PAT Kelly’s lack of communication with the press as he prepares the Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy hasn’t keep racing fans in that same manner of silence. Many went ‘social’ this week, some calling it a disgrace that the trainer failed to reveal plans for Gowran last week or generally engage with the media.

Now, racing is very blessed in many ways with the easy access get to the main protagonists. We saw that with two press days this week in Cullentra and Closuttton.

Trainers have no obligation to engage but it has to be accepted how vital communiation it is for the sport.

A Twitter comment by punter Declan Meagher explored both sides. He argued how important it was to engage with punters. However, I’d change that word to engage with the public.

There was an excellent breakdown of why we need better communications between those in racing in a Paul Hayward column in the Daily Telegraph where he stated that racing had a “more pressing need to make a generation fall in love with racing again.”

cannot be ignored

“The task is to make the masses have an opinion about racing in the first place.”

This can only be pushed into the mainstream media by those close to the horses. Presenting Percy may have put an extra 1,000 on the gate for Gowran on Thyestes day – that can only be good for everyone. Attract interest, attract owners, associate racing with enjoyment, with emotions.

We have the Gold Cup favourite, from a small yard but no stories to tell on the horse. His owner and rider have spoken, but we want to know from the man who has expertly masterminded the horse’s often unconventional campaign, making him into one of our most popular horses.

One of the comments to the Meagher piece was that Pat Kelly’s no comment stance, was that it was fine – let the horse do the talking. Err, we’re missing something ... the horse can’t talk. And you cannot build an appreciation or interest through silence.

Racing is a very insular sport. Note from the Jump Girls programme this week, Rachael Blackmore competing against Paul Townend as a young pony rider. Racing goes round in the same circles.

This brings the assumption that, as it once was, thus it always will be. We were reminded how dependant racing is on government backing, sponsorship, TV rights and the punters’ contribution through betting tax.

It’s central to the growth of any sport to connect with those on the inside. I did not become hooked on racing through betting, though it was a by-product of loving the horses and the characters and tales of the turf.

I recall so many big race interviews – they are lodged in the mind along with memories of the horses. Decades ago, after the Guineas, an inquisitive Brough Scott asking Vincent O’Brien after El Gran Senor’s Guineas win. “Could he be the best you have trained?” And the tilt of the head, as if he has just considered it. “Yes... yes, he could.”

Tom Foley, carried high after Danoli’s Cheltenham Sun Alliance Hurdle win, replying to an earnest question from the same Brough Scott, how good the horse was – “He’s too good for me to say how good he is.”

Now more than ever when everything is up close, sound bites, hi definition, we need people and horses front and centre.

We need information and not just for punters. Not everyone went to Gowran to back Percy. Silence is not golden, behind closed doors is an opportunity lost. What a front page story is would be if Lalor wins at Cheltenham.

A tweet this week also reminded us of that vital connection between people and the horses.

Bill Esdaile @BillEsdaile

Seen plenty on @sevenbarrows press day but not much on his lovely words on Special Tiara. He said how sad he was to have heard the news & how he would miss him not turning up to trail blaze & take them on again.

We remember the horses. They matter, the human connection with the horse matters, and that is extended into greater attention from the public via the media. Racing needs all the media coverage it can get.

It can only serve the sport and those who make a living from it. “Where exactly would Presenting Percy be racing next week if it wasn’t for punters and racegoers?” Meagher also asked.

We know we are not going to get a Peter Casey viral moment from Pat Kelly, but that’s not needed.

And though it’s not a disgrace that Kelly refuses to share any information or insight to the horse, as some declared, is a great shame.

We have to bring the horse to the public and only a few people are in a position to do that.