Glorious and the right way around

I popped down to Goodwood for two glorious days’ racing last week and considering it was the first time I had ever visited the Sussex course, I did not leave disappointed after enjoying a particularly well-organised and sun-drenched occasion.

As well as enjoying the action from the press room I also decided to go and check out the racecourse stables and staff canteen – something, if you are a stable hand, that is very important.

Racecourses tend to vary with regard to the standards of staff hospitality, some offer very little comfort and cleanliness, while others are a credit to the industry.

Goodwood certainly comes into the latter category and its standards were consistent with the whole experience a grade one course should offer.

Kick out

As I made the long walk back to the racecourse (horses are stabled about a mile away) and found a comfortable area of the paddock to pick my idea of a winner, I noticed at this English course, common sense ruled as each thoroughbred was led around the parade ring in an anti-clockwise direction (same as all the UAE tracks) instead of clockwise as at the UK’s other 59 courses.

What’s the difference you may ask? The answer is this: If a jockey is to get on his mount in the paddock while the animal is walking right handed the horse will be led to take a turn towards the inside of the parade ring so the rider can be legged up from the usual near-side, in the process however, the excitable and buzzed up thoroughbred could quite easily kick out at an owner, trainer, or even jockey, and those familiar with the Chris Kinane tragedy will know, could cause severe damage.

Many trainers like to keep their charges walking when the "jockeys mount" bell sounds to help avoid accidents, but the fact they have to walk behind the horse to reach the near-side, at a time when the geared up thoroughbred is most likely to misbehave seems ludicrous and unnecessary.

Further examples of why parading anti-clockwise should become mandatory are as follows: Willie Carson was kicked in the stomach at Newbury in 1996 and suffered damage to his liver. Frankie Dettori, also at Newbury in the same year, had to take an unwelcome break from the saddle after breaking his arm in a similar accident. Let’s hope other courses follow Goodwood’s and the UAE’s commendable example.

Sprake’s recovery road

It was great to have a quick chat with Timmy Sprake who was involved in a terrible car accident when skidding on ice in 1999. Sprake suffered severe head injuries and it effectively ended his career in the saddle. However, it’s fantastic to hear he’s now riding out on a regular basis for Marcus Tregoning and is finally starting to rebuild his life.