O TEMPORA O MORES

One of the foremost scourges of modern society is the promotion of style over substance. One of the worst failings of racing's leadership is the desire to appease the ignorant. Unsurprisingly these two maladies have afflicted our sport in the same week, albeit in two disparate cases. 

Firstly trainers have decided to amend contracts to allow for drug testing of employees. It is understandable that any professional would not want his reputation sullied by incidental contact beyond his scrutiny; however cocaine is an expensive vice and there are others in the racehorse's network to whom it is more accessible. There is no point introducing a rule that would not stand up in a court of law. This initiative is only equitable if mandatory testing is extended to all who may come into contact with the horse: jockeys, vets, farriers and the people who handle them last when the adrenalin is flowing and uptake most likely - the stalls handlers. It would also only be justified with a significant upgrade in racecourse stable cleaning protocols. Whatever one's attitude to recreational drugs may be, there is something repellant about punishing the common man for an otherwise unidentifiable habit, whilst accepting the patronage of a client who shares that frailty.

The National Hunt Handicap Chase has been stripped of its amateur status in a bid to increase its appeal, by which is surely meant field size and thus betting turnover. This was a historic race with field sizes that guaranteed each way betting and provided a number of long shot surprises and great stories for those committed to the foundation of National Hunt racing. As recently as 2018 a future dual Grand National winner beat fifteen rivals and the following year nineteen ran. Then the bleeding hearts reduced the distance to three miles and six and tried to "ensure the quality." Since when the field sizes have shrivelled and it has rarely provided more than a match between two deep pocketed glory hunters. The only event missing from The Festival programme is a long distance handicap chase, but that is also the anchor of many courses' seasons and there are not enough horses to go around. Cheltenham dispensed with their four miler at The New Year meeting, in favour of a race that clashes with The Mandarin and either race only prospers when the other is abandoned. The Fred Winter drives betting turnover and bloodstock trading, but the suggestion that it is more relevant to the future of National Hunt racing than the former identity of this chase is absurd. The simpler and more attractive alternative would have been to revert to former conditions.