That time in midsummer when so many major events have been and gone. And live sport is harder to find after a deluge of high profile contests thrown on top of each other…
Wimbledon, The Open, Test Matches, a football World Cup etc etc…
And then not much for a week or three apart from a silly cricket tournament called The Hundred..
A bit of a “lull” in the racing world as well. Between Festivals…
The Shergar Cup tomorrow. Innovative and fun and funny. A great opportunity for some global jockey superstars to showcase their talents. A well attended day filled with “once a year” racegoers. Let’s persuade them that “once a year” ain’t enough…
The luck of the draw as to who ends up on your horse, and there will be trainers busily googling replays from far flung outposts…
The issue with “far flung” can sometimes be the disparity in rules across jurisdictions, especially when it comes to use of the whip. I know that my namesake George Baker is very involved in ensuring that all who are riding are fully briefed, but “fully briefed” can fly out of the mind in the heat of Ascot battle…
It is entirely up to Ascot how they spend their money. But at Sandown last night in conversation with a couple of well respected trainers (2 out of 3 is not bad…), the chat turned to the £25,000 on offer to the leading Shergar Cup stable. To be shared, I assume, amongst stable staff…
Pretty obvious where this pot will head – and certainly not to a smaller yard…
How about having a draw before every race instead ? £2000 random draw to be won by the lucky stable lad or lass whose name comes out of the hat for each race ? Or simply allocate to the “Best Turned Out” winner. Spread the largesse ?
As I say, entirely up to Ascot how they spend their money – but that £25,000 is destined to be won by one from a pretty small pool…
“Passing through”…
Sad to hear of the death of Glen Hansard…
Passing through. Is what we are all doing. So better get on and make the most of it…
No regrets….
