RACING FORUM

Posted: **Tue Jul 09, 2013 8:51 am**

I wanted to draw attention to just how broken the UK racing model is these days. I was drawn to a modest fillies maiden race at Windsor, partly because it was a race I won with a cheap home bred filly a bout 10 years ago. (you tend to remember 66-1 winners well supported).

It was a 6 runner field.

A Bernadini ex a Storm Cat mare owned by Godolphin
A Pivotal ex a Green Desert mare owned by Cheveley Park
A Henrythenavigator
A Street Sense owned by the Quataris
A Ravens Pass owned by Princess Haya
A Duke of Marmalade

The first prize £2,500 and change.

What incentive is there for the average owner or small owner/breeder when the likelihood of even picking up place money is so unlikely because the big battalions want runners in every race regardless of the expense and potential reward. No wonder small owners are packing it in big time and the owner breeder is becoming an endangered species.

If you want my take on the Paul Roy (ex chair of the BHA) years it has been the most retrograde period in the history of racing EVER!