Northern Jump Racing

[The Eye Of Sauron]

Can’t quite put my finger on it, but something seems not at all right with jump racing in the North.

Historically, whereas the Flat was always dominated by Newmarket & Lambourn, the standard of jumpers and tracks in the North was at least equal to that south of the Trent.

But my mind has been concentrated by things like Len Lungo retiring (practically unremarked outwith the racing press, which is astounding); the problems at Wetherby & Haydock (and Haydock being emasculated to appease the summer football crowds); the fact that big races like the Charlie Hall and the Fighting Fifth are now competing for good horses when years ago they had the stage to themselves. And not competing very well either.

Since 1987, only one northern trained horse has won the Gold Cup (Jodami), and in the same period, there has not been a single northern winner of the Champion Hurdle (to misquote Francis Thompson…"Oh my Sea Pigeon and my Night Nurse, long ago…..")

OK, I know Howard Johnson has a fine string, but when all is said and done, most of them happen to be owned by a millionaire, who happens to be a Geordie. Ferdy does well, but hasn’t had a real championship horse for ages (probably French Holly). Nicky Richards soldiers on, but these days, the likes of John Hales would rather join the crowds at Tescos in Ditcheat, than drive to the Spar in Greystoke, even though the latter could easily be as good.

There are others, Sue Smith etc. Carlisle as a course is coming on leaps and bounds, but the standard of racing at places like Newcastle (most meetings), and Kelso ie the second tier courses isn’t much better than at the gaff tracks like Catterick, Hexham and Sedgy.

Donny might be the saving grace, but of course can only race Dec-Feb.

But when, for example, is Tim Easterby going to turn out another Barton or Scotton Banks

I hope this is just temporary- everyone knows that the last northern trained Derby winner was Dante in 1945, and that was now rising 65 years ago.

Unless there is a northern GC win in 2010, its 16 years and counting since Jodami.

What is it? Demographics, money, or just the amount of crap flat racing at places like Thirsk, Ripon and Redcar which encourages northern trainers and owners to go for the easy option of training flat horses and getting 10-15 runs a season in?

Whatever, the likes of Gordon Richards and Arthur Stephenson would be spinning in their proverbials.

[douginho]

OK, I know Howard Johnson has a fine string, but when all is said and done, most of them happen to be owned by a millionaire, who happens to be a Geordie. Ferdy does well, but hasn’t had a real championship horse for ages (probably French Holly). Nicky Richards soldiers on, but these days, the likes of John Hales would rather join the crowds at Tescos in Ditcheat, than drive to the Spar in Greystoke, even though the latter could easily be as good.

Money talks and the north-south divide is really not a mythical thing. Fact is people with cash to burn tend to live in the south – mainly because they have to move to the south to earn that cash. Most of the highflyers in the jumps game now – with the exception of Wylie’s millions – are based in the south. Clive Smith, Andy Stewart, David Johnson (who sends his lesser/older horses north to P Montieth). When you consider how much Clive Smith spent on Kauto Star and Master Minded its hard for the north to compete. That wasn’t the case in the olden days of Stephenson and Easterby.

The trainers in the north can still do a great job if they are given the ammunition. Nicky Richards proves this with Monet’s Garden, Ferdy Murphy with Kalahari King, Sue Smith with Mister McGoldrick. And thats not including Howard Johnson and the good ones he’s had of late.

[CarryOnKatie]

Couldn’t have put it better myself douginho.

On some of the other points:-

The Charlie Hall has been hit by the double whammy of the Down Royal Grade 1 and the upgrading of the Betfair/Lancs and with the expansion of Grade 1 targets for staying chaser coupled with the recent problems with Wetherby’s realignment, the Charlie Hall has suddenly lost it’s spark.

Newcastle seems to be going the way of other Northern Racing tracks post Stanley Clarke. Replacing or downgrading feature meetings and replacing with lower class tripe. Just look how Uttoxeter’s programme – which 15-20 years ago was the Carlise of it’s day – has gone downhill recently. Newcastle (outside the Fighting Fifth & Plate day on the flat) is similar.

[moehat]

I’ve never been to Newcastle but if it’s going the way of Uttoxeter then I probably won’t bother. Spoke to someone today who went to Uttoxeter last weekend, and when I said I thought it was becoming a track for people to just go and drink at he agreed. As for Kelso, I hope no one ever changes anything about it in any way..if they do I may just give up going racing altogether. I love everything about Kelso.

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