After talking to some owners and trainers all I'm hearing since owners have been allowed back is complaints. They understand that these are the steps that need to occur for getting back to normal but the situation is far from perfect.
To get racing you have to jump through numerous hoops. Including: at least one member of the party filling out the Coronavirus protocol; inform the racecourse and make sure all your details and the other person you attend with are on the list to be let in. These, however, are understandable.
Then when you get to the racecourse it is largely common sense social distancing and having your temperature taken. Yet you're only allowed to be there a minimum 45 minutes before and an hour after your race. Surely, with all the space on a racecourse which is more than adequate for social distancing, there could be a full day made of the races for the owners.
These people are the backbone of racing and aren't being treated correctly. As one Twitter user Kaz, said: "As an owner why would you want to go racing if you can’t access parade ring or winners enclosure? Might as well stay at home. Owners are funding the sport and this is how they’re treated."
Owners can't even properly debrief with the jockey and yet the BHA are scratching their head as to why more owners don't partake.
Furthermore, no facilities including bars and restaurants are open which are a quintessential part of racing. This can easily be done on any scale by allowing a table to be allocated to each owner with social distancing and having plenty of staff on hand. One owner Mrs Sarah Bryan said: " They have all your details and know how many people are doing but yet they can't let people stay for longer or open any of the facilities."
I think that the idea for Goodwood allowing the public in is ghastly. The owners who have been paying their bills, kept their horses in training and supporting stables from afar are simply being neglected. If this does not change I struggle to see anyone who will buy new horses or continue pumping money into the sport.
Until the BHA sort out a plan of action I can't see the point of going racing, for many owners, this isn't the atmosphere they expect. Gone are the nice days out and the memories from my childhood of screaming horse home and taking selfies with jockeys. This is slowly becoming less like the sport that so many love.
This is blog's about racing meeting's I go to and any horses or jockey performances that catch my eye.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
The Lincoln Meeting
As the start of the flat season looms ahead, we have a look into the history of the Lincoln meeting. The meeting initially started at Linc...
-
Phil Dennis, 20 year old apprentice in Michael Dods yard. (5 pound claim) Apprentice Jockey Phil Dennis has been involved with horses fro...
-
With racing back and behind closed doors this will give you an insight into which trainers in the UK I think are the best and why. Here’s th...
-
There were some amazing moments from Ascot this year. These are some of the most prominent in my opinion. Hollie Doyle her first Royal As...
No comments:
Post a Comment