There's not much to like about the BHA's shake-up to the fixture list, but plenty to loathe. Chief among those is the so-called "premierisation" of racing on up to three Saturday meetings between 2 and 4pm. Other "lesser" meetings must start after or finish before those times. Typical BHA - they always consult with "stakeholders" but have as usual neglected to take in the views of stable staff in facilitating even earlier starts on racedays and even later finishes. Staff at smaller yards still have to get up to do their three or however many they look after, before loading horses onto the lorry and travel to the meeting. A seven-race early card will start at 11am if it is to finish by 2pm. It just makes racedays far longer even than they are now. And there will be evening meetings on Sundays. This will just add to the crisis in recruitment and retention of staff. But Harrington and Co on the BHA's commercial committee sit in their warm offices and shuffle bookmaker and punter friendly proposals without a thought for anyone out in the real world. The ship is sinking and it all comes down to bad navigation. It's time Captain Harrington was put over the side.

PS: My spellchecker dislikes the word premierisation as much as I do.

Pebbles

May 26

Replying to

The headline should have read, “BHA nod through latest bookmaker proposals”. I know we sometimes (justifiably) characterise the senior managers of large businesses and organisations as out of touch, money grabbing idiots but, in the case of the BHA it would be entirely justified.

A course will have to put on a hell of a card to get me there for a 11am start!

Dilton

May 26

Replying to

I really wish Harrington would get off her backside and spend a week working in a yard.

tangovictorindia

May 26

Replying to

Not to mention smashing to pieces the ingrained habits of many racegoers who like attending their local meetings in the afternoon, the places which are much more likely to foster future racegoers than a Grade 1 track full of folk there to tick a box. Madness by the BHA; it's like kidnapping your own children.

David

May 26

Autumn Festival is pretty sure to come to form soon, i'll nap that today is the day. Goodwood 15.35

Pebbles

May 26

Who better to turn to when in trouble than John Chard Vc in the 14.25 at Goodwood.

Harrytheactor

May 26

Replying to

Well, Thapa VC won on Wednesday, so maybe that's a good omen.

Pebbles

May 26

Replying to

Turned out to be a bad omen. I should have known as VC winners are rare!

GForce

May 26

As a Northerner I am kicking myself for getting wrapped up in Blue Point's offspring and overlooking the £s behind Karl Burke's horse. Should've known better. Stunning performance.

Nap Hay 1515 Gale Force Maya

who ran a decent first outing but the ground is in his favour now. £s seems to be for Cox's but I never seem to call his right.

jakebuckfast

May 26

Sisyphus Strength 3.00 Goodwood is the nap,well done yesterday Alan.

Harrytheactor

May 26

Replying to

The Height Of Fashion Stakes. I wonder if Haggas has targeted this race with Blue Missile for the King? Height Of Fashion was one of his mother's best horses and winning the race that commemorates that brilliant mare would earn the trainer a few brownie points.