Thursday June 9th 2022

@tangovictorindia The chief exec of the Jockey Club supported the proposal to cut 300 races. This is a far bigger issue than the idiotic Epsom fireworks, which won't be repeated next year. At least the JC can learn from its mistakes, unlike the BHA.

@Harrytheactor I cannot believe the board of directors at the Jockey Club did not know of (and therefore approved) the fireworks. You are right in saying the 300 race issue is much bigger but my point is that if a group of supposedly intelligent and responsible people get such a basic and surely glaringly obviously wrong call on a 'small' issue (talk about unforced errors), they have very little chance of getting the bigger ones right.

I've known and seen a number of cases in my own business life where you spot something that seems almost banal, but if you are reading between the lines it tells a huge story. I recall an example I read of a prominent business journalist interviewing the chairman of a large corporation (can't remember the name). The reporter noticed as he sat down to start the interview that the man was finishing opening his mail. One missive was paper-clipped and the chairman removed the paper clip and put it in his own paper clip holder. Journalist's immediate conclusion - this tiny move alone assured him the company was in great hands for shareholders.

@Dilton It doesn't matter how many lessons they learn or want to learn, their structure doesn't allow them to make the necessary changes unhindered. I see Bill Barber in the Post today has finally (and belatedly for him) drawn the same conclusion.

You've always blamed personalities at the BHA, which, in this case, is akin to blaming someone bound in chains and locked in a lead trunk for not escaping. Yes there was folly by Rust and Harrington et al, that folly was taking the job in the first place.