frost, weather & charity.

​Yes, I am an admirer of Bryony Frost as a jockey. Yes, in a recent poll I voted for her as my favourite jockey. Yes, she is the grand-daughter I have never had.
Yet, name me another jockey who can get on the front page of the Racing Post simply for a flying visit to Exeter racecourse for two rides, neither of whom are favourite? And do not suggest Frankie Dettori as he would not even know there is a racecourse on Haldon Hill or be able to name any racecourse located in Devon.
Bryony has sparkle and the locals, at least, love her. Her presence today at Exeter will swell attendance and if she wins on either of her mounts, both of which have a squeak, the applause will ring out long and loud. She rides for Paul Nicholls and her father Jimmy, though the first is at the behest of the owner, a man who has horses in training on both sides of the Channel. Of course, Bryony won the Red Rum at Aintree last April on San Bruit, a ride that the ever reluctant to praise or either mention her described as ‘brilliant’. The owner thought so too, hence his request for Bryony to come over from France to keep the partnership intact. Hopefully, when commitments allow, she will be making the trip over a good few more times this winter. I miss her.

The weather is testing the patience of trainers at the moment, especially Nicky Henderson who is pulling his hair out at being unable to unleash his battalion of potential top-class novice chasers. Although, for someone of his age, he still has need to comb his hair in the morning, he cannot become complacent and if this ‘anticyclonic gloom’ continues for much longer he may be bald come Boxing Day.
Actually, I am finding comfort in this dry, and for the time of year, warm, spell, as it reminds me of days of yore when the opening meetings at Ascot and Cheltenham would be plagued by dry ground, often described as firm, with trainers setting-up prayer meetings in hope of the gods, any god, providing rainstorms. Yes, good ground is now the new firm. Back then, in the days of Josh Gifford and Stan Mellor, racecourses did not have state of the art watering systems and two and three-runner races were accepted with gratitude as they were better than walk-overs. With a few exceptions, ground conditions are described as no worse than good at the moment, with selective watering to maintain that description. Come the Festival, do you think these same trainers would be complaining of ground described as good?
I am perplexed by trainers not being fined for taking horses out on the day of a race when the ground is exactly as described when declarations were made. In France, fines are excessive, especially for major races, not mere drops in the oceans when fines are handed out by our stewards. Half the value of the race should be the fine imposed; that should persuade trainers to value risk over caution. Or the fact they have eyed an easier race in a few-days time!

I am not criticising the magnificent work of those people who organise charity race-days. I am critical, though, of our sport raising six-figure sums to help fund cures and treatment for cancer and other human deceases, while in comparison doing far less to raise funds for equine charities. I feel we are shooting ourselves in the foot by promoting our awareness of human illness while giving the impression our equine companions are of less importance to us. It should be the other way around. Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race raised 240,000 euros, a fine and honourable achievement, a splendid way to honour a fine man. But why is there no drive to raise a similar amount for the aftercare of horses or to help fund cures for equine decease?