FULL FLIGHT & SPLIT ELEVENS.

I make mistakes. For someone who has the nerve to put his thoughts into a public domain, the least the reader can expect is a lack of avoidable errors. I always proof-read anything I write before hitting the publish button, always aware that a lazy eye is not easy to overcome. And though this is not an acceptable excuse, I am not a professional writer. I earn no money from this site. I write, therefore I am. 

I have just finished 'Full Flight' by Eamonn Prescott, a book I was looking forward to reading. And it is a good read, It should be as it narrates the golden age of hurdle races, the era of Persian War, Bula, Comedy-of-Errors, Lanzarote, Night Nurse, Monksfield and Sea Pigeon. And, though he repeats elements of the story throughout, the author brings back into the light those glory days when the best horses around took it each other on over and over again.

Oh, but the errors. Early on, when telling the story of Persian War, a 3-time winner of the Champion Hurdle, in one long paragraph involving Brian Swift, fed-up with being told what to do by owner Henry Alper, Swift is referred to by both his real and then, bizarrely, he is referred to as Smith. This blip, as extraordinary as it is, was not an outlier. I have not looked it up but I pretty certain that Monksfield did not carry 12st 4Ibs in the November Handicap at Naas. Henry Alper was never knighted, yet in one instance he is referred to as Sir Henry Alper. Bill Williamson did not ride Sea Bird in the Epsom Derby. That honour went to Pat Glennon, who also won the Arc on Sea Bird.

I could go on in a similar vein but it would be unfair as I might be guilty of gross unfairness to the author. Although Prescott's name is on the book, whoever was employed as proof-reader or editor must also share the blame and embarrassment. The errors are an annoyance to a hypocrite and pedant like me but the story told rises above the stumbles and unseats. To read again about this era of jump racing brings tears to the eye at time. When 'young uns' claim Constitution Hill as the greatest hurdler of all-time, those of us with greater experience should politely suggest they read this book; they should watch replays of the races mentioned in this book and try to imagine if Constitution Hill racing time and again against these giants of hurdling history could hold his own. And that line-up of Champion Hurdlers does even include horses that ran against the champions and defeated them on many occasions: Birds Nest, Beacon Light, Dramatist and others.

'Full Flight' maybe flawed but the story it tells should be read by anyone under the age of 40 with a fascination for the sport. I just hope if the book goes to a 2nd edition that the erros are ironed-out as then people like me, someone who has not achieved what Mr. Prescott has achieved, cannot throw mud at it.

Imagine you are an owner of a racehorse, a horse that has won you 9-races in his career and has every chance of adding a 10th,and yet is withdrawn in error, not by you or the trainer, 20-minutes before the off-time and all you receive in compensation is an apology and an explanation that is the equivalent of a slap in the face. This happened to Dave James at Lingfield the other day and all because in a previous race, number 6 on the card, the same number as Split Elevens was due to carry, was withdrawn at the start. The explanation given by the stewards was that the weighing-out-clerk, thinking he was dealing with the 6.10 race, filled out a form that withdrew Split Elevens from the 6.40, with the rules stating that once a horse is withdrawn it cannot be reinstated. Mr.James, who works 7-days a week to pay his training bill, is so upset by the incident that he is threatening to walk away from a sport he loves and feels privileged to be a part of.

Another stupid B.H.A. rule that needs to be amended. And in this instance, Mr.James should be compensated handsomely. The B.H.A. and its officials have cocked-up and they should man-up and ensure Mr.James does not leave our sport as the sport needs not only Mr. James but several hundred more like him.