No, Mr Bond, I expect you to ride

Anyone who knows me well will know that outside of work I have two major passions: horse racing and James Bond. The worlds don’t often collide, but in the run-up to last month’s Grand National, I asked the good people of Bond Twitter – a vibrant, argumentative and, above all, fun social media community – what Bond-themed name they would give to a racehorse.

Racing does crop up in Bond in 1985’s A View to a Kill, in which the utterly bonkers Max Zorin (Christopher Walken) owns and sells racehorses. Indeed some filming took place at Ascot and Chantilly: they did their homework well.

Naturally, the two horses mentioned in AVTAK – namely Pegasus and ‘the Ithacus colt’ – cropped up numerous times as name suggestions. Other more ‘serious’ ideas (names you might actually give a horse, I daresay), included Disco Volante (Largo’s boat in Thunderball) and Vesper Lynd (Casino Royale‘s femme fatale). Speaking of Bond girls and Twitter, the famous Fergal O’Brien account suggested Plenty O’Toole…

Beyond that, I suspect the suggestions may only make sense to Bond fans. Sadly, though not entirely unexpectedly, the Daniel Craig era didn’t turn up a single pithy suggestion – while Roger Moore’s turn as Bond produced a plethora of potential future runners. Here are some of the best, divided into era:

Sean Connery: Now Pay Attention; Positively Shocking; Pressing Engagement; Red Wine With Fish;

George Lazenby: The Other Fella;

Roger Moore: Attempting Re-entry; Butterhook; Call Billy Bob; Crocosub; Cucumber Sandwich; Double-Take Pigeon; Fancy That; Five Hours In Rio; Giftwrapped Lengthwise; Helpful Chap; Hover Gondola; I’ve Lost My Charm; Keeping The British End Up; Louisiana Sheriff; Monsieur Aubergine; Names Is For Tombstones; Property Of A Lady; Quite Revealing; Roger’s Oof; Same Time Tomorrow Mrs Bell; Sheer Magnetism; Some Kinda Doomsday Machine; Stainless Steel Delicatessen; Unloved Season; When In Egypt;

Timothy Dalton: Back End Of Horse; Just A Cello;

Pierce Brosnan: For Aintree James; Grow Up 007; I Am Invincible; Misogynist Dinosaur; That’s My Lunch; Xenia Oneightop.

Of course, Bond being Bond, we also had some slightly more risqué and, well, of-their-era suggestions. Horses you won’t be seeing on a racecard any time soon included Fetch My Shoes, Fill Her Up, Keep You In Curry, Man Talk, Slight Stiffness, Tart’s Handkerchief, That’s Not The Soap, and Very Sexiful. Moving swiftly on…

Huge thanks to the wonderful Bond online community for playing the game – and if you have any Bond-themed suggestions that didn’t come up, don’t hesitate to share them!

HorsePWR: Racing’s powerful answer to tough questions

Racing is at a watershed moment: recent years of bad press and protests have been threatening to drown out the good the sport does, however hard individuals may try to put out the message.

Until now.

The 2023 launch of Standing Up For Racing marked a turn in the tide of the industry challenging perceptions proactively rather than reactively, and the racing industry ‘fight back’ has now been cemented with the launch of HorsePWR, an online hub created by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Great British Racing (GBR) and the Horse Welfare Board (HWB).

HorsePWR is designed to provide the facts and, in its own words, “confront the tough questions head-on”. It sets out information about breeding, mid-career care and welfare, and life after racing – but crucially, it does not shy away from a discussion about risk in racing, including facts and figures around injury and fatalities.

“The scrutiny and protests around the 2023 Grand National made the industry acknowledge that it was not well-placed to handle the issues,” Robin Mounsey, BHA Head of Communications, tells First past the post. “We didn’t have the data and facts pulled together in a central place for people to learn about the sport, and we hadn’t done enough to proactively educate people about the welfare standards that that exist within racing.”

The BHA, GBR and HWB therefore began to work on a cross-industry answer to these problems, and the Jockey Club also got on board with funding the project. The campaign engaged over the year with industry bodies, owners, trainers, breeders and sports media.

“We embarked on that process with the view that the approach was bold and striking – and not everyone would agree with that,” Mounsey says. “But what we found was that we got universal buy-in. It showed that the sport both agreed with the campaign approach and saw the need for it. There is an absolute recognition that the sport’s social licence cannot be taken for granted anymore and that we have to educate people and tackle concerns head-on.”

The cross-industry realisation that this project is vital has been a key element of the first phase of the project: building the foundations of HorsePWR in time for a launch coinciding with the 2024 Grand National.

The launch this month, from advertisements and billboards at racecourses to a big media promotion, has gained a great deal of in-industry traction, as well as the international racing community picking up the message. There is no doubt that word will soon reach those who engage with racing, creating advocates within the sport and its fanbase.

Phase two will see the campaign target the wider audience: those people who may be ‘undecided’ about racing but put off by anti-racing campaigns. Mounsey explains: “We want to reach the people who could be persuaded to go racing if they were more engaged with it, or if their concerns around welfare and the barrier that represents to perception is broken down.”

As for those people who will always be set against racing, with no amount of information changing their minds, they are almost at the heart of HorsePWR. It is the information – or sometimes misinformation – put out in the public domain or absorbed by this group that the campaign seeks to address.

“We have always talked about how much we love and how well we care for these horses,” says Mounsey. “It’s right that we do. And it’s something we should be proud of. But that’s not where the battleground lies. What people are concerned about is what happens when horses fall and if they hurt themselves. What happens when they’re injured? What happens to horses who are bred for the sport but don’t make it? What happens when they finish their careers? Does the whip hurt? The campaign is about answering those questions honestly and factually. That’s why the data is at the front and centre of the website: to give openness and transparency about the sport.”

HorsePWR is taking a bold, different and, above all, honest approach to answering the tough questions and silencing the critics. And Mounsey is confident that it will continue to grow and evolve, seeking to fill gaps in existing data and adding new information as it goes: “We want to present a complete, honest picture of racing to as wide an audience as possible.”

Visit the HorsePWR website to find out more

Racing 2024: Dates for your diary

The racing year has been rounded off in true style. On Boxing Day, Il Est Francais tore up the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase and Constitution Hill romped home in the Christmas Hurdle by 11 and nine-and-a-half lengths respectively.

In the King George VI Chase, Shishkin was making up for lost time and storming ahead when he stumbled just after two out, unseating Nico De Boinville. Although past winner Bravemansgame and favourite Allaho made valiant efforts, the whole field was surprised by Hewick coming from last to first. The eight year-old Oaksey Chase winner crossed the line one-and-a-half lengths ahead of his rivals to claim one of racing’s biggest prizes.

The following day, Editeur Du Gite allowed Niall Houlihan to ride out his claim in style by winning the Desert Orchid Chase. Meanwhile in Chepstow, Nassalam absolutely crushed the opposition with an astounding 34-length victory in the Welsh Grand National.

So when are we tuning in for the big races of 2024? Here’s my annual run-down of dates for your diary:

January:

6 January: Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle, Sandown
13 January: Silviniaco Conti Steeple Chase, Kempton
20 January: Champion Hurdle Trial, Haydock; Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle, Haydock; Peter Marsh Handicap Chase, Haydock; Clarence House Chase, Ascot
27 January: Cotswold Chase, Cheltenham; Cleeve Hurdle, Cheltenham; Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, Cheltenham

February:

3 February: Irish Gold Cup, Leopardstown
4 February: Irish Champion Hurdle, Leopardstown
10 February: Denman Chase, Newbury; Exchange Chase, Newbury; Betfair Hurdle, Newbury
17 February: Ascot Steeple Chase, Ascot; Grand National Trial, Haydock; Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle, Haydock
24 February: Winter Derby, Southwell

March:

2 March: Greatwood Gold Cup, Newbury
9 March: Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle, Sandown
12 March: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Cheltenham; Arkle Challenge Trophy, Cheltenham; Festival Trophy Champion Chase, Cheltenham; National Hunt Chase, Cheltenham; Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham
13 March: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, Cheltenham; RSA Chase, Cheltenham; Coral Cup, Cheltenham; Queen Mother Champion Chase, Cheltenham; Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, Cheltenham
14 March: JLT Novices’ Chase, Cheltenham; Ryanair Chase, Cheltenham; Stayers Hurdle, Cheltenham
15 March: Triumph Hurdle, Cheltenham; County Hurdle, Cheltenham; Cheltenham Gold Cup, Cheltenham; Foxhunter Chase, Cheltenham
16 March: Midlands Grand National, Uttoxeter
31 March: Ryanair Gold Cup, Fairyhouse

April:

1 April: Irish Grand National, Fairyhouse
11 April: Betway Bowl, Aintree; Aintree Hurdle, Aintree; Manifesto Novices’ Chase, Aintree
12 April: Topham Steeple Chase, Aintree; Mildmay Novices’ Chase, Aintree; Melling Chase, Aintree; Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, Aintree
13 April: Grand National, Aintree
17 April: Ballymore Silver Trophy Chase, Cheltenham
20 April: Scottish Champion Hurdle, Ayr; Scottish Grand National, Ayr
27 April: Oaksey Chase, Sandown; Gold Cup Handicap Chase, Sandown; Celebration Chase, Sandown
30 April: Champion Chase, Punchestown

May:

1 May: Punchestown Gold Cup, Punchestown
2 May: Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle, Punchestown
3 May: Champion Hurdle, Punchestown; Jockey Club Stakes, Newmarket
4 May: Mares Champion Hurdle, Punchestown; 2,000 Guineas, Newmarket; Palace House Stakes, Newmarket
5 May: 1,000 Guineas, Newmarket; Dahlia Stakes, Newmarket
8 May: Cheshire Oaks, Chester; Chester Vase, Chester
9 May: Ormonde Stakes, Chester
10 May: Chester Cup, Chester
11 May: Lingfield Oaks Trial, Lingfield; Lingfield Derby Trial, Lingfield
15 May: Dante Stakes, York
16 May: Yorkshire Cup, York
17 May: Lockinge Stakes, Newbury
25 May: Irish 2,000 Guineas, Curragh
26 May: Irish 1,000 Guineas, Curragh
31 May: Epsom Oaks, Epsom; Coronation Cup, Epsom

June:

1 June: Epsom Derby, Epsom
18 June: St James’s Palace Stakes, Ascot; Queen Anne Stakes, Ascot; King’s Stand Stakes, Ascot
19 June: Prince of Wales’ Stakes, Ascot; Jersey Stakes, Ascot; Queen Mary Stakes, Ascot; Duke of Cambridge Stakes, Ascot
20 June: Ascot Gold Cup, Ascot; Hampton Court Stakes, Ascot
21 June: King Edward VII Stakes, Ascot; Coronation Stakes, Ascot; Commonwealth Cup, Ascot
22 June: Diamond Jubilee Stakes, Ascot; Hardwicke Stakes, Ascot
30 June: Irish Derby, Curragh

July:

6 July: Coral-Eclipse, Sandown; Lancashire Oaks, Haydock
13 July: Darley July Cup, Newmarket
14 July: Grand Prix de Paris, Longchamp
20 July: Irish Oaks, Curragh
27 July: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ascot
30 July: Goodwood Cup, Goodwood
31 July: Sussex Stakes, Goodwood

August:

1 August: Nassau Stakes, Goodwood
2 August: King George Stakes, Goodwood
3 August: Lillie Langtry Stakes, Goodwood
21 August: International Stakes, York
22 August: Yorkshire Oaks, York
23 August: Nunthorpe Stakes, York
24 August: Ebor Stakes, York

September:

7 September: Sprint Cup, Haydock; September Stakes, Kempton
14 September: Irish Champion Stakes, Leopardstown
13 September: Doncaster Cup, Doncaster
14 September: St Leger, Doncaster
21 September: Ayr Gold Cup, Ayr

October:

6 October: Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp
11 October: Sun Chariot Stakes, Newmarket; Fillies’ Mile, Newmarket
12 October: Darley Dewhust Stakes, Newmarket; Coral Sprint Trophy, York
19 October: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Ascot; Sprint Stakes, Ascot; Long Distance Cup, Ascot; Champion Stakes, Ascot; Fillies’ and Mares’ Stakes, Ascot

November:

2 November: Gold Cup Handicap Steeple Chase, Ascot; Charlie Hall Chase, Wetherby; Breeders Cup, Santa Anita
5 November: Melbourne Cup, Melbourne
9 November: Badger Beers Trophy, Wincanton; Elite Hurdle Race, Wincanton
15 November: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, Cheltenham
16 November: Gold Cup Steeple Chase, Cheltenham; Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle, Cheltenham
17 November: Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, Cheltenham; November Handicap Steeple Chase, Cheltenham
23 November: Coral Hurdle Race, Ascot; Betfair Steeple Chase, Haydock
30 November: Coral Gold Cup, Newbury; Fighting Fifth Hurdle, Newcastle

December:

7 December: Becher Handicap Steeple Chase, Aintree; Many Clouds Steeple Chase, Aintree; Tingle Creek, Sandown
14 December: Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, Cheltenham; International Hurdle, Cheltenham
21 December: Long Walk Hurdle, Ascot; Ascot Silver Cup, Ascot; Betfair Exchange Trophy, Ascot
26 December: Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, Kempton; Christmas Hurdle Race, Kempton; King George VI Steeple Chase, Kempton
27 December: Desert Orchid Steeple Chase, Kempton; Welsh Grand National, Chepstow

2023 has been a massive year for racing: Frodon retired and Frankie Dettori…didn’t; King Charles had his first Royal Ascot winner as monarch; and activists tried and failed to stop the runners, prompting the industry to hit back with everything that’s great about the sport. And personally, I got married. So, it was a pretty big year for us too.

Happy New Year, all: I wish everyone a healthy, happy 2024…filled with thrilling racing!

Ravenswell reset

In between the top-notch National Hunt racing weekends and the Christmas preparations, I promised myself (and a few others) that I’d find the time to sit down and write a quick post about our recent trip to Fergal O’Brien’s stables at Ravenswell Farm in Gloucestershire.

It’s not the first time I’ve been, but it was a first visit for my husband. Matthew has previously gone with me to visit Oliver Sherwood and ever since has been keen to do another stable visit. Shockingly, he had never done a day at the races (which seems a lax pre-marriage check on my part), so we decided to tie our visit in with the Cheltenham November Meeting.

O’Brien and his team always emphasise that the stable is open to welcome visitors: as well as owners, they welcome people who are struggling with mental or physical health and wish to spend some time around horses, families with young children, and people who want to learn more about racehorse care. In short, if you want to visit a racehorse, they’re your people. The only real pre-requisite to turning up is that you do so with an offering of cake for the team.

So having done a Friday night stop-off for cake in Waitrose (it’s really better manners to home-bake, but we were coming straight from work…), we crashed at a Premier Inn in Cheltenham to be ready to be up early to watch the horses ride out.

We managed to get up, ready and breakfasted in time to arrive between the first and second strings, getting to Ravenswell by around 7.30. This is still what we childless office workers would call ‘the crack of dawn’ for a Saturday morning, which feels very churlish given that the O’Brien team had been up for hours at that point in fairly grim autumnal weather.

The ever-ebullient trainer himself greeted us and had us make ourselves at home with tea and cake before we headed out to the gallops with various other visitors. Even on what was a fairly grey day, the sight of the horses schooling on the flat and then over the jumps was a deeply uplifting sight for the soul. It is fascinating to watch how the stable staff and trainer know every inch of each horse and can comment on performance, health and temperament from even the smallest alteration in gait.

Having watched the schooling, we were then free to roam the stables. The operation at Ravenswell is big but the atmosphere is of one big family. The stable staff, up from the early hours cleaning, mucking out, feeding, riding out…wash, rinse and repeat…, are cheerful, polite and welcoming, and their absolute adoration of the animals they look after shines through. Loiter by a ‘favourite’ of theirs and the anecdotes will flow: a clear sign of the fact that the horses are far more than a job to them.

It’s easy to see why: on the racecourse, these animals are powerful, magnificent athletes. Up close, however, they are inquisitive friends who love a chin scratch and who, given half a chance, will get their nose into your pockets to investigate if you might have a polo in there for them. It is impossible not to fall in love with each and every one (even when they’re nibbling your jacket).

This has been a long year – full of wonderful highs, but also with plenty of stresses and difficulties.

Over the past two months, I have found social media particularly hard. On Twitter, I took a stance on a subject that is very important to me but that is universally divisive, and though I did so with my eyes open, I still wasn’t mentally prepared for the comments and attacks.

Having got through that, I somehow ended up on the receiving end of vitriol from someone who disagreed with my opinions on James Bond (yes, really). Foolish as this undoubtedly sounds – and is – it resulted in three weeks of an obscure account bombarding me. At one point, in a three-day period, she tweeted about me nearly sixty times. While this behaviour is as laughable as it is toxic, it becomes exhausting and upsetting when conducted so obsessively and relentlessly.

Sometimes a step away from the toxicity of social media discourse is entirely necessary to preserve one’s sanity.

Being outside, being around animals and completely removing myself mentally from such stresses is my way of resetting. Closing the computer and visiting Fergal and the team was the personal restart I needed to power through to the end of the year.

We can’t thank them enough for the welcome they gave us, nor can we wait for our next visit. In the meantime, we’ll be following the magnificent O’Brien horses as they head to the racecourse…with a special place in our hearts for those four-legged friends we shared nuzzles with.

Life past the post

I’ve written previously about the life racehorses can have after their careers on the course draw to a close. But with the protests we have seen at some of the big meetings this year from so-called animal rights activists, there is no time like the present to examine how Thoroughbreds are cared for when they are no longer racing.

Following their annual trip to the York Ebor Festival, First past the post caught up with New Beginnings, a charity and one of Retraining of Racehorses’ ten accredited centres in the country. New Beginnings retrains and rehomes former racehorses, and is now in its thirteenth year of operation. Starting out in 2010 with only a few acres and a handful of horses, the charity now rents a yard with over 40 acres to house the 32 horses currently in its care.

Director and Trustee Pam Atkinson makes it clear that New Beginnings refers to these horses as former racehorses because they’re not retired, old or broken. “For whatever reason, they’ve just finished their first jobs as racehorses and they’re ready to retrain with us for a new career,” she tells First past the post. “Everything New Beginnings does is for the welfare of the horses that come through our gates and the promotion of their life after racing. There are three elements to racehorses’ lives: breeding, training and life after racing. All three elements are as important as each other and should all have the same respect in the industry.”

There is no one path that the New Beginnings horses follow – the team establishes what they have a flair for and what they enjoy. Fundamentally, they are retrained as riding horses, but many branch into hacking, jumping, eventing and dressage. A few are happy as ‘companion’ horses. They also have ‘Ambassador Horses’, who are primarily involved in community work: those, for example, that have just been at York, and also those working with care homes, hospices, hospitals and schools.

“Some horses have limitations if they’ve had a physical injury or a trauma, so we always work within the horses’ individual abilities,” says Atkinson. She emphasises that New Beginnings isn’t a sanctuary: the end goal is always to rehome, however long that may take. The horses aren’t sold but put out on ‘long-term loan’ – which could be until the end of their natural life, but also precludes them being rehomed and then further sold and passed on. It also means that New Beginnings provides a safety net in the case that an owner’s financial or health circumstances change: the horse can always return to the charity.

“We invest a lot of time, effort and money in rehoming these horses: it’s really important that they can come back to us if they need to and they remain under our care,” Atkinson explains. “We know where they are homed at all times, stay in touch with the ‘loaners’ and do an annual home visit. And we have a relationship with all the loaners, so they can ring us at any time if they need to ask something or get support. We’re a big family.”

The wider racing family, too embraces the charity. New Beginnings’ public-facing work puts out a hugely positive message about racehorse welfare and life past the post. Atkinson notes that New Beginnings has cultivated a good reputation in the industry for being supportive, positive and realistic about racing and life after racing. “We are now quite respected in the industry for what we achieve,” she says. “Unfortunately there are people out there who are critical of racing without knowing all the facts, so we do our best to educate them and get the message across that everything we do is for the welfare and best interest of Thoroughbreds.”

The racing industry embracing New Beginnings’ work doesn’t pay the bills, however. New Beginnings is a registered charity but there’s no specific funding to help with the core costs: it can apply for funding for certain projects, but the day-to-day costs – wages, rent, vet and farrier bills, feed and general supplies – have to be raised independently.

“The regular monthly donations we receive are our life-blood and when at race meetings we try to encourage as many people as possible to become a Friend of New Beginnings,” Atkinson explains. “It’s getting harder for everyone: costs are soaring but people in a cost-of-living crisis have less money to give to charity each month. We hugely appreciate all the support we get, however large or small.”

Atkinson remains positive, however, and unfailingly enthusiastic about the cause: “It’s taken years to build our brand and reputation, but people are starting to recognise us and understand the work we do. It’s all about the love of the horse and their ongoing welfare.”

You can find contact and social media details for New Beginnings here and donate here

Standing up for racing

As the summer of sport creeps onwards, protestors have been a constant presence across all major events, from Animal Rising at the Grand National and the Derby to Just Stop Oil at the Ashes and Wimbledon.

The high-profile nature of the sporting events chosen has led to some of the protestors’ views being platformed on media channels – often without another side invited to join the debate.

More dangerous than espousing unchallenged views on the news, however, is the misinformation put out on social media. In recent months, incorrect information has been tweeted and retweeted into an echo chamber of followers who accept that the people leading the movement are presenting factually accurate criticisms.

At one end of the scale, it’s been almost comical; for example, confusing two horses to claim an elderly pony in a sanctuary was a ‘rescued racehorse’. At the other, it’s concerningly cynical: Animal Rising accused the Jockey Club and Epsom Racecourse of knowing a protestor was on the course and still dangerously allowing the Derby to begin – completely rewriting the narrative of what actually occurred. In fact, the protestor running on to the course after the race had started was captured in Animal Rising’s own gleefully tweeted video, the Epsom big screen clearly showing the race in-running behind the protestor as he made a move onto the track.

Although it can be comical to point out the movement’s ‘mistakes’, it should also be disturbing to all involved in horse racing: the example of the social media in the wake of the Derby disruption points to a willingness to twist a story to nearly thirty thousand followers (on Twitter alone) to suit the movement’s narrative about the racing industry.

The industry itself has a history of being disjointed in its responses to these things – but the increasing voice given to protestors in the media has galvanised action. Sally Ann Grassick, Kevin Blake, Caoimhe Doherty and Cathy Grassick, frustrated by the lack of an official independent spokesperson or body in place as a ‘go-to’ media contact to dispel myths and present the facts, have created Stand Up For Racing. The organisation does what it says on the tin – stands up for and protects the sport in the media and online.

“We believe everyone has a right to peaceful protest and have no issue with Animal Rising doing so outside racecourses”, Sally Ann Grassick tells First past the post. “We will never persuade everyone to think the way we think and it is their right to protest. But the problems arise when they start to disrupt a race day by going onto the track, putting the lives of the animals, trainers, stable staff, security staff and more at risk. Anything that puts horses and the people surrounding them in danger or increases the tension on them is to be avoided.”

Stand Up For Racing is aiming to create a cross-industry united front, working with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and creating a Europe-wide website to answer a lot of questions the general public has about the sport. It will also work to correct some of the misinformation being spread, making available downloadable graphics that the public can use on social media to rectify misconceptions and falsehoods.

“We want to make our sport as open and transparent as possible”, explains Grassick. “There will be plenty of content on the website from people across the sport to explain the things that the public might have questions about. Meanwhile, the BHA has been creating days for the non-racing media to come to racing yards, stud farms and race meetings. The behind-the-scenes elements of racing need to be open to people. There is no excuse for the media not to have a balanced debate when we keep those lines of communication open.”

She emphasises that racing is constantly changing and improving to make the sport safer for the horses and the people involved – and that there is commitment to self-evaluation and evolution, especially as the industry tries to attract a younger audience.

At the same time, however, she notes that Animal Rising has no clear view for the future in their ‘ideal’ world, unable to answer what should be done with thoroughbred horses if racing is stopped and how the logistics of their end goal of releasing domesticated animals into the wild could possibly work sustainably. “The concept of creating a vegan world through rewilding 70% of agricultural land has no practicality behind it”, Grassick explains. “The movement cannot actually answer how they would rewild the land and also have enough tillage to feed a nation on a plant-based diet. Right now, they are simply piggybacking on the national media coverage that racing receives.”

A united voice is vital to penetrate this smokescreen and be meaningfully involved in the dialogue. Thankfully, the racing industry has united swiftly and positively behind Stand Up For Racing.

“Everyone in the industry is putting forward their ambassadors and working very closely with us”, says Grassick. “It’s been unbelievable – we’ve had reaction from trainers, jockeys, breeders, vets, racing journalists and content creators – people across the industry want to be involved. The BHA has the resources help us do this and drive the united but independent voice of Stand Up For Racing. The reaction from the industry has blown us away.”

Stand Up For Racing now hopes to have the website fully functional and usable by the start of 2024. For now, the voices of four people are bringing increasing numbers of people together and getting ever stronger in a clear, factual and independent defence of the sport.

Follow Stand Up For Racing on Twitter

Grand National(s) 2023: Disruption and drama

What can one say: it wasn’t exactly the race we wanted to see, nor indeed the race the industry needed at a time of great scrutiny. It would be fair to say, sadly, that the 2023 Grand National day may be one of those remembered in the public consciousness more for the surrounding events than the race itself.

I’ve held off writing about it in order to get my thoughts in order, as last week I was fairly furious about the actions of Animal Rising, an activist movement dedicated to disruptive events in the name of animal rights. Despite being formed in 2019, they seem only now to be acting – and as with so many similar groups, the shouting has been localised to the biggest event in the horse racing calendar. Naturally, it makes sense to make more of a scene at an event where the publicity will be the greatest, but the last time I checked there are nearly 1,500 horse racing fixtures in Britain this year. Animal Rising is yet to show up at Bangor-on-Dee on a rainy Thursday afternoon, as far as I am aware.

Conversely, the stable staff, trainers and owners of racehorses provide the animals with unconditional love, top-notch care and complete respect, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Last Saturday, as over one hundred activists created havoc outside Aintree and nine got onto the Grand National course itself, the people working with the horses had one concern: the safety and mental wellbeing of the animals.

Racehorses are high-performing athletes. As they were saddled up and led into the parade ring, they would have been well aware that they were about to race. The 14-minute delay to the race left them unsettled and out of their routine, which could not have been more evident in the start – three attempts to get lined up, followed by a complete rush at the first fence, where five horses fell or unseated their rider.

Devastatingly for all connections, the fall proved fatal for Hill Sixteen. Trainer Sandy Thomson has not minced his words about where he lays the blame. Noting that Hill Sixteen had not fallen once in four years, Thomson cited the “chaos” the protestors had caused and said that the horses were getting “worked up and hyper” as they were forced to skip the parade that would have given them essential time to acclimatise to the crowd and noise. He told the BBC “there’s no doubt in my mind that the chaos contributed to [Hill Sixteen’s] death”.

These strong and heartfelt words, spoken by an expert, weren’t enough. Only a week later, Animal Rising attempted exactly the same stunt at Ayr’s Scottish Grand National, albeit with even less success at preventing the race. It followed a week of rambling interviews, where the group’s spokespeople have failed to set out what precisely their plans are for the many thousands of racehorses in the UK should racing be banned, and during which they have repeatedly cited spurious ‘facts’ and ‘statistics’.

The Scottish Grand National stunt in particular surely shows that the group is not prepared to enter into any meaningful dialogue with the industry or engage with education on a sport about which they remain woefully ignorant.

Despite the activists’ reticence towards listening (and, indeed, facts), the world of horse racing remains committed to evolving to survive. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has stated that it will be working with Aintree to analyse the Grand National in detail in order to understand what caused the death of Hill Sixteen. The industry, as ever, has already started debating whether further changes to the Grand National could make the race as safe as is possible. From fences to runners, the conversation remains open to ensure that horse welfare is the priority.

Above all, let us not take away from the performances those wonderful animals gave us last week and yesterday. Corach Rambler’s Grand National victory, only weeks after his second consecutive Cheltenham Festival win, was a huge thrill for trainer Lucinda Russell and all Scottish racing fans. It was the culmination of a brilliant racing festival that also saw Shishkin and Constitution Hill triumph in the Aintree Bowl and Aintree Hurdle respectively.

And the Scottish Grand National was hugely emotional, as seven year-old Kitty’s Light won for trainer Christian Williams. Williams’ five-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed with leukaemia, and he said after the race that it would greatly cheer the family and be a huge tonic to his children.

It’s a reminder that, to those involved in racing, horses are really part of the family: loved, valued and extremely important. After last weekend, many trainers have said their yards are open to showcase exactly that to anyone who may have their doubts about welfare in the horse racing industry. It remains to be seen if any of the activists are truly engaged enough with animal welfare to halt the stunts and take the yards up on those offers.

Question time

Another month, another series of horse racing controversies. In an industry asking questions about how to keep existing fans onside and attract a new generation, with its flagship event coming up in a matter of weeks, it is unfortunate to say the least.

At the end of January, Ronan McNally was given a 12-year ban and fined by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board for breaching integrity rules and hiding his ownership of two horses. Only days later, paragon of racing virtue Gordon Elliott was fined over a positive drugs test for Zanahiyr at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.

Meanwhile the entries for the 2023 Grand National have become a further bone of contention, with only of 31 of the current entries as they stand being British-trained horses. Former jockey-turned-pundit Ruby Walsh expressed his shock at the lack of British horses, but Tom Scudamore, who himself retired on 16 February, told ITV that such trends go in peaks and troughs and cannot be read into to a significant degree.

Most concerningly, British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Grand National handicapper Martin Greenwood commented publicly that “it’s a continuation of the demise of the British National Hunt scene and it’s part of a general picture”. Trainer Dan Skelton hit out at the remark, calling it “offensive” and “unhelpful”, especially considering Greenwood’s position as an official of British racing.

Skelton added that the industry should focus on the positives of the sport, rather than using words like ‘demise’. This is particularly prescient in the context of the ongoing debate raging around the impact of the BHA’s changes to whip rules. it seems the industry is divided on the impact of the rule changes, both in terms of racing itself and in terms of public perception. Willie Mullins echoed Skelton’s views, saying that the very public discussion of the whip rules in the run-up to Cheltenham is quite simply the industry shooting itself in the foot.

Especially as concerns the people who have no interest in the sport – and even more so those who think it is cruel – it seems unlikely that adapting the physical nature of the whip or the rules around usage will have a truly significant impact on opinions. On ITV Racing’s Opening Show on 18 February, Luke Harvey pointed out that refining rules can be of vital importance but that much of what needs to happen is changing perceptions of the sport through education.

On the same show, commentator Richard Hoiles spoke with a passion that many wish those in the higher echelons of the sport would emulate. “We should be proud of our sport, not trying to airbrush out the bits that don’t suit – and if we can’t acknowledge where we are, how are we going to move forward to where we want to be?” he asked. “We need to educate, but at the moment we’re in denial. We are living in our own little worlds, pretending everything is fine when it’s not, and if we’re not careful we’re going to get swamped from all angles and lose the sport we love.”

Hoiles is a passionate advocate of the sort that the sport desperately needs in the public eye, rather than corporate spokespeople or social media personalities drafted in to appeal to the younger audience. “The industry must give those that love the horse the opportunity to explain to those that have never come across a horse in their lives why racing is not cruel and why it is a great pastime”, he said.

As the new rules bed in, the debate about what racing could and should be doing will likely rumble on. For the sustainability of the sport, new generations of fans must be encouraged – but the industry should also take care not to alienate the current fans who give it life.

As we approach Cheltenham in only a fortnight’s time, let’s hope that the key focus will be on the stories that remind us all why we love the sport: the glorious animals performing at their peak.

Racing home

Representation of women in horse racing has never been better. The past three years have seen female jockeys win the King George VI Chase (Bryony Frost, 2020), the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Rachael Blackmore, 2021 and 2022 respectively). In 2021, Blackmore was named both RTÉ Sports Person of the Year and BBC World Sport Star of the Year.

Indeed, women are now well-represented across the board in racing – a sport that is comparatively leaps and bounds ahead of others in terms of gender equality, as well as in other areas of diversity and inclusion. Is there any real need, then, for further conversation about supporting women in racing? The answer, of course, is that there is always work that can be done.

Women in Racing, formed over a decade ago, originated from a position of improving female representation in the sport. The group includes among its missions creating a culture that encourages appointment of senior women at the highest levels in racing and involving women in industry boards, committees, steering groups and working parties in the industry. Indeed in 2017 it launched the research study Women’s Representation and Diversity in the Horseracing Industry, which led to the formation of the Diversity in Racing Steering Group.

More recently, however, the group has branched out from inclusion initiatives to focus on supporting professional development, sharing knowledge and creating career opportunities for women in racing.

“We have recently launched the Racing Home programme, which supports working parents in the industry,” Lucy Gurney, Chair of Women in Racing, tells First past the post. “The project’s core objective is the improvement of the working lives of parents and carers in the horseracing industry. It seeks to ensure that all employees have an understanding of their basic rights and entitlements and can talk openly about the challenges they experience as a working parent or person with caring responsibilities. Rather than motherhood being a taboo subject, their needs can be embraced inclusively by racing’s employers, who will see the benefits of investing in the quality of life of parents in terms of retention, a more motivated workforce and overall sustainability.”

It is vital, Gurney notes, that the industry looks at how it attracts and retains staff members across all roles. Racing Home will support this through signposting and highlighting good working practices around parenthood and caring, transforming the accessibility of the sport and making it a more attractive industry for younger generations.

The programme has been built around research conducted with participants from across the industry, resulting in the 2022 report Racing Home, Working Mothers in the Horseracing Industry. Funding from the Racing Foundation and Kindred Group has enabled Women in Racing, supported by Simply Racing, to implement the practical and educational recommendations from this report, including essential work to develop and digitise a Racing Home portal that allows online industry access to racing-specific and general material around motherhood.

Gurney explains that the project is constantly evolving. “Education modules are being developed for racing schools, academies and industry courses so that the generations entering the sport can be informed and engage in discussions positively with their peers and colleagues” she says. “Good practice videos and podcasts are being rolled out that focus on the challenges and start the conversation, helping remove any feelings of isolation. These materials are educative and forward-looking.”

Racing Home also goes further than simply providing education: women returning from childbirth are being encouraged to join a pilot rehabilitation and return-to-riding programme with physiotherapists at Injured Jockey Fund centres, focusing on the physical and mental aspects of helping them get back on a horse. Further, topics like menopause and IVF are also being brought out into open discussion, and making people feel included and listened to. Salisbury Racecourse is hosting ‘Walk and Talks’ focusing on menopause and Women in Racing plans to organise coffee mornings and webinars where people can share their experiences.

Gurney is hugely positive about the progress of the programme so far, as well as the future of the initiative: “Racing Home is for all parents, working anywhere in the sport, and it is already making a difference in the six months since its official launch. There have been so many successes and so much positive feedback and industry engagement already – Women in Racing is proud of what Racing Home has achieved so far, and excited for what is to come.”

A message from Racing Home: please complete the work-life balance and caring survey

This survey will identify priorities for the industry and should take five minutes to complete. Please complete this survey regardless of your parental or caring responsibilities: all information is important to shape the future of Racing Home.

Horse racing is a diverse sport attracting individuals from different backgrounds, skillsets and talents. As such it is important for us to collect information on the needs of the workforce to understand how they can best be supported.

We are interested in what can be done to help with work-life balance and family life, not least because many roles in the industry involve long hours, travel and/or hard physical work.

Findings will be presented anonymously and published in a report that will be made available via www.racinghome.org.uk.

Complete the survey

With thanks to Simply Racing, the Racing Foundation and Kindred Group for their vital ongoing support of the Racing Home programme.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: Racing’s greatest champion

“Oh, that’s racing”: the wry comment of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother when her horse Devon Loch, speeding to the finishing post in the 1956 Grand National, fell over absolutely nothing and was overtaken by E.S.B..

The Queen Mother passed both her down-to-earth humour and her unerring love of horse racing to her daughter, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who we lost yesterday, Thursday 8 September 2022, at the age of 96.

The Queen had an enduring relationship with horses throughout her life: she owned her first pony at four, was riding by six and was still out and about on her horses as recently as June 2022. It is only necessary to look at pictures of her at any stables to see the pure joy horses brought her, and the keen interest she took in their breeding, training and wellbeing.

With the exception of the Derby, Her Majesty had winners in all the British Classics and was British flat racing Champion Owner in both 1954 and 1957. On the racecourse, she was not the Queen but a fan like any other; although she might have arrived at Royal Ascot in a carriage, she was always glowing with the anticipation of the day’s racing ahead. The now-famous clip of her cheering her filly Estimate to victory in the 2013 Ascot Gold Cup speaks for itself: relaxed, delighted and completely absorbed in the race playing out in front of her.

Her love of the sport, as well as her unwillingness to miss some of the major calendar fixtures, have allowed racing fans to see her quite simply as “one of us”. Her constant dedication to horse racing and championing of it has surely grown the audience over many generations.

As we reflect on the huge service Her Majesty gave to the UK and Commonwealth we can, without hyperbole, say that she was one of the greatest ambassadors horse racing will likely ever see, a figurehead and a champion. On the racecourse, as to so many people the world around, Queen Elizabeth II will be sadly missed and her memory will be cherished.