No desire to change

Sir, – I am writing this letter following my attendance at the ITBA’s National Hunt Seminar last Monday in Tattersalls Ireland to express my disappointment with the day.

My first issue is in relation to a question I posed to the panel regarding stallions not having full veterinary certificates available to potential breeders, in contrast to the disclosure available to potential buyers at a public sale.

I was extremely infuriated that, on receipt of this comment/question, the moderator Leo Powell did not address it to anyone on the panel. I was of the opinion going to this seminar that it was to be an open discussion on all topics but this was not the case here. And I still feel strongly that breeders should have stallion veterinary certificates made available to them on request.

A second question I put to the panel was ‘Why can’t the racing programme here be run more like the UK system? i.e. Class 1-5 races and listed and graded races’. This was put to Jason Morris of HRI who answered “racing has to be kept competitive”.

In my opinion that was not a satisfactory answer and furthermore the trainers on the panel were not asked to give their opinion on the topic, which would have been interesting to hear. I strongly believe scheduling races more like our UK counterparts would give owners and trainers more opportunities to run their horses and, as a consequence, regenerate interest among syndicates and owners. There would be more interest from racegoers, thus keeping the game alive.

A representative of the British Horseracing Authority on the panel pointed out, in disbelief, that having researched the Irish racing schedule there are no mares’ novice hurdle races between November and March. Again no satisfactory explanation or reason for this was given on the day. There are considerably more breeders in Ireland than in the UK but yet, as pointed out by the BHA representative, the UK offers more opportunities for mares than we do here, which again does not make sense.

Jessica Harrington suggested that the fillies’ bonus scheme should be opened up to mares’ handicap hurdles. This would again give owners and trainers greater opportunities. Willie Mullins made the point that Irish-bred horses, in particular mares, like in France, should begin their careers at an earlier age.

This all sounds doable but, as the system stands now, if they all started their racing careers earlier the opportunities to run these horses and mares would not be there, again suggesting we need to look more towards replicating the UK system if we are to make the changes suggested by our champion trainer.

I came away from the day totally disillusioned with the breeding and racing industry, especially for people like me who are small time breeders/owners and restricted trainers. There are some serious issues and flaws in the current systems and I did not get a sense of interest or desire from the concerned parties on the day to improve matters. - Yours etc.,

OLLIE POWER

Killeenagh,

Tallow,

Co Waterford

Leo Powell replies: I am disappointed that Ollie was infuriated by my questioning of the panel on the day. Every appropriate question submitted from the audience was put to the panel.

As Ollie points out the forum was an open one and any member of the panel could answer or comment on any subject. Furthermore, there was an opportunity on the day for everyone in the audience to speak directly to the panel on any subject. Many did so.

I am also sorry that Ollie is totally disillusioned with the industry – many others have expressed a more positive attitude, feeling that there is a desire to improve the systems in place and hopefully this will be a positive outcome from the day. Nothing is perfect (not even the moderator) and improvements can and will be made, I believe. Time will tell.

Level the playing betting field

Sir, – May I refer through your excellent paper to the key industry statistics for 2015 released recently by Horse Racing Ireland.

As an on-course bookmaker it is frustrating for me to see the Tote and racecourse shops both having increased their turnover 28% and 16% as both have a huge discriminatory advantage over us in the staff they can employ.

Bookmaker shops (good luck to them), no matter who operates them, can employ whomever and whenever they choose. There are no restrictions, whether the shop is on a racecourse or in any part of the country. If an employee fails to turn up for work they employ somebody else.

Equally the Tote (good luck to them) - who can take bets on any part of any racecourse - can replace a staff member with ease if they are absent or even install an automated betting terminal.

Every racegoer with a mobile phone can place, back and lay bets on racecourses with no licence or permit. Professional punters, who play in huge money at racecourses, equally have no licence or permit and pay no levy.

HRI still insists that anyone taking a bet in the betting ring must hold a permit while indoors the Tote and SP shops can employ 12 staff, none of whom hold permits.

To get a representative permit costs nearly €500 but even if the Pope was to apply for one it would take six to 12 months to obtain it. To add insult, if we are missing a staff member we are fined €75 daily.

Five years ago I wrote to your paper proposing changes that HRI could make to help on-course bookmakers. As usual they said ‘no’. Funny how many of those suggestions have since been implemented at zero-cost.

Now please can we have a level-playing field by taking away stupid restrictions governing betting ring employees. They are preventing racecourses having a better atmosphere. - Yours etc.,

JIM DESMOND,

Knock House,

Rockestown,

Cork.

Improving racing’s public image

Sir, – I read with interest the letter from Patrick Roche in your February 6th edition. Although I am not a regular at race meetings the observations resonated with my image of the sport. Irish racing has not made the sporting achievements of its stars central to its brand.

The image of racing in Ireland has been badly tarnished by its association with the vulgar excesses of the Celtic Tiger boom.

The people who created that image and attached it to racing have been humbled by the crash and in economic recovery no longer feel the need to find a place to show off. Racing needs new benefactors. As Mr Roche alludes, the key to finding them might be to focus attention on the sport.

In the UK, Sky’s intervention in football not only changed the presentation of the game but, in conjunction with the Premiership, re-branded the game as a family friendly activity. It was an impossible move to anyone familiar with the hooliganism of the mid-80s but they pulled it off.

Racing doesn’t have to be family-friendly but it does need to decide who it is for and who it wants its audience to be.

If the general public can be better informed as to what the sport is supposed to be about – the competitiveness, the sporting courage of its riders and steeds and stories of great achievements – then they might be found to be loyal supporters of the game.

Supporters with shallower pockets, perhaps, but steadfast, larger in number and maybe not as prone to run away in times of economic shocks.

The task of how to focus attention and engender loyalty towards the champion horses, sportsmen and women will fall to talented and experienced people both inside and outside racing.

It is in the long term interests of racing to identify and employ the right people to get the message across. – Yours etc.,

LEO O’ROURKE,

Enniscorthy,

Co Wexford.

Victoria Pendleton

Sir, – re the article in The Irish Field on February 6th by John Lloyd Rogers concerning his doubts about Victoria Pendleton being good enough to win the Foxhunters Chase at Cheltenham. I will be very much surprised if she does not win or put up a very good show.

She knows how to win and the speed of cycling is much faster than horse racing.

I write as someone who switched between running and cycling races with some success, though it is 50 years since I was on the team which won the 170-mile relay from Patrick Pearse’s cottages to Ros Muc! Best of luck to Victoria. – Yours etc.,

DONIE TURNER,

Carrig,

Mallow,

Co Cork.

Letters to the Editor should be addressed to The Editor, The Irish Field, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12. Name, address and telephone number must be included for verification. Letters are published at the Editor’s discretion and the Editor reserves the right to edit letters within reason.