UNFAIR CRITICISM, MORE FOLLY & HOORAY!

I thought criticism from the always elegant, usually fair and diplomatic, Francesca Cumani on the ride James Doyle gave to Arabian Crown in the Princess of Wales Stakes at Newmarket yesterday was uncalled-for. It is a poor look for the sport when a jockey is criticised for not using his whip more often in a race, especially when the jockey involved is not given an opportunity to explain the instructions given to him by the trainer. I am sure Francesca's comments were in light of the team tactics hoo-ha after Royal Ascot. It is perhaps true that Arabian Crown was there to make an even pace for his more illustrious stable-mate Rebel's Romance, yet when push came to shove, James Doyle did just that, not conceding to his best mate William Buick until perhaps the final few strides. He may have only used his whip once but that might have been because the Doyler considered Arabian Crown was already giving him all he had to give.

There is already a perception in the wider world that the whip is an instrument of punishment and that jockeys are expected to beat a horse in an effort to get it to go faster, it does not need anyone in racing to rubberstamp the false notion. I would never criticise James Doyle as he is one of the best around but the way he rode Arabian Crown is exactly the way I would like all jockeys to ride. One hit to ask the horse to lenghen and then hands and heels, and no doubt voice, to the finishing post. James Doyle would be aware that once Rebel's Romance hits the front that he is liable to doss and that no matter how vigorous he got with his mount he was highly unlikely to get past him. We should be praising kind rides like this, not hinting at cheating behind the mask of a sweet smile.

Given that Godolphin gave The Racing League a wide berth, it was a sense of incredulity to read in today's Racing Post that it is to invest $6-millions into a similar project in the U.S. The Horse Racing League is to be a season-long competition proposed and constructed on debt by the man behind the success of Formula 1, perhaps the most boring form of car racing. The H.R.L. propose to buy 80-horses to be distributed between 10-teams by way of a N.F.L. draft system. During the season these 80-horses can be traded between the teams involved.

Obviously I hate this concept. Horse racing is not Formula 1. Formula 1 has 20-odd races, with 20-odd odd cars and twenty drivers. That is it is in its entirety. Horse racing is a 365-day sport, with horses of different ages, with races, even in the U.S. over differing distances. There is no comparison. All this concept will achieve is profit, perhaps, for the promoters and a loss of 80-horses to the tracks, if the same deficit of horses applies to the U.S. as in Britain. And again, what is being asked of spectators is to choose a team to support when they have absolutely no allegiance to any of the 10-teams. I just hope I.T.V. or any of racing channels do not get excited by this hostage-taking of the purity of our sport. This is using horses as commodities to be bought and sold solely for the profit of individuals. Damnation to all who take part.

The best news today in The Racing Post is that Towcester is to rise from the ashes. Unused but still loved since May 2018, the home of the Greyhound Derby is proposing to stage point-to-points next season, and once the £2-million refurbishment of the weighing room and other amenities is finished, the track's management has the intention of applying for fixtures for 2027. I hope to live to see the day. The only unsettling aspect for me is that the racecourse is to be renamed Towcester Betway, though as Betway are providing the finance for the project I must teach myself to be grateful to them for breathing life back into one of my favourite racecourses. Three cheers for Betway!