First things first: Tony McCoy would be a perfectly deserving winner of the upcoming BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. He even deserves to be favourite in the betting for the gong. McCoy might not be to everyone’s taste but in a competition where Paul Scholes is being quoted among the opposition, the jockey is actually in possession of an identifiable personality. (more…)

A lot of thought and deliberation is going into the problem of why racecourse attendances are continuing to take a dive in Ireland but it can be at least partly explained by a new piece of research – “The average spend per head at a race meeting is €129.” (more…)

There’s been a lot of fallout from Johnny Murtagh’s Ballydoyle resignation but perhaps the most significant long-term aspect to the saga will turn out to be how easy the possible heirs-apparent seem to find turning down what was once unquestionably the most coveted riding post in European racing. (more…)

As Jordan could tell Kate Moss, what constitutes support can vary and Horse Racing Ireland’s enthusiasm for the “Tipperary Venue” project currently appears to be distinctly flat. One can almost hear the Ballymany programming mandarins, embroiled as they are in a slash and cut policy, hammering their heads off the tastefully decorated walls at being presented with this “refreshing and positive news at this time of gloom.” (more…)

It was De Gaulle who opined that since politicians never believe what they say, they are always surprised to be taken at their word. However on the brink of what will probably be the most appalling budget in the history of the state, racing’s leaders must have everything crossed that Government plans to tax overseas betting will actually go ahead as promised. (more…)