THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN - BLACK DOG ON THE PROWL AND NOBODY IS IMMUNE FROM ATTACK

By Graham Potter | Sunday, March 16, 2014

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily

Robert Heathcote is the latest high profile trainer to publically acknowledge he has to constantly steel himself against the current as a tide of depression often threatens to sweep in and engulf his everyday life.

No, he doesn’t lie in bed all day numbed by the experience. On the contrary, he is up at 3 o’ clock every morning (ok, by his own admission he sleeps in one day a week … that’s when he gets up at four o’clock). Neither does he ordinarily display any real symptoms of the load he carries as he goes about his everyday business both at the stables and at the track.

On race-day the spring in Heathcote’s step might vary according to results but he has the professional routine of saddling horses, instructing jockeys, hosting clients and managing media approaches down to a fine art. Even when those who know him well pick up a degree of weariness in his makeup on occasions, they could easily put that down to his hectic schedule and relentless workload and not consider it to be anything more sinister than that.

Which is why Heathcote’s admission, following similar revelations by Lee Freedman (a Hall Of Fame trainer) Tony Vasil and John Sadler, is important.

These four trainers have exposed the myth behind the fanfare and the fortune of the big time but, most importantly, their message relates to all trainers and jockeys who compete at any level in this most demanding of sports. The only difference that their high profile position makes is that more people pay attention to their ‘reality check’ than there would be if a battler bemoaned his situation.

Freedman, Vasil, Sadler and Heathcote’s ‘Black Dog’ stories have made headlines nation-wide.

Beyond that, all jockeys and trainers … from the city to the bush … are in the same boat, vulnerable to the same dangers.

The mental battle invariably has physical consequences. Trainers seldom have time to look after themselves. Jockeys, on the other hand, through choice of profession, generally have to commit their body’s to a constant, brutal (and dare I say unhealthy) ‘wasting’ regime.

No wonder everybody is at risk. No wonder there is occasionally tragic fallout.

There are only three options if this ‘Black Dog’ matter is not taken seriously and addressed by authorities. Some participants will implode, most will continue to live in at least a semi-distressed fashion and others will simply get out of the game.

While it is understood that nobody is forced to train or become a jockey and nobody has any divine right to an easy life in either profession, the fact that none of the above mentioned options tick any boxes for future prosperity for the sport, which is already struggling, should have authorities working through the night on this problem.

Should racing have a short break between seasons as they do in Hong Kong so that all parties can have time to re-charge without missing any action? At the moment nobody can take a break without compromising their position.

Should we even have less racing on a weekly basis?

Surely, at very least, the current business model needs a revamp?

The bean-counters won’t like it, but then I am not talking about them. They probably sleep well at night.

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