I’m probably a bit more kindly disposed to the BHA in general than the average observer, but today’s announcement is such an incorrect, wrong-way-round reading of the prevailing situation as to be infuriating.
It’s also a bit of a slap in the face for those summer jumping courses which have proven themselves prepared, mobilised and above all completely ready to step into the breach with replacement or diverted fixtures this autumn.
Courses that the same BHA were praising to the skies for their can-do attitudes towards potentially hosting more fixtures only last month.
Courses that are ready, it will be remembered, because of the strict watering edicts they are expected to adhere to during the core summer months.
Courses which, in at least three cases (Cartmel, Newton Abbot and Perth) maintain a business model and racing schedule now so inextricably woven into the broader summer calendar that their existence may be imperilled by summer jumping’s termination.
If good to firm was appearing at all in this summer’s going reports for the jumps fixtures, it wasn’t appearing universally; and firm didn’t appear once because it’s not permitted to.
Other than Worcester’s card on June 24th, not a single summer jumping fixture between the start of June and end of August was lost or transferred on account of heat or overly fast ground. Not one.
Canning every jumps fixture during those months wouldn’t have automatically, magically made the ground of the jumps lines at the Chepstows, Tauntons, Exeters and Wincantons of this world any fitter to race on right now.
All four of those named – each left unwatered throughout the summer – have struggled to service early autumn meetings more than once in recent memory, each time on account of dangerously fast ground.
I refused to bet on such as those as still took place (some didn’t), and I wouldn’t have run any horses in them were they mine.
Relative to the class of races programmed, and the kudos afforded it as the first fixture of the “proper” season (moot), at least one recent renewal of Chepstow’s early October meeting has been borderline pathetic.
Using the (watered) Flat course for the hurdles events this time round may have prevented a complete transfer of Chepstow’s races, but only time will tell how many connections are still prepared to risk it.
Racing may have a creeping problem with unsuitable ground at some jumps courses at some times of year – just not the ones today’s statement appears to be calling out.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.