A league table showing which trainers are most likely to have non-runners will be published by the sport’s ruling body in October and updated regularly as part of a determined push to reduce withdrawal numbers. The news was welcomed by bodies representing punters and jockeys and met with a more guarded welcome from the National Trainers Federation, which has managed to water down some of the proposals in consultation with the British Horseracing Authority.
But the league table, which will leave no doubt as to which trainers have the highest ratio of non-runners to entrants, meets with the NTF’s approval, even though a small number of its members could be embarrassed by the outcome and will be at risk of losing their right to self-certify that a horse is lame or otherwise unfit to run. “It fits with the policy we have had over non-runners,” said Rupert Arnold, the NTF chief executive. “We’ve always favoured a targeted approach, rather than changes to the rules that would affect everybody.
“I know this will be of concern to trainers but I think, in reality, this will make people think about it a bit more and it’s bound to exert a downward pressure on the number of non-runners. In the end, it will only have an effect on people whose non-runner rate is out of kilter with others. We’re reasonably comfortable that this is the right way to tackle the issue.”
Arnold reported “quite a lot of unhappiness” about the original proposals, which included restrictions on a trainer’s ability to withdraw horses when the ground had changed and also called for a six-day period, after use of a vet’s certificate, in which the horse would not be allowed to run. But the BHA was prepared to give up some ground during consultation.
“I think it’s fair to say there are trainers who abuse the system, who duck and dive,” said the trainer Hugo Palmer, who sits on the NTF council. “We’re all trying to the pick the best race for our horses but the vast majority of trainers do abide by the rules and the spirit of the rules.
“I think what the BHA has produced will be an effective check on the minority of trainers who are taking the mickey.” Palmer noted that current BHA officials had built up a lot of goodwill in the industry through prize money increases and a new levy on bookmaker profits, which had oiled the wheels of these negotiations.
Jockeys famously loathe arriving at the races to learn that their only ride has been taken out, so it was no surprise that the Professional Jockeys Association had long been lobbying for such reforms. However, a PJA statement called for even tighter restrictions on ground-related withdrawals, “especially when there is either no advertised going change or a marginal one. These numerous instances are frustrating for participants and the betting public when the horse subsequently runs next time under the exact same going description.”
The Horserace Bettors Forum said it was pleased to see action on a subject it had raised with the BHA soon after being formed two years ago. It added: “HBF will not hesitate to press for tougher measures if these initiatives fall short of having the desired effect of making British horse racing more appealing to the betting public.”
The BHA proposals, approved at a board meeting last month, will start to be implemented in October. Once all the measures are active, trainers whose non-runner rate is more than 50% above the average will automatically lose their right to self-certify for the following 12 months, provided they have had 100 declarations during the period. Lower-profile offenders will have their situation reviewed by the BHA.
Non-runners who rely on a vet’s certificate will be prevented from running for two days. Stewards will hold an inquiry if a horse is to run on the same kind of ground that had caused it to be a ground-related withdrawal in the previous month. BHA officials will seek to ensure that racecourses are doing their bit by monitoring tracks that make a habit of late changes to going descriptions or suffer from many late ground-related withdrawals.
Thursday’s tips by Chris Cook
Fontwell
1.30 Raleagh Mountain 2.00 Firmount Gent 2.30 Little Windmill 3.00 Jack Snipe 3.30 Psychedelic Rock 4.00 Black Corton 4.30 Chic Theatre
Salisbury
1.50 Autumn Leaves 2.20 Spiritual Star 2.50 Fair Selene 3.20 Killay 3.50 Jive Talking 4.20 Hathal 4.50 Chicago Star 5.25 Pow Wow
Beverley
2.10 Elnadim Star 2.40 Gold Stone 3.10 Mr Carbonator 3.40 Chauvelin 4.10 Roaring Rory 4.40 Attention Seeker (nap) 5.10 Pantera Negra 5.40 Bigbadboy (nb)
Yarmouth
4.55 Tanseeq 5.30 Tyrsal 6.00 Lord Reason 6.30 Flying Fantasy 7.00 Slow To Hand 7.30 Cat Silver 8.00 Justice Rock
Chepstow
5.15 Shepherd Market 5.45 Native Prospect 6.15 Spin Point 6.45 Sir Pass I Am 7.15 Zavikon 7.45 Glacier Point 8.15 Pastfact
