I was amused by a photograph on the front cover of the Racing Post today of Constitution Hill coming out of starting stalls at Lambourn. He is nearest the camera and the look on his face is implying 'what the f... is all this about!' Let's hope he finds out what it is all about on Friday, though he still needs one more horse to drop out to get the opportunity. Fingers crossed, as always nowadays when Constitution Hill is at the races.
In his colomn in the Racing Post today, Julian Muscat reports on the findings from a 'Future of Racing' event where five stands were dedicated to equine welfare. The young, who are, whether we oldies like it or not, the future of the sport, have equine fatalities as their main concern. If it were whips, betting odds or cost of attending a race-meeting, the sport could ease their disquiet. But death is something none of us can conquer.
Horses die all the time, in all spheres of their existence. Age and infirmity, as with humans, will always cause fatalities, though unlike with humans, we can ease their suffering with varying forms of euthanasia. What the sport must not shy away from, though I accept Muscat's alternative view that the less said, the less negative comment will come to the sport, is to talk about the subject, especially when death, if shielded from view, comes in front of a television audience. We should be told the extent of the injury, not simply 'that everything that could be done was done'. As with all equine welfare causes, the sport should be seen to be raising funds for equine health research as it is not only racehorses that suffer injuries and illness that can bring about their early deaths.
What young people, and all observers of our sport, should recognise is that racing people are animal lovers, not abusers, in horses only for what of profit to be gained from their exploits. When a racehorses dies in pursuit of our entertainment, our pleasure, it is a real tragedy to those who have cared for that horse, as it is for the jockey, trainer and I hope owners, though the first two are expected to remain professional even if inside there are tears and unexpressed anguish. I will never forget Jonjo O'Neill (senior, as he has become) holding Alverton's head in his lap, crying his eyes out, after Alverton had lost his life at Bechers in the Grand National.
People in racing care deeply about the horses in their care. That is the message that needs to be passed down to the younger generation. Death is ever present, whether it is loved-ones, family pets, wild animals that come into contact with human activity, road-kill etc, or our beloved racehorses. Horses have been sacrificed in battle for centuries, right-up to the 1st World War. We do not race thooughbreds to have them killed; we race thoroughbreds with the idea of having them live long and happy lives.
Sadie Iddenden in the 'Another View' column of the Racing Post today tells the story of how she got involved in horse racing and extends the hope that the young people attending any one of the 'Friday Night Live' series will, in time, being able to tell the story how they first became involved with horse racing. It is a nice piece; as a journalist Sadie is showing great promise.
My story is simple: it was my birthday, perhaps eight or nine, my parents went down the road to buy me a present, not knowing that by simply switching on Grandstand on the t.v., which was showing racing from Ascot, they had provided me with a present that I am still unpacking sixty-five-years (guesstimate) later.
The B.H.A. is not fit for purpose. Anyone want to argue against me? It is time for it to go the way of the Jockey Club and be replaced by a supremo voted into power by those who work in racing. The sport needs someone at the top of the pyramid who has hands-on experience of the sport whether that be as an owner, trainer, breeder, and that supremo should have a board consisting of racing people and people with business and marketing experience. What we have now is just bloody stupid. Always thosewho are given power, influence and a large salary have to spend the first six-months of their tenure 'getting to know the sport'. This is a complex and nuanced sport, to think a newbie whose only work experience has been in a boardroom has the know-withall to guide, support and advance horse racing, is ridiculous bordering on treachery. How we get rid of the B.H.A. I have no idea but it has to be done, and done quickly.