Op/Ed: Some Reasons Still To Be Cheerful

[Wandering Eyes]

We are very good at depressing ourselves in the racing industry, aren't we? Threats of the betting tax going up and the foal crop going down are currently on the doom loop of news, and they are of course reasons to be concerned.

But my daily coping strategy has always been to look for reasons to be cheerful and I am, therefore, naturally happy to say that there are still plenty of those to be found in this sport, or business, or whatever we want to call it. Let's go with sport, because sport sounds much more fun than business, and racing is, after all, supposed to be fun. 

In my work life I go to a lot of the top race meetings – the obvious crowd-pullers with the best horses on show – and it remains an absolute privilege to have a ringside seat on those days. My home life, in a small stable, takes me to many of England's less prestigious tracks, but it is these venues that provide the most cause for optimism. It is here that you will find the racing tragics, and I mean that as a compliment. The people who rarely miss a meeting at their local track, who cheer the course specialists with gusto, and perhaps enjoy a drink, a few bets, and a proper day out in the fresh air – they are what racing is all about.

From the top to the bottom of the country the stalwarts are out in force from Hexham (if you haven't been, make sure this stunning Northumberland track goes to the top of your racing bucket list) to Brighton (similarly, a must-visit). And let's not forget those five Scottish gems of Perth, Kelso, Ayr, Hamilton and Musselburgh.

In the last fortnight I've been fortunate to return to my home track of Windsor followed by Yarmouth and then Pontefract, and each of these meetings, admittedly blessed by autumn sunshine, boasted an enthusiastic and engaged turnout of people simply enjoying themselves. No concerts, no punch-ups, just a bunch of nice middle-of-the-road races to enjoy. 

It remains a source of bewilderment that a growing number of the national newspapers in Britain, which not so long ago each boasted several dedicated racing correspondents, now largely ignore the country's second-largest spectator sport. The perceived power of the click-through has a lot of answer for, and these figures overlook the fact that many racing fans are of the generation of people who still buy a newspaper and would love a bit of news on their favourite sport, along with the day's race cards. And, yes, we have to attract the next generation of racegoers, who take their news in different formats, but get out onto the racecourses around the country and you will find plenty of the younger crowd. For the midweek meetings, however, it would be folly to overlook the importance of pensioners, with perhaps some spare money in their pocket instead of TikTok on their phones.

 

Enjoying the view at Hexham | Emma Berry

 

Last Saturday and Sunday, Newmarket staged the Henry Cecil Open Weekend – one of a range of events around the country, including the popular Lambourn and Middleham open days, aimed at giving a behind-the-scenes look at the sport for its fans. On Sunday morning, 25 of the town's stables were open from 9am to 12.30, following exhibition canters on Warren Hill from a host of the Newmarket's better-known equine residents, including the John and Thady Gosden-trained Royal Ascot-winning trio of Ombudsman, Trawlerman and Field Of Gold.

William and Maureen Haggas opened their Somerville Lodge yard for the first time and pulled out all the stops in giving their visitors a memorable day out, with the chance to view stable stars such as Dubai Honour, Economics and Hamish at close quarters. Over at Sefton Lodge, Richard Spencer and Phil Cunningham were rightly showing off their trophies for the Ayr Gold Cup and Silver Cup as Run Boy Run and Candy made their way home after their epic triumphs in Scotland. On the Severals in the afternoon, Kevin Philippart de Foy kept up his good strike rate for his new boss Kia Joorabchian by winning the Amo Racing-sponsored celebrity showjumping competition. So delighted was he with his clear round that the trainer temporarily adopted the more flamboyant nature of his compatriot Christophe Soumillon by throwing his whip into the crowd.

Our yard, Beverley House Stables, which was once home to the 1903 Triple Crown winner Rock Sand and 1946 2,000 Guineas winner Happy Knight, has no such stars these days. The top-rated of our 16 horses in training has a mark of 76, and there are people that argue that there is no place for the 50- or 60-rated handicappers at a time when prize-money is thinly stretched. I beg to differ. Well, of course I would, but hear me out. 

All morning long, we had a steady stream of visitors, some coming from or going to William Haggas's stable, but others who made a point of saying that they had come especially to see my husband, John. He is not alone among a range of trainers who will give freely of their time, both at the races and at home, to talk to people who share a passion for racing and do their bit to promote the sport. To say that racing is John's whole life is not an overstatement. He rarely leaves the yard, other than to go to the races, and every winner, every horse, counts. 

What was so uplifting about Sunday morning was that it was clear that we are not the only ones – apart from the horses' owners – who care about the residents of our small stable. Our homebred multiple winner Dereham appears to have a growing cult following. He's rated 57, but in his mind he's Frankel, and there's something about the English that makes them appreciate an underdog battler every bit as much as a champion. Perhaps that's why in racing you can be a John Gosden, a statesmanlike trainer for some of the wealthiest owners in the world, or a John Berry, more of an everyman, and still have your supporters.

This is indeed a sport, perhaps like no other, in which it is important to be able to walk with kings while not losing the common touch. Fortunately, we have the horses and the people who can fulfil both needs. Long may that continue. 

 

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