Even in these difficult financial times, racing is keenly aware of the need to cash in on soaring interest in jump racing after two weekends of high emotion provided by Kauto Star and Denman. Sandown Park has responsibility for maintaining the momentum and the Esher track is already posting some startling results.
David Mackinnon, the managing director, reports that public sales for the two-day Tingle Creek meeting, which starts tomorrow, are 21 per cent ahead of last year’s figure, which was itself the best for four years. Still more notable are the sales of hospitality, up 20 per cent on 2008.
Such increases mirror the story of Sandown’s year and reflect their success in targeting diverse audiences. The younger crowd have begun to embrace Sandown and can only be encouraged by the initiative of free admission for under-18s, rather than the customary under-16s.
Christmas is the theme this weekend and no expense has been spared. Not just your standard mince pies and carol singers but free sleigh rides from Esher station and a life-sized animatronic polar bear in the Esher Hall. Just hope they are prepared for terrified toddlers.
Sandown has also listened to the urgings of these columns and the winners of its biggest races should now be accessible to far more people, with the paddock being used as a winner’s enclosure. “We’re likely to trial it at our jumps finale day in April,” Mackinnon told Diary.
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Having presided over four days of evidence and argument in Dean McKeown’s appeal against a four-year racing ban, Mr Justice Stadlen left the High Court clutching the videos of relevant races, on loan from the British Horseracing Authority. If the BHA was a library it might now be applying a fine.
A verdict was originally anticipated inside a month but it is more than six weeks since the hearing concluded and there is no hint of news. Time may not be McKeown’s pressing concern - a year has passed since the ban was imposed - but the courts are due to begin their Christmas recess next week, so judgment could be delayed until the new year. Perhaps the judge is just enjoying the racing?
The BHA has taken an unusual step in naming 45 racecourses that have joined the admirable Tickets For Troops initiative, offering free admission at many meetings to members of the Armed Services. Could it be an attempt to embarrass the 15 who have so far resisted?
Irony drips from the prospect of a first Australian-based runner at the Cheltenham Festival. Gorge, a hurdler from the yard of Anthony Cosgriff, is being aimed at the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and, having obtained sponsorship from totesport, could be shipped early for a prep run at Kelso. Gorge, though, is trained in the state of Victoria, which has just banned jump racing from the end of 2010. With no opportunities remaining at home, he is an obvious target for British owners.
Irish racing commands envy and admiration for the dextrous way it reschedules abandoned meetings, such as the Fairyhouse card run yesterday. It is at risk of ridicule, however, for its disciplinary system. If it was not confusing enough that Paul Carberry can ride in Britain on certain days during his extensive suspension for a second failed breath test, the laxity has been compounded by him being deemed free to take part in such rearranged Irish fixtures, if no meeting originally existed that day. Surely, given the nature of the offence, it would have made more sense to select a period for the punishment and exclude him from all racing?
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John Maxse has been globetrotting since giving up his day-job as the Jockey Club’s director of communications. Now, while headhunters seek a potential successor, Maxse is about to re-emerge in racing with the Pitch public relations company, responsible for the Weetabix advert with the heroic fallen jockey.