THE Grand National survives on memories.
Its future depends on either how long the public are conned into believing it’s something it’s not – or innovative marketing.
GettyI Am Maximus ploughed through a load of his fences in the National but still ran out an easy winner at Aintree[/caption]
I’ll get back to the latter in a moment but, if it happens, it will be something new for British racing.
My Saturday NAP
MY SILVER LINING (3.35 Ayr)
Emma Lavelle’s chaser is going under the radar. She’s as tough as they come and will be hard to keep out of the places so back her each-way.
I’ve deliberately waited a week to comment on last Saturday’s Aintree contest — although I was delighted this column managed to find you the winner.
It’s been fascinating reading the views from all quarters.
Innovation is a term racing and its leaders struggle to understand.
What has been the magnificent new idea that has been a roaring success in the Sport Of Kings over the last 20 or 30 years?
Nope, I can’t think of anything either.
Only the other day, those in power tried to fool you all that their new HorsePWR welfare campaign — the website is excellent by the way — was racing on the “front foot”.
Various podcasts told you it was wonderful and racing people tweeted almost identical messages on X.
The reality, though, is that HorsePWR was a direct result of Animal Rising’s blast at the sport this time last year and the industry being totally unprepared to counter with facts and figures.
It is not a case of racing’s rulers being proactive. It is, at best, reactive. It should have been in place years ago.
Jockey Club chief executive Nevin Truesdale said: “It’s fantastic that we’re getting on the front foot with this and being positive.”
You could not make it up.
Again, who do they think they are kidding?
Let’s just think about this in basic terms.
Racing people tweet horse welfare is great and, as a result, the BHA congratulate themselves.
Chief executive Julie Harrington gloated: “The response to our HorsePWR campaign is unprecedented for racing.
“For the industry to rally behind this cause with such full-throated support is immensely heartening.”
This would be the equivalent of boxing authorities saying they are going to promote safer fights — and those with their gloves on in the ring being praised for saying it’s a fabulous way to go.
Honestly. They must think we are all thick.
Back to the National.
The reason it became a horse race watched by so many who had a little interest in the sport was because it was unique.
A huge field, extraordinary fences, brave horses and fearless riders were what captivated a nation and beyond.
And, added to all that, came the incredible feeling the public got from finding the winner.
Now we all know times change and adjustments will always be needed — the sport must do all it can to make sure horses come back safe and sound.
But the Aintree Grand National is now no different to today’s Scottish National. In fact it is now even less of a test than we will witness at Ayr this afternoon.
The message BHA should be getting across over the Grand National is the same as the drum it should be beating over the sport as a whole.
There are NO thoroughbreds without horse racing. There are NO jumps horses without National Hunt racing.
In order for the species to exist, a tiny percentage will lose the life — just like any animal does in the wild — they would never have otherwise had and those most saddened by that fact will be the giant racing workforce of true horse lovers.
Racing is an industry that employs thousands, provides millions of pounds for Government and much enjoyment for many people.
The pros so outweigh the cons that the debate on whether there should be horse racing is an incredibly simple one to win.
But ‘con’ is the key word.
Why do we watch Red Rum and marvel in his incredible triumphs at Aintree before the modern-day National?
What he did then bears no resemblance to the race now.
Added to which, if the key to the future of jumps racing is making fences smaller and easy, surely what Aintree has done is put huge pressure on all normal jumps tracks to do the same.
Despite what some jockeys have said, one rider in last Saturday’s race told me: “I don’t think it’s a test any more.
“Luck in running is probably the only test — but you don’t even need as much of that to win now. It’s just another race.”
There are many more who agree with that, whether they say it publicly or not.
I’m delighted all the horses came back safe and sound from the 2024 Grand National.
In the future they won’t.
Horses have accidents — whether it is during a Flat race or over jumps or on the gallops in training.
I now live in fear of how the powers-that-be will justify that, and, even more terrified of how they will react.
Quite simply a running-scared BHA has backed us all into a corner we can no longer escape.
Never has racing been so in need of strong leaders.
But we have the opposite.
They are so weak they are not even willing to debate the issues.
And while that is the case, all those of us who love horse racing can do is hope the public remain conned.
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