ireland do things better, tradition! ignore Easter! & epsom at Easter.

​Did anyone observe, and perhaps marvel, at the neat and tidy build-up to the start of the Irish National? The almost military precision of the two opposing circles of horses before the parade in front of the stands, topped-off by a no messing about start, so quick and clean that the I.T.V. presenters were still mid-conversation when it was finally noticed the race had started. You see, in so many ways, Ireland do things better.

Although I still think as if I live in the past and abhor change for the sake of change, I admit that sometimes change is inevitable and necessary. It is my belief that what makes flat racing second-best to National Hunt is largely down to the fact that it is organised to benefit breeders before the sport itself. I will argue long into the night that the classics should be run later in the season in order to give three-year-olds time to mature, to take away the advantage the more precocious colts and fillies have over the later bloomers.
Also, as Julian Muscat explains in his piece in the Racing Post today, the concept of ante-post wagers seems to a dying art or gamble. Once upon a time a British-trained colt, the best of the previous year’s two-year-old generation, would obviously be aimed early season at the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket or be kept for the Epsom Derby. Nowadays, especially when the top studs may own three or four Guineas or Derby-types, the French, Irish or even the German classic can be involved in the equation of where any of them may run, adding confusion to the betting market until the 5-day declarations. Though Muscat’s main gripe seems to be that hacks like himself no longer get first dibs in the ante-post markets when the bookies are giving out odds for the following season’s classics after a colt has impressively won the Middle Park, Dewhurst or any of the newer Group 1 races for two-year-olds.
What really needs to happen, though, to bring flat racing into the modern world and out of traditions that began in the smoke-filled rooms of the Jockey Club during days even before Bentinck and Admiral Rous, is to end the first entry stage for classics when the blue-bloods are still only foals. Why not have the first entry stage for the first four classics on the day the new flat season begins? It would, I suggest, add a little sparkle to the occasion. At the end of the day, the classics are just races the same as every other race during the flat season. As Julian Muscat makes clear, the ante-post market is practically dead, so why not let it die a peaceful death?

David Carr, writing in the ‘Another View’ column of today’s Racing Post, makes a strong case for the B.H.A. to ignore Easter when drawing up the racing calendar for the year. I say a strong case, though it would be no case at all if Dan Skelton was successful with his proposal for moving Aintree and the National to the last meeting of the season. It is such a sensible idea I am deflated that it is not being widely debated in the Racing Post or on any of the Podcasts. Debate, go on debate. Write letters if you are in favour of the proposal. Dan might need cheering-up come Saturday night. It will be scant consolation to him to have the ‘Skelton Proposal’ come to fruition but it would be some consolation for the poor old soul.

Talking of Easter. Away from Plumpton, the most noteworthy meeting to be held over the Easter period – today is Easter Tuesday, is it not – is run today at Epsom. Surely this one-day meeting should be on Easter Monday? The first proper Derby trial is run today, the Blue Riband, along with two handicaps that back in the day were prestigious races, races the top jockeys were desperate to have on their c.v., the City and Suburban and the Great Metropolitan, once a 2-mile 2-furlong tour of the Epsom Downs.
Unlike David Carr, I believe Easter is an opportunity to showcase our sport, as Plumpton achieved over the weekend. Epsom should be the flag-bearer for an Easter uprising, not an Easter downsizing.