BOWEN MOANS, UNLOADING AREAS & BEEF OR SALMON.

Sean Bowen is critical of the summer jumping programme. I, too, am not happy with the formation of the summer jumping programme. Anyone would be, even if the problem lies not at the feet of the B.H.A. but with the racecourss and the stupid manner in which the race programme is determined. There was a time when racecourse would apply for a date to race, now though the racecourse just organise a fixture and decide the date upon which to stage it. It is like the child being in charge of the household sweet and chocolate distribution, with the parents only having a say on which biscuits the child can eat.

In July/August there is a 19-day break for jump jockeys, time for a holiday and a reset. But for many jockeys that too is a problem as they like to be kept busy, even though through the season proper many beg for a rest from the constant driving and work-load. The latter problem, if it is a problem, the driving and the workload, is easily remedied if there were the odd day in the season when fixtures are confined to jockeys who rode less than 30-winners the previous season. Jockeys in this lesser category drive less miles than those at the higher reaches of the championship table, with a workload that is as much home-based and riding-fee based.

Sean Bowen can determine for himself the hours he puts in. After Sandown tomorrow he has a two-day break, no doubt twiddling his thumbs and getting under his wife's feet, and then he goes to Punchestown for the week, with the new season over here starting a few-days later. He may have contractual obligations to ride at Punchestown but other than that no one is forcing him to ride there. He could take his wife on holiday for the week. Even take a break for a fortnight or a month. Financially he has no reason to ride 364days a year. To complain about the sporadic nature of summer jumping and then also complain that a 19-day break in July/August is too long smacks of wanting his cake and eating it.

To my way of thinking the summer jumping programme should be considered something special, a bonus, if you will, for  jumping fans. I would have all, or most, meetings tied to a celebration, bank holiday, local historical even or country fare, with all meetings two or three-days and the only jumps fixture in a six-day period. This would allow jockeys, trainers, owners, to make a single car journey, to bring trade to the local hotels, B & B's, pubs and eateries. It would be a case of racing giving something back to the local community. Sean is right to express his feelings on the way the sport is managed but horse racing does not exist solely for his benefit. To survive, racecourses should become an integral part of its community. As a jockey, Sean Bowen will come and go; racecourses must live forever.

In a letter published in the Racing Post today, Mr.Hollis of Cullompton complains about the surface at some racecourses where horseboxes must unload their valuable cargo. Too many racecourses only provide a stony surface for this purpose, which might explain why some horses are withdrawn on the day due to a 'stone bruise'. Mr.Hollis, we must presume, is a horsebox driver; his complaint or observation must be acted upon, with the B.H.A. leading the way. It is all very well improving working conditions for jockeys and providing fancy bars and restaurants for the public but the horse is the star attraction and should be treated with the same respect.

British racing needs an attraction similar to the Irish National Stud and gardens. Beef or Salmon lives out his life there, a star attraction for visitors, as are the other retired heroes he shares the Legends Paddock with. Wouldn't it be wonderful if a similar tourist attraction existed in this country where people could see the likes of (off the top of my head) Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Frodon, perhaps Constitution Hill one-day, in retirement. Beef or Salmon is soon to be 30-years old and the Irish National Stud is holding a celebration in his honour. It is a public event and tickets can be purchased from irishnationalstud.ie

As I keep saying, British racing could learn a bucketload of how to do things properly from the Irish.