IRELAND does not have an honours system, and there are regular calls for one to be introduced. The honours system is Britain is long established and one of the oldest awards, at the pleasure of the reigning monarch, is that of Knights Bachelor.

This was the honour bestowed on AP McCoy this week for services to horse racing. Such honours to sportsmen in general are rare, and in racing are even more so. It is in this context that the enormity of the honour should be recognised.

With the death last year of Sir Peter O’Sullevan racing was deprived of one of its leading knights. Now that void has been filled by one of Peter’s closest friends. These men join Henry Cecil, his former father-in-law Noel Murless, his stepfather Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, and the 26-time champion jockey Gordon Richards as racing men who have been honoured during their lifetime.

There is no more elite group of achievers in racing and to be included in this roll of honour is something beyond special. Racing is, and rightly so, proud of this achievement for the multiple champion and this recognition will put the sport of horse racing centre stage to a wider audience.

As a champion for racing there is surely no more valuable asset than AP and hopefully, in various guises, the authorities will ensure that his appeal to the widest possible audience can be harnessed to the greatest effect.

We are just starting into the New Year and it has been a stuttering beginning, with Mother Nature testing us to the limits. The floods that have blighted parts of the country and in major parts of Britain are catastrophic for communities and individuals.

Racing has been hit badly too and a number of meetings and point-to-points have been cancelled or postponed. While this is disappointing, we have the opportunity at least to rearrange and run them at a later date.

Spare a thought for people who have literally lost their businesses and had their homes destroyed. Tom Cleary’s plight, featured prominently both in this paper and in the national media coverage, is a case in point. To see your facilities ruined and your livelihood damaged so deeply is heartrending.

With unsettled weather patterns ahead we are perhaps going to see more cases of hardship. We have in the past rallied to assist those hit by severe snow, but this newer phenomenon of rain and flood damage may result in more people and animals needing help. We should all play a part in helping those affected.