Mistimed, misplaced and misinformed
Mike Deasy on crass questions and misinformed trainers
With no action to report, sports media is finding the lockdown somewhat challenging, and racing is no exception.
Some are rising to the challenge, not least The Guardian, which is maintaining its reputation of going where others fear to tread, such as the debate as to whether or not the Cheltenham Festival should have gone ahead, and Betfred being accused of backtracking on a pledge to honour outstanding customer balances in the failed online bookmaker MoPlay, whose customer list they purchased.
Less successful is Sun Racing judging by its decision the other day to run a poll via its Twitter account concerning the resumption of racing. It asked followers to vote on when they wanted racing to return:
- With no crowd, now
- When lockdown is lifted
- Only when crowds allowed
The result was nearly as disappointing as the question, and it was tempting to run a poll asking if it was:
- Crass
- Very Crass
- Crass beyond belief
In whose interest?
But there are other runners in the crassness stakes. Step forward a clique of trainers who thought now was the time to make known their displeasure that BHA chief executive, Nick Rust, was still at the helm of the sport’s governing body. Rust announced his resignation in January but sai that he’d be staying on for the remainder of the year whilst a successor is recruited.
The catalyst for their demand, which was leaked to the Sunday Telegraph, was the ongoing suspension of racing. In emails to the BHA’s chair, Annamarie Phelps, Ralph Beckett and Mark Johnston expressed the view that Rust was pandering to public opinion which they considered was not in the best interest of the sport.
Becket, who has claimed the support of other trainers including Andrew Balding and Richard Hannon, wrote: “It is clear that Nick is looking after his future in this instance, but his future is not ours.
“His view isn’t the view of the people who employ him, and it is my view that he should step aside. The widespread view is that the BHA is more concerned with public perception than its participants – this cannot continue.”
Johnston (pictured) wrote: “I can only assume that someone made a blunder in drafting the contract which allowed/required him to give one year’s notice and which is now allowing him to work it.
“The cost of that blunder may be significant in monetary terms but pales into insignificance against the damage that he is doing to British racing. Our confidence in the ability of the BHA to lead British racing through this crisis is being almost entirely undermined by one man with a personal agenda. If they don’t get rid of him, they will all fall on his sword.”
The BHA quickly slapped down the calls for Rust’s dismissal and pointed out that the strategy in place for racing’s return, when the time is right, had the full backing of its Board.
Quite what Beckett, Johnstone et al, expected to achieve is far from clear. The BHA were never going to respond to personal criticism by saying “fair point” and show Rust the door.
And there is little or nothing which can be done to bring about a speedy resumption of racing whilst thousands are still tragically losing their battle against Covid19.
The action of these trainers has been misplaced, mistimed and misinformed. They’ve done themselves no favours and haven’t done the sport any favours either.
It is foolish at best to be dismissive of public perception and unbelievably naïve to think that the BHA, with or without Rust, could do anything other than wait for Government removal of the lockdown regulations before racing can resume.
What the BHA has seemingly got in place is a plan to introduce racing, when circumstances allow, in a way which does not endanger human life and is flexible in its enactment. That’s about as much as they can do.
The action of these trainers has been misplaced, mistimed and misinformed. They’ve done themselves no favours and haven’t done the sport any favours either.
If anyone has a personal agenda, it appears to be the ones who emailed the BHA.
Racing proficiency
Having flagged his intention to leave the BHA, the process of finding Rust’s successor has begun and, if the betting is right, then en tête is the head of British Cycling, Julie Harrington, who has previously sat on the BHA board.
Harrington (pictured) has been CEO of British Cycling for three years having joined from the Football Association. Both sports have had their share of trials and tribulations so, if she is heading to Holborn, she is going to have to use all her cycling proficiency skills to try to unite the sport’s factions, some of whom are only concerned with their own interests.
Recent Of Course columns
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