THE ENTHRALMENT OF THE RACEHORSE, ANOTHER ONE BITS THE DIRT & HARRY CARR.

I dare say I stand to be corrected but I will say that the working partnership between man and horse must be the longest in the history of Mankind. As transport in war, as a living machine in ploughing and sowing fields to sport, horse and man have lived and died together. Yes, in some aspects of the arrangement it could be one-sided, with man the master and the horse the servant. Yet the horse had to be cared-for and perhaps man's affection for the horse was greater than the horse's affection for man but down the centuries, whether it was riding into battle or as a coach and four going from town to town, horse and man have carved a unique niche for themselves in the construction of society.

In today's Racing Post there is yet another example of the lure of the racehorse. Liam Headd, the Post's Lambourn correspondence, tells the story of The Time's Royal Editor, Roya Nikkhah, whose life has the spectrum of travelling with the King and Queen to Washington and their meeting with Donald Trump to riding out in all-weathers for Jamie Osborne and preparing for her second ride in a charity race. 3-years ago she had never sat on a racehorse, now she owns her own horse and lives in Lambourn so that she is closer to the Osbornes than when she lived in London, an arrangement that now gives her a 90-minute journey to work. And she bought Hierarchy because he is her favourite ride, not wanting Osborne to take him to the sales. I only hope her story appears in The Times as it might inspire a Times reader to become curious about our sport and to get involved in one way or the other.

Saddened to read that Noel Williams is the latest trainer to be forced to hand in his licence due to financial concerns. The list of ex-trainers grows almost daily, soon it will be as extensive as the number of pubs closing or pharmacies or banks. The trend of closures and forced retirements should be a matter of urgent concern to the government. It isn't for the simple reason that it is all part of the World Economic Forum's 'Great Reset', a reset that will see the end of High Streets and with every componentof living and leisure delivered to your door. With no access to the joy of horses or the sport in which we are partnered.

Noel Williams was a good trainer. Lower middle in the rankings, perhaps, but someone who should at least be able to keep his head above water. That he could not in symptomatic of the dire straits the sport is in, a reality that will be masked in the next few days and weeks by the prize-money on offer at Epsom and Royal Ascot and attendance at the gate.

In 1950, Captain Boyd Rochfort trained a horse called Prince Simon. He never ran as a 2-year-old, though he won a trial on the gallops at the end of the season by such a staggering distance that race-watchers were soon backing him for the Derby. Perhaps no longer, but for decades afterwards experienced horseman in Newmarket would recall that trial as the epitome of gallops which every succeeding 'pigeon-catcher' was assessed by.

Prince Simon won the Wood Ditton on his racecourse debut and two weeks later won the 10-furlong Newmarket Stakes. In the 2,000-Guineas, though, he was beaten in a head-bob by Palestine, ridden by Charlie Smirke. Prince Simon's jockey, Harry Carr, blamed himself for the defeat, believing Smirke's greater knowledge of the course just swayed matters his way.

The surprise defeat, though, dented nobody's confidence that Prince Simon would put matters right at Epsom. Again, though, he was beaten in a headbob, this time by Galcador, ridden by Rae Johnstone. In 1950, as a short aside, French-trained horses also won the 1,000-Guineas, Oaks, Coronation Cup, Eclipse, Goodwood Cup and the St.Leger. How times change. It is becoming rare to have a single French-trained horse taking part in a British classic.

The reason I mention the 1950 Epsom Derby is that Harry Carr came in for the same sledging as Greville Starkey 36-years later. Journalists were quick to pillory Carr, with one even telling Capt Boyd-Rochfort to his face that Carr had cost him a first Derby success. The Captain told the journalist never to speak to him again. There was a thing called loyalty back then and in criticising the jockey they were criticising the trainer for employing him as stable jockey. Carr received letters in the post and verbal abuse on the racecourse. Unlike Starkey, who was not gain compensation for the abuse he received for his ride on Dancing Brave, Carr won the Epsom Derby nine-years later on Parthia.

Prince Simon was as beautiful a racehorse as anyone had ever seen. He also had a placid and sweet temperament and though an honest, free-flowing horse, Carr was of the opinion he was not battle-hardened enough to have two hard races in fairly quick succession. After disappointing at Ascot, he returned to the U.S. and to stallion duties. Carr's only fault was he was riding a horse that on the racecourse was not as good as his reputation gained largely from his home work. Perhaps if he had been rested after the Derby and returned as a 4-year-old, he might have lived up to expectations. But that, as with so many horses retired to stud too early, we shall never know.