To most of you, names such as Heather Honey, Rockbarton, even Boomerang, will mean nothing. But for those of a certain vintage, the names are a salutary reminder of the importance of terrestrial television to a sport’s profile, something that should be at the forefront of Irish racing’s collective mind as negotiations on RTE’s future coverage reportedly continue. (more…)

There has been a conspicuous lack of charismatic leadership throughout the whip rules saga but those indignant jockeys so exercised by the BHA would do well to remember John F Kennedy’s old line: “We cannot negotiate with those who say ‘What’s mine is mine and what’s yours is negotiable.” (more…)

So You Think might not be the equine second-coming the advance publicity suggested but if ever a Ballydoyle horse looked equipped to tackle American dirt in the Breeders Cup Classic then it is the ex-Aussie star. (more…)

A lot of hype has already gone into this Saturday’s “Champions Day” at Ascot, and the “British Champions Series” that has preceded it, but only the presence of Frankel provides a fig-leaf of substance to some of the extravagant claims being made for it. (more…)

You know the old gag about a camel being a horse designed by committee? Well it’s hard to escape the conclusion that the BHA’s new whip rules are evidence of how a lot of people can spend ten months wasting each others time coming up with a cow. (more…)