Think long and hard before throwing your hat in the ring

When you lose someone close to you, reminders of them can come from anywhere or anything. In my case, with da, it could be GAA on television, politics in the news or anything to do with farming or, most of all, horse racing.

When something is as big a part of your life as racing is of mine – and was of his – reminders are everywhere. Yes I still put my tips on the website any day there’s racing in Ireland, and have my few bets any day there’s jump racing, but it’s just not the same anymore.

What I wouldn’t give to have someone go down to Carnaross and buy a load of calves for the two of us. Or to cast the clock back to the days himself and Ollie Cunningham were tipping around at horses and be in a position to get in on the action for myself. Either with some of the local syndicates – if they had been decent enough to ask me – or by getting into the horse world by my own route.

In fact, it’s not all that long ago since well placed sources in the racing world contacted this corner to see would there be interest in getting into the breeding side of the horse business. Would a cat drink milk?

Unfortunately, the same reasoning which has precluded me, so far, from getting back into cattle are equally as derailing to equine ambitions. Maybe even more so. However, looking at some recent developments in racing, it may be a case for getting a hand off Garth Brooks and being thankful for Unanswered Prayers.

My views on the Bryony Frost/Robbie Dunne business was fairly well covered in last week’s podcast, but it has been just one of a few issues which don’t exactly paint the sport in a great light. Again, let it be said, with Dunne having been found guilty by a supposedly independent panel, it is only right that he be sternly punished.

That said, it doesn’t change the fact that both the BHA and PJA could and should have done far more to prevent the matter snowballing into the unsightly mess it has become. As well as that, when Dunne completes his sanction, you would hope there would be structures and supports in place to allow the rider resume his career in racing if he should so desire.

That whole affair would be enough in itself to have powers-that-be in the sport feeling shifty at the minute, but there have been a couple of other matters stewing away which must have them thinking they’re dealing with squeaky bum time in box set form!

Only a few weeks ago, it emerged that Dan Skelton alleged one of the part owners of his first Cheltenham Festival winner, Superb Story, had engaged in “A campaign” against him regarding a dispute between the parties over quite a considerable amount of monies.

That says two things to this observer – syndicates need to be run very carefully and managing the financial side of their business strikes one as being every bit as complex and challenglng for a trainer as is caring for and preparing the bloodstock getting Full Board on their premises.

But being totally honest, there’s another angle to the racing business which I’d forgotten about – the sales. Perhaps, though, it was somewhat deliberately being overlooked in an attempt to surpress emotional memories. All the old sales catalogues from Tattersalls and Goffs are still on da’s wardrobe from the days himself and Ollie were engrossed in the horse business, which included going to whatever sales were on.

A big part of the sales process is getting a horse prepped and through the sales is getting the animal ‘Passed’ by the vet. In other words, put through the equine NCT, before as much as a cent can be bid on them. Even then, you are trusting that the vet cert accompanying the animal is on point. And yes, in 99.99% of cases indeed it is.

Evidence is plentiful that you are best advised to think long and hard before throwing your hat in the ring when it comes to buying a racehorse. Whether you’re a perspective or existing owner or, for that matter, an established trainer. Just this week we have seen a case where trainer Tom George (above) and bloodstock agent Alex Elliott landed themselves in very hot and muddy waters.

As far as I can gather – and as always if the following is incorrect please advise below – Mr. George purchased the animal out of the yard of fellow trainer Andrew Balding at Tattersalls, only to discover – in their view at least – that the horse had ‘made a noise’. Again, this may not be totally accurate and apologies if so, but, my understanding of ‘making a noise’ is akin to a horse emitting something to similar to a human wheeze. Hence where the notion of an animal having its ‘wind done’ is derived from.

Now, it was my understanding that if a horse doesn’t pass the vet, it can’t be sold. Still, the ex-Balding inmate was allowed pass through the ring and be purchased for George by Elliott. Surely neither a vet nor the auction house in question would allow a horse open for bids if there was even the slightest hint of a problem.

You can probably also be fairly sure the investing trainer would not have done so were there even a scintilla of doubt. Which, it can only be assumed, is why they sought some form of redress. Instead, those hearing the case in a London court yesterday dismissed the claimants’ case and left them with a fairly hefty bill at the end of it all.

Don’t be surprised, mind you, if this story has a few furlongs to run yet.