As we head into 2024, here are 10 things I’m wishing for in the world of racing.
1. Smaller yards making a
splash on the big stage
As we gear up for a cracking Christmas of racing, the likelihood is that we will be fed a steady diet of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott winners through the coming days, as is so often the case at these major meetings.
It is to these top trainers’ credit that they can deliver big-time winners with such regularity. However, a greater share of victories in prominent races for smaller outfits would be a really welcome development in 2024.
For example, 30 of the 37 National Hunt Grade 1s run in Ireland last season went the way of either Mullins or Elliott. That does not leave much scraps on the table for every other yard in the country. The same pair also were responsible for this year’s Irish Grand National, Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle winners, in terms of major handicaps.
Big results for smaller-scale connections - under both codes - offers encouragement that anyone can succeed at the top table. Diversity is healthy.
2. A first Triple Crown winner
in more than half a century
It promises to be a massive 2024 for Coolmore as Auguste Rodin sticks around in a bid to enhance his CV at four, and there could be even greater fireworks to come with unbeaten juvenile City Of Troy.
The wide-margin Superlative and Dewhurst Stakes winner was Europe’s standout two-year-old in 2023 and, thus far, has looked worthy of the hype.
No horse has won the Triple Crown in Britain since the legendary Nijinsky in 1970 and the Coolmore partners have made no secret of the fact they would love to pull off the same feat at some stage. Camelot went agonisingly close when beaten by Encke in the 2012 St Leger, leaving a sense of unfinished business with the race.
Could City Of Troy be the one to fulfil that long-held ambition? It has been spoken about loosely by the Co Tipperary camp. Paddy Power make it only an 8/1 chance that he completes the rare treble. It’s hard to think of many horses who would have been priced any shorter for that hat-trick. Now that would make him a real collector’s item in the history of world-class horses at Coolmore.
3. A resolution to Irish racing’s
Gambling Bill worries
Plain and simple, government officials must see sense promptly when it comes to the impending Gambling Regulation Bill and the potential for it to wipe out Ireland’s access to Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing.
It’s only right that a piece of legislation is introduced in a bid to reduce harmful gambling. No arguments. But the unintended consequences of what is being proposed completely misses the point of the Bill’s purpose.
Any legislation that would force those who wish to watch racing to either go into a betting shop, open a betting account online for access to live streams, or else to illegally stream the sport is completely misguided.
Common sense must prevail.
4. Greater engagement with the
public on racing’s best stories
As well as maintaining racing’s subscriber-only channels, there is a definite need for the sport to have its best stories connect with the public through the wider media.
We all know there are some marvellous tales in Irish racing but how many - beyond the absolute obvious - really make it to the consciousness of those who don’t follow the sport?
Wesley Joyce’s genuinely remarkable return from serious injuries this season has been astonishing. Most with an interest in racing will know of his journey, but how many outside of the sport, or his native Co Limerick, have an awareness of his inspiring comeback?
I’m not sure it made enough of an impact outside of our bubble when, in my view, Joyce’s return was one of the sporting stories of the year.
To look at a different avenue, every year we hear incredible tales in the sales ring of small-scale pinhookers backing their opinion and striking gold in the world of bloodstock.
Even those with the most limited knowledge of horses could appreciate the value in a story like we had at the Tattersalls Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale this year when young Cork brothers Andy and Johnny Shinnick turned their first breeze-up filly from a €7,000 foal into a €170,000 two-year-old. Money is a universal language.
There is no magic wand for bringing these stories to the public, but those charged with promoting the sport must be relentless in pushing racing’s best tales. Additionally, there is an onus on us as racing fans to do our part by sharing our passion for the game with those in our non-racing circles. Spread the gospel!
5. Avoid stumbling from one
controversy to another
The opposite also applies when it comes to PR. Irish racing can desperately do without shooting ourselves in the foot when it comes to controversies.
We already have external challenges on our plate, so self-inflicted issues need to be avoided at all costs in 2024.
That goes for our regulators, stewards and participants. World-class racing demands top-notch standards.
6. Reliable sectional times
(at long last!)
Waiting for the rollout of sectional timing technology in Irish racing has been a bit like watching Asterion Forlonge’s chasing career. Plenty has been promised and at times it has looked like the goods will be delivered, but ultimately there always tends to be an obstacle ready to bring us right back down to reality.
Will 2024 finally be the year that we have reliable, consistent and accurate sectional times for Irish racing? God, I hope so. After all, this was initially promised to be rolled out across all Irish tracks for January 1st 2017.
Last July, a fresh pledge was made that this tech will be up and running for January 1st 2024, and it’s said to be on schedule. Fingers crossed we’re not gearing up to hit the deck again.
7. One Look proving that her
Goffs Million rout wasn’t a one-off
It’s difficult to remember many more impressive flat debut performances in the past decade than what One Look produced in blitzing her Goffs Million rivals in September. She was sensational.
Paddy Twomey took a patient approach with the Gleneagles filly after that six-length demolition job, and she falls into the could-be-anything category for 2024. Let’s hope that her Curragh rout wasn’t a one-off and that she can make up into the rare talent she promises to be at the highest level.
8. More female riders making
their mark under both codes
According to Horse Racing Ireland’s latest jockey leaderboards online, only five women are in the top 100 riders over jumps so far this season. Rachael Blackmore (38 winners) and Jody Townend (eight) are the only female riders to have recorded more than two winners in the campaign to date.
As for the 2023 flat season standings in Ireland, Siobhan Rutledge (32nd in the table) is the highest-ranked female jockey in the country on nine winners. Amy Jo Hayes (46th) on four winners and Sorcha Woods (57th) on two are the only female jockeys with more than one success on the flat last season.
Such is the competitiveness of our racing, Ireland can be one of the toughest places for any rider to establish themselves - let alone female riders - but there is no escaping the fact we are lacking numerical depth in the women’s weighing room at present.
Bearing in mind the public positivity that has been generated for the sport surrounding Rachael Blackmore’s achievements in recent times, the authorities need to examine what can be done to help more women to make their mark in sport.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but more can be done to boost opportunities.
9. For Jack Kennedy to stay injury free and challenge for jockeys’ title
Is there anyone riding better right now than Jack Kennedy?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning rider leads the jockeys’ championship on a scoreline of 81 to 58 ahead of Paul Townend, and he has been a joy to watch all season.
Regardless of whether or not the campaign ends in a first jockeys’ title for Kennedy, he seriously deserves a slice of luck to remain injury-free this season. If he does, it will surely serve up a title battle to savour with the reigning champion. Two exceptional horsemen.
10. A greater amount of overseas runners competing in Ireland
There will not be a single British-trained runner crossing the Irish Sea to compete on these shores over Christmas, and only three ventured over for the Dublin Racing Festival in 2023.
From just a dozen British runners across the entire five-day Punchestown Festival, the visitors emerged with a winner, a second, two thirds and a fourth. In total, only two of the runners failed to collect prize money - and one of those was a faller when two lengths in front at the second last fence.
It undoubtedly boosts our racing to have British runners involved. More would be a welcome addition in 2024.