see what is ahead of them. Otherwise they and their jockeys are in danger.
What we have at present before a big field starts a race is a procession (the Rolling Maul) in which those in front benefit when the tapes rise and those behind are penalised. That eliminates Fairness. By the same token, those in front have a good view of the early obstacles, and those behind can see very little. That is un-safe.
[Extract from Donec 69 (1 June 2017)
(3/12/16) 1.35 AINTREE Becher Chase.
22 horses crammed together, jogging and trotting round in circles and getting more and more stressed. Field heads for the starting gate and grinds to a halt.
FALSE START.
AFTER THE RE-START TWO FELL AT THE FIRST, TWO MORE AT THE SECOND.
How many fallers at the early obstacles must there be before the penny drops?]
Changing the subject a little bit, I have heard it said that those at the rear of the processional Maul can make up the ground in the early stages of a race. Of course they can, but only by using more energy than those ahead of them when the tapes rise, and that energy-disparity is going to influence the finishing order – unless I am mad, which I am not.
Animal Welfare
Both Mr Rust and Mrs Phelps have jumped into the scrum of controversy surrounding this subject. One can see a certain logic about their enthusiasm: both are comparatively new to animals, racing is clearly an animal-centred pursuit, there is a lot of controversy in that area, and they wish to make their mark on the debate.
Now let us have a bit of history: between 1980 and 2006 a padded, pain-free whip was invented by James Mahon and tested by the Jockey Club. As a result it was adopted in 2008 as the only whip that was allowed on British racecourses, and was immediately adopted throughout the world of racing, and by many other equestrian disciplines. End of history.
That one sublime creative process meant that British Racing became the undisputed champion of Animal Welfare, because whacking horses is the essence of cruelty, and a painless whip is the essence of Animal Welfare at its most practical and most universal level. Nothing can improve on it.
Therefore British Racing has nothing to fear from the Animal Welfare debate. In addition to inventing the painless whip, it has always behaved well towards its animals. In recent times it has improved its standards where there was found to be room for improvement, and has been perfectly willing to accept criticism if it has been justified.
So, nothing to fear…. but I wish somebody had told Rust and Phelps about this. Their behaviour suggests that they are frightened to death of being submerged under a vengeful tsunami of animal rights activists baying for blood. Not so. The activists are well aware that Racing’s house is in good order.
Meanwhile, the facts of life as of now do not encourage one to stick one’s neck out…. Europe, Virus, Weather! Actually I did (stick my neck out) about 9.15 a.m. this morning. Bright sunshine and a cold wind. Almost a gale but not quite. Congratulated myself on timing. No sooner had I reached the top of my two-furlong uphill stride…. Rat….at…..a…tat! It was raining on my parade….. Out of a clear sky. “Bastard!” I cried.
Interestingly enough, it stopped (raining). Food for thought? Yes, but you can’t trust the bastard from one minute to the next, can you? Not the BHA, I’m talking about the Weather…. the Virus …… and Europe!
We must relax and take it easy. These are troubled times and stress is to be avoided.
Best wishes,
DONEC