Awards are a very just reward

While TV has the Oscars, Baftas and Grammys, horse racing has the Lesters and, among others, the Pride of Racing award, which are due to take place in October at Lord’s cricket ground in London.

Ceremonies like this are an important part of the industry and it’s fantastic that the work of racing’s unsung heroes and dedicated staff is eventually being recognised.

The annual Stud and Stable Staff awards finally seem to have caught on with trainers, who for some reason at the beginning seemed backward in coming forward when it came to nominating a member of their employees.

Perhaps they couldn’t get to grips with the application form, or more likely were worried they may be asked to put their hands in their own pockets.

What a good job Godolphin came along to inject a generous helping of cash.

The Lesters is also a well-established and popular event but tends to be staged more for the likes of George Baker and Jamie Spencer rather than Jamie Gotobed or Paddy Baker. But at last all racing employees, whatever their role, are being given the opportunity to be fully appreciated for the work they do.

Applications for the third edition of this very welcome initiative close on August 22 and while you may struggle to find a suitable candidate, do you remember Doreen Rackham, Lambourn’s answer to Delia Smith (whose sponge cakes ensured many a stable lad put up overweight at work the next day), who received special recognition for her efforts at the 2006 ceremony?

While Steve “Yarmy” Dyble was also given a trophy in response to all the Monty Roberts [horse whisperer] work he does on and off the racecourse with problem horses at the stalls.

British racing has such a steep and long history and I commend the Racing Welfare, Godolphin and many other sponsors for eventually realising that it’s the people behind the scenes who do an awful lot of work which largely goes unnoticed and who deserve something back from the industry they have given so much to.

lost for words

As much as I would like to get on my soap box again, after the actions of the stewards at Ascot on Saturday, it seems they come from planet Mars and would struggle to understand me anyway (many would argue you don’t have to come from another planet not to understand what I say).

After persuading the world’s best and winning-most jockeys to take part in the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Shergar Cup last week the race-day mini Hitlers felt it necessary to issue Russell Baze, who has ridden over 10,000 winners, with a four-day suspension for whip use.

Unusually for me, words fail, and it seems ludicrous that a rider of Baze’s calibre and experience should be scrutinised by Lord and Lady “La De Dah” for such a trivial issue. It’s about time the BHA got rid of these pompous and blinkered individuals and ban them for good!

I wonder if they will be receiving any “Pride of Racing” nominations?