RACECOURSES SHOULD BE FUN FOR ALL, ENCLOSURES MUST GO, ARE VETS GETTING TOO BIG FOR THEIR BOOTS & CARTMELL.

Even the smallest of racecourses are big enough to accommodate more than just racegoers. Many racecourses have conference halls which can double for a wedding reception or an awards ceremony. Many have nine-hole golf courses on the inner field, with Dundalk having a greyhound track for the days when there are no days for the horses. 

I have long proposed the idea that racecourses should become community hubs or places where the local community can use them (mainly for a fee) for events like local or historic fairs, even jumble sales or antique fairs or motor bike or classic car rallies. Pony Club jamborees or gymkhanas, show jumping or dressage. Or any equestrian event that would fit the acreage. Racecourses should be thought of by the local community in which they reside as a place of entertainment and enducation, not simply a racecourse catering for the toffs.

A racecourse is more than just a semi-sacred place for sport but when surrounded by houses and industrial buildings a racecourse becomes the green lungs of the city or town in which it resides. When a racecourses closes it does not become farmland or returned to nature, a home once more for animal and fauna. When a racecourse is no more it becomes a large housing estate, given over to concrete, brick and the detritus of modern life. I would contend that we as racing enthusiasts  need every one of our racecourses preserved, yet I would suggest they serve a environmental purpose that perhaps the local community will only truly appreciate when the white rails are removed and the notice board at the racecourse entrance no longer informs passers-by when the next meeting will be. Racecourse are good for the environment.

On the same topic, I cannot believe there are still supporters of dress-codes on racecourses and the segregation of spectators with all the various enclosures and differing admisssion prices. Dress smart or dress to suit the weather conditions should, with few exceptions, be all the advice given to spectators. I may be wrong, but I believe any establishment can refuse admission to someone inappropriately dressed, a female with the ambition of being featured in a national newspaper who wears next to nothing, someone wearing sandals and socks, the yobbo dressed as if expecting to feature in a riot and so on. And as for enclosures, it is my view that as long as nobody steps foot an ther racing surface or interferes with any racecourse property, someone with a valid ticket should be allowed to wander the whole acreage of the site, appropriate behaviour observed, of course. We need every supporter we can muster, even someone who has paid to enter and is only interested in the long walk around the racecourse.

Are racecourse vets getting above themselves. Not for the first time a horse has been disqualified from running due to a vet taking the view that it is lame when the trainer has documented evidence from an equally well-qualified vet that it is sound, other than it has an unorthodox gait. Richard Hughes fell victim to authoritarian rule at The Curragh yesterday, when his America Queen was prevented from running in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. And it was not a quickly decided upon ruling, as the vets had the filly out in the hot sunshine for over 40-minutes trotting-up, trotting away and perhaps even trotting sideways. While the other runners in the 1,000 Guineas were relaxing in their stables, America Queen was being prodded and no doubt poked, with her trainer becoming ever close to boiling over himself, Hughes argued his case, presented evidence and yet his impassioned plea fell on deaf ears. 'Take her home, Mr. Hughes,' the vet said, 'She's fit enough for that.' Hughes disagreed. 'If she is lame enough to not be allowed to run, why is she not sound enough to travel back to England?'

I recall Coneygree being deemed lame at the start of a race at Fontwell or Plumpton and was forcibly disallowed to participate. The Bradstocks could only argue their case after the race. Aidan O'Brien was as miffed as the man has ever looked in public when an Australian vet ruled that Jan Brughal (??) was unsound and could not run in the Melbourne Cup and there was a case at an all-weather meeting recently that resulted in Billy Loughnane receiving quite a long suspension.

I would argue that no one knows the history of a racehorse better than its trainer and that no honourable trainer would risk running an unsound horse. Perhaps when it is a close call, the decision to run or not should be down to the trainer, It would be his reputation that was on the line.

Cartmell, the gem of British racing. Someone once said 'See Naples and then die.' I would suggest see Cartmell and live long enough to visit again and again. Ireland has Killarny, Britain has Cartmell. It is everything you want a day's racing to be. Epsom, send a delegation up to Cumbria and see how to put on a great experience for your spectators.