Still bubbling under. Still contentious. Still the first topic that "non racing" friends allude to when we meet. Fantastic PR for our sport when the whip is the dominant topic for those with a passing interest in horseracing ?? What an almighty cock-up this has been. Talk of Frankel, Kauto, Hurricane Fly, AP, Long Run, Frankie etc might just persuade those with a "passing interest" to come and have a look. To click through a turnstile or two....
A few might even be gripped by the experience. Might tell their friends. Might come again. But talk of the use of the whip, and the fact that it is the dominant topic of conversation within our sport (alongside paltry prize money, is not exactly going to get them forming an orderly queue to come and see what our sport offers.....
Apologies for revisiting this subject. But the BHA must do something. And do something very, very soon. And well before Cheltenham. Before we subject ourselves to more headlines along the lines of, "Kauto magnificent in Gold Cup. Ruby Walsh banned for 3 weeks".......
Prime time news will cover the story. And you can bet your bottom dollar, euro or pound that it will be the use of the whip that is majored on in the coverage. Especially on the sensationalist, NOTW style BBC that we now seem to have to put up with.....
In an excellent interview by Peter Thomas in yesterday's Racing Post, Andrew Thornton made the point very well.....
"I think it'll be sorted out by Cheltenham because it has to be, otherwise you'll end up with seven of your top ten jockeys missing the Grand National. Would that be the biggest PR disaster ever ? This needs sorting out, so what are we waiting for"
Exactly. "What are we waiting for?".Cheltenham will be upon us in the blink of an eye. Our sport needs all the help it can get. Not another PR disaster, making the wider public distance themselves further from our insular and introverted sport. I feel for those in charge of producing BHA PR speak. An impossible job, producing laughable quotes removed from reality. But there is still time for decisive action. Are the BHA up to it ?????
Still quiet on the runners front. Aqua Ardens with a tough task at Southwell today. A change of emphasis this winter. Fewer to run on the allweather. A few jumpers. But thoughts polarised on the Flat turf season. Numerically, our biggest team. Some exciting prospects to add to the proven performers. Which in no way guarantees any level of success, but certainly gives us much hope. The Turf starting, remarkably, next month. And gathering pace from flagfall. It will not be long, I promise, before our thoughts turn to Royal Ascot and beyond...
Imagine the chaos if this is not sorted BEFORE Cheltenham
Posted by: andy jones | February 07, 2012 at 07:06 PM