thoughts on royal ascot and covid-19.

​As I have suggested, the B.H.A. and its ‘stakeholders’ are attempting to move heaven and earth to get Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby staged this season. I applaud their efforts and sincerely hope they succeed. We need something to look forward to, don’t we? They have also postponed the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, no doubt hoping to shoehorn them into what will be a packed and shortened season at some point. But the key word here is ‘postponed’. They cancelled the Grand National without, seemingly, giving any effort to run the race even though eight-months were left in the year in which to do so. If it was convenient to cancel the Grand National, why is it an imperative to stage the Royal meeting and the Epsom Derby at a later date? And why has there been no outcry at this complete dereliction in their duty to do all they can to protect and promote the sport? Without I.T.V. racing, not that they would knowingly upset the applecart with criticism of the B.H.A. or the Racing Post, who would at least pose the question of why the Grand National was cancelled and flat racing’s biggest meeting and classic races only postponed, it is up to the individual, enthusiasts like you or me, to contact the B.H.A., Aintree, Randox Health, I.T.V. and the big bookmakers, to suggest in combination they either move heaven and earth to stage the 2020 race or give an explanation why it is not possible.
To my way of thinking, this opposing mindset is a scandal, a dereliction of duty, hypocrisy and a clear indication that flat racing is far more important to the B.H.A. than National Hunt.
 
The Covid-19 interlude, as frustrating as it will doubtless prove unnecessary, will have some positive effects. Jockeys who have rode with half-healed injuries are now forced to take some r and r, the rest and recuperation allowing bones and muscles to properly heal. And for those free of niggles, the rest in its self will prove beneficial, recharging batteries and whetting the appetite for competition. Some horses, too, carry injuries unknown to their connections and a forced time on the easy list will do them no harm either.
Trainers will have the down-time to freshen-up their stables with a lick of paint and disinfectant and perhaps top-up their all-weather gallops. Their staff, too, after many years of constant journeys up the motorway in horseboxes, starting before the crack of dawn and finishing long into the night, will at long last have the opportunity to chill and reflect on life. And a furlough, of course, as the mechanics in my local garage view it, is just a paid and extended holiday.
I fear owners may not have a whole lot to smile about, though. Many, I suspect, will have lost the spare income that allows them to indulge in what is an expensive hobby, as intriguing as it is. And it might not be over for them once the government has compensated them as it looks like China will be sued right, left and centre as they are judged by both science and governments all over the world as the villains in this state of world emergency. Manufacturing, all over the globe, will be coming home, or at least taken somewhere other than China.
 
There are seeds of hope, though. German football teams are returning to training. President Trump is keen to get America back to work by Easter or soon after. And British football’s leaders seem convinced that the leagues will be allowed to finish their seasons. Oh, and the worst of Covid-19 is over. It was over the day the virus was downgraded from a highly infectious decease to only an infectious decease. That was on March 19th by the way. Check it out on the Government’s website. Our own immune systems will conquer this ‘pandemic’ and very soon people around the world will come to understand that we are being subjected to a staged event. Horse racing will return, and quite soon. I would suggest the middle of May or sooner.
For news of the pandemic I would suggest anyone reading this, and by Christ I wish I could get back to writing and thinking about my sport, go to the checktheevidence website.
Stay healthy; stay informed.