owners, t.b.a., york, bryony, ryan.

​All sectors of the sport accept that something needs to be done quickly to stop the decline of British racing. Prize-money is slowly rising at the top end of the sport, though at the bottom end it remains an embarrassment. Jockeys do their bit, as proved at York last week and if asked would do more. But owners, too, have a part to play and some of them put their own interests before the general good of the sport. To cite one example: Big Evs being retired to stud as a 3-year-old, following the example set by the owners of Shaquille last year. Thoroughbreds mature from 5-years-of age. Big Evs is a baby by comparison. The good horses need to be kept in training as 4-year-olds and when possible, longer still. Such decisions should be called out for what they are – selfish and without thought to the overall health of the sport.

In a letter today in the Racing Post, the Thoroughbred Breeders Association have announced increased bonuses from January 1st next year for fillies and mares that win a T.B.A. race as a two-year-old over a mile or further and as 3-year-old over 10-furlongs or further. Also, they have introduced the bonus to some Class 2, 3 & 4 handicaps, plus a handful of listed races.
The T.B.A. recognise that something has to be done to encourage breeders to breed foals with the prospect of staying beyond 10-furlongs. The trend for breeding for speed is both slowly killing the staying division and is no good for the horses they breed when they go out of the sport as, in the main, sprinters are pretty useless when it comes to other equestrian sports and pastimes. Hooray to the T.B.A. for taking action. Let us hope breeders take up the baton.

I have never visited York racecourse and at my age I doubt I ever will. My loss, I know. It is regularly voted racecourse of the year and every racing journalist heaps praise on it. Not every racecourse, sadly, are in a position to emulate every little thing that York is famous for, though, perhaps, every other racecourse could help the sport by increasing prize-money by, say 10% a year for the next few years and ensure they welcome spectators with both a smile and pride in the facilities they provide. As Sir Stanley Clark once said when speaking about Uttoxeter. ‘You should never be ashamed of your toilets.’ My advice to the management of all racecourses is, start from the bottom up,’ if you forgive the pun – a puddle-free car park, clean surfaces in and out, good food that does not empty the wallet, etc.

Pleased to read that Bryony has won her first race in the double green of Isaac Souede & Simon Munir. It is her second win in France, her stint over there interrupted by a broken collarbone. Her claim – female jockeys in France receive a small weight allowance – may have been the deciding factor in appointing her as their retained jockey, though her record as a big race jockey would also have helped her get the job. I just hope we get to see her back here next season.