Jockeys and trainers not remembered

[Marginal Value]

There is a race at Newmarket tomorrow, the seventh race on the card, formerly called the Stubbs Stakes, a listed race for three-year-olds over a mile. It is a race that leads nowhere in particular. It is now called the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes.

Maybe because I am a Henry Cecil fan, but also thinking that he was a great man of the English Turf, that this race is a bit inadequate to mark his place in flat racing history. Most of the suitable races (fillies classic trials or better) have good names already, so I don’t know if anyone else can come up with something suitable. I can imagine that, as ever older age creeps up on Khaled Abdulla, the International Stakes might strike him as being ready for a name change that would incorporate Sir Henry, but obviously more likely it would be Frankel.

I also feel a bit sorry for poor old George Stubbs, having lost the race named after him, a brilliant artist for his time, and a reliable answer to any question like: “Who painted this ancient picture of a horse?”.

In general there are so many non-descript race names that could be made to incorporate the names of great jockeys and trainers. Four thousand races a year and no mention of Scobie Breasley, Doug Smith and others of that era all the way through to Steve Cauthen, Pat Eddery and Willie Carson. Not to mention the great trainers of the same era. Why are so very few remembered in race names?

[LostSoldier3]

You could argue that a race name dedication is a pretty poor excuse for a commemoration in any case. A commercial sponsor usually jumps in ahead of the official title – the 32Red.com Poker Rakeback Henry Cecil Stakes would stick in the craw somewhat.

These people are remembered well in the minds of the people who witnessed their achievements over the years – that’s an ample tribute in my opinion. Squabbling over whose name gets lent to a G1 and who gets a Listed race is terribly bad taste, especially if these trivial arguments are taking place with the memories of the late greats in mind.

[thewexfordman]

Races shouldn’t be called after people or horses. By naming a race after someone as a form of commemoration then your implying that any trainer or horse without a race in their name are not worthy of commemoration. Gravestones and epitaphs are for remembrance and commemoration, not horse races

[Author]

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