letters in the racing post (sunday may 11th).

​Andrew Franklin, former Channel 4 head of racing (head honcho, producer/director, friend of John Francome – something) is correct when he suggests the Racing Post should demand Great British Racing’s Simin Michaelides give an answer to the question ‘what should be expected as a result of the 3.6-million quid marketing campaign funded by the Levy Board. The story seems to be the vast amount of money and not what would constitute success for spending that amount of money. As the money comes from Levy Board resources, it should be remembered, as Mr.Franklin makes clear, that indirectly it is punters’ money being used and the people who have made this grant possible should at the very least be party to the expectations of Great British Racing. As with myself, Mr. Franklin is sceptical that this campaign will be no anymore successful than similar campaigns in the past.

Tony Connell of London tells a tale of how difficult it can be for racegoers travelling to the races by public transport, highlighting a recent journey that comprised of one train and two replacement bus services and asks why the racecourse in question did not hire a coach to take racegoers direct from where the train journey ended to the racecourse. It all about service and going the extra mile to engage with the people who keep the turnstiles turning. It is, perhaps, something Great British Racing might want to chew on before they begin the process of allocating their 3.6-million quid.

Both John Castley of Peterborough and Graham Butler of Romford questions why the trainers’ championship title is decided upon prize-money when the jockeys title is all about winners. It is the same for both codes, made more unreasonable when on the flat the trainers’ title is decided on a 12-month basis, January 1st to New Years Eve. As I have suggested in the past, why not give a trophy to both the jockey and the trainer who win the most races and the most prize-money, and for the same time-period. The flat jockeys’ championship is farcical, based as it is on two arbitrary dates that begin months after the season has started and finishes a month before the turf season ends.

Michael Yarrow of Harpenden makes a very good point with regard to what constitutes perfect ground conditions and why racecourses do not aim to achieve perfect ground when watering. Windsor recently announced they were watering to achieve good-to-firm ground for their meeting this Monday. As Mr. Yarrow comments, why not try to achieve good-ground, and given Windsor has the River Thames flowing by, and I am assuming they take their water from the river, it seems it should not be too difficult a task to achieve good ground.

Mr. Walker of London is harder to agree with, though. As someone with no great bond with children, I should be in his camp. But no. The wider picture must be focused upon. To use a hackneyed and flawed expression, the children are our future. The under eighteens must be allowed in for free as if only a small percentage of them continue to walk through the gates as adults, then the policy has achieved its aim. Also, there must be entertainment for younger children and everything under the sun if it brings new people to the sport. The only events that should not be allowed are those that might frighten the horses. The sport must survive beyond the lives of myself and Mr. Walker. Close your ears to the squeals of little children, Mr. Walker, and visualise them as young Ryan Moores of Holly Doyles. Remember, too, that a lifetime ago, as with me, you too were a yelling child annoying people who then were much like yourself today.

Jimmy Gill of Gravesend reminds readers that the sport is underpinned, as it has been for decade after decade, by those who sweat and toil for the love of the horse and who hope in return for small success, and he highlights a recent winner for Tracey Leeson at Fakenham. By coincidence, to support Mr. Gill’s opinion, James Ewart is reported in today’s Racing Post as retiring as a trainer as his duty to provide a better standard of living for his family must take precedent over his love of training racehorses. It is the flaw in the B.H.A.’s plan to rebuild the sport’s finances from the top down. To build a successful and long-lasting edifice, good foundations are vital. If you build from the top, you have nowhere to go but sidewards or downwards, whereas if you build from the bottom upwards you have the world and all that is in it.