Racing calendar is an utter mess – here’s my plan for fixing it all
MORE than ever this past weekend shouted loud and clear just how chaotic and out of control British racing is with the beginning and ending of the Flat and jumps seasons.
The all-weather action is mainly to blame for the modern day mayhem.
GettyIt was great to have racing back at Cheltenham but the action was diluted up against the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster[/caption]
Artificial racing does, of course, take place 12 months a year in the UK.
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Since that happened, people have not been concerned about the crucial factor that makes Britain so different to most other countries in the world – the fact we have two top class codes of racing.
Of course there will always be an overlap. But the last 48 hours has really shown why things need to change.
The problem of course is we have no leadership at the BHA, and even if we did some other group would throw their toys out the pram to any new plans.
The trade newspaper went crazy for Cheltenham on Saturday. But it was a far from quality card and there’s no doubt that Hotazhell’s Futurity at Doncaster was the big race of the day.
But that was a mess as well due to the ground, and the same can constantly be said about Champions Day at Ascot.
How crazy to have Cheltenham and Doncaster on at the same time?
I would suggest the Flat season should end with Doncaster’s Group 1 juvenile highlight, and the November Handicap run on the same card but clearly renamed the October Handicap.
That’s it. All of it shifted forward a bit.
Then the jumps comes into play. The whole of the start of the jumps proper would be restructured, taking in the Persian War meeting at Chepstow and then Cheltenham.
There is no need for Flat racing on turf into November. None. Many fixtures will be lost to the weather in any case.
I don’t want to ruin the Pattern. There is no need. But someone with an ounce of brain just sort out what is so obviously an utter mess.
While we are at it, what the hell were the apprentice jockeys doing at Catterick on Champions Day?
I mean how thick are people in racing?
You have a day to crown champions, and the champions are not there. Yep, that makes sense.
So simple to avoid as well.
Essentially, there should be only one Flat meeting on Champions Day in the UK. Sorted.
But if you struggle with that concept then you just say that on Champions Day the only meeting that counts towards any jockeys’ championship is at Ascot.
Stop the nonsense someone please before I pop. Arghhhhhhhh.
Meanwhile… Later today the draw will be made for this week’s Breeders’ Cup. The draw is a big deal. Huge.
You might be thinking no it’s not Matt. No interest. In that case you are a banana.
Or you might be saying to yourselves I can’t get into the Breeders’ Cup and Flat horses because the fixture list has decided I should be thinking about jumps racing and I’m all confused.
I get that. But be strong.
I love the Breeders’ Cup draw. The crowds gasps and moans when a big gun gets shafted, and some horses go from having a great chance to nearly none. And vice versa.
Where will City of Troy be plotted in the Classic?
And what about the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint? Will Bradsell and Big Evs be apart smashing out together, and if they are will that set it up for the closing Believing or Starlust or Star of Mystery?
The Breeders’ Cup Mile has three monster weapons in 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech, star filly Porta Fortuna and the brilliant Foret heroine Ramatuelle. The draw will be crucial for them as well.
And will Frankie Dettori and Emily Upjohn be drawn out wide in the Turf against the super tough Rebel’s Romance?
The draw at the Breeders’ Cup decides winners.
Bring it on. Yeeehaaa!
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