BROWNIES BLOG: A CHANGE OF PACE AND MINDSET MEANS THAT RACING SOMETIMES TAKES A BACK SEAT

By Damian Browne | Thursday, April 16, 2020

Coming to terms with the new normal has been something most of us have had to transition into and that enforced change of mindset and lifestyle has seen a lot of our previously regular routines go out of the window … like watching horse racing.

Take The Championships for example. The showcase feature of Sydney racing at this time of year, has come and gone with less attention than it might otherwise have been afforded had there not been the huge distraction of the coronavirus and the different range of impacts it has had on society.

As I’ve said before, everybody in racing has done a great job keeping the show on the road, but, for all of those in isolation back home with their families, there are so many more important things to concentrate on.at this time. Even though you think you would have more time on your hands to sit and watch racing it hasn’t worked out that way for me … and I am sure I am not alone in that.

I have tried to watch replays of the big races, if I haven’t watched them live, and I’m still sort of keeping an eye on the race-meetings but not to the extent as I was three or four weeks ago. The routine has changed and I’m spending more time with the kids now trying to keep them entertained.

It used to be that it didn’t matter what you were doing the whole of Saturday, you’d know what time a particular big race was and you would make certain you would get to watch it live. Now it is … well if I’m passing the television and it comes on, I’ll watch it … otherwise I will pick it up from somewhere else later. So, I would think racing is definitely taking a back seat with many enthusiasts who were previously ardent ‘live’ watchers of the sport.

And, of course, with pubs and clubs closed I can only imagine how those who enjoyed their racing day out in that fashion have been affected.

The bottom line is we all just have to be happy with what we can get until the shackles are removed.
_____________________________________________________________________

Even those out there still in work will have frustrations.

Take the jockeys restricted to rides in particular racing zones for example.

On a professional level it must be hard for jockeys based in Brisbane, who can’t ride at the Gold Coast, to watch horses that they would normally be on win at the Gold Coast … and visa-versa for the guys at the Gold Coast.

It’s a matter of taking what you can get and being happy with that because few can argue the point that racing authorities have handled this whole coronavirus threat very well with all of the strict protocols they have put in place.

In fact, I think it would be fair to say that their response has been outstanding.
______________________________________________________________________

Down south some jockeys have already asked for and been given permission to swop regions.

Jay Ford, Kathy O’Hara and Koby Jennings have all now moved out of the metropolitan region in New South Wales and I see that Johnny Allen is also on the move. He is heading to South Australia where he has been booked to ride Russian Camelot in the South Australian Derby for Danny O’Brien. I think he also has a mount in the Oaks, but he will have to stay in quarantine for two weeks before he can resume riding so he will be going there early.

It is a bit of a juggling act and it takes a lot more planning nowadays. As in Allen’s case (and others) you have got to accept the short-term loss, because you will be inactive during the two-week of quarantine, for possible long-term gain.

It’s a gamble. Allen can go there and they both run nowhere and he’s had two weeks off for nothing.

Those are the sort of decisions you have got to make during this period of time. Ideally, you’ve got to be preparing for further ahead, and not just weekly, more than ever because moving around is that much trickier now.
______________________________________________________________________

Racing Queensland has relented on its decision to abandon the Winter Carnival altogether and will now run a Carnival or sorts.

Overall, you have to take that as a good decision and it could turn out to be a really good decision for local trainers and jockeys if horses, trainers and jockeys from the southern states are either officially excluded from making the trip or choose not to come. That would be a bonus for the locals.

Generally, the southerners come up and dominate our big races and that situation would give the local jockeys a time to shine. I can only think of a handful of local riders who have won Group 1’s here in recent times … Jimmy (Byrne), Mick (Cahill), Matty (McGillivray), Glen Colless won one, Ryan Wiggins and myself … is all I can think of off the top of my head. (Apologies to anybody I missed) so the chase to make the most of that opportunity, if it should arise, will be quite intense.

Somebody has still got to win and somebody has got to lose.

______________________________________________________________________

Apparently, part of the motivation in rethinking the carnival was the fact that the current generation of horses needed to have Black Type incentive. It has even been argued that prize-money, while not irrelevant, is secondary to these races actually taking place.

That really is a two-fold situation though.

It is great that those horses can get Black Type races but, then again, are they getting it under somewhat false pretences if the entries to the race are restricted? The possible overall quality and lack of depth in those races could be a point of concern as the fields could be fairly limited.

You’ll be looking in the stud book in future and saying … ah, he won the Stradbroke … forgetting that it wasn’t a normal Stradbroke which could give a false sense of security through that breeding line.

I know that might be being a bit particular because at the end of the day we all just want to see these races run and won … but I do think there are two ways you can look at it and I don’t know that there is an answer which will please everybody.
______________________________________________________________________

Finally, just a quick word on the Alligator Blood situation with regard to his positive swab.

Whatever the final outcome to that inquiry, at a date still be set, it should be remembered that Alligator Blood is a very, very good racehorse. His achievement of going from Maiden winner to Group 1 winner with only one defeat at that time (with one result now still pending under inquiry) marks him as something special.

I think it is would be incorrect, unfortunate and very disappointing if anything that happens away from the action on the track impacts negatively on Alligator Blood’s overall, hard earned reputation on the track … from the inquiry and its subsequent outcome (when that happens) to the very vocal, often controversial and, some might say ill-advised, outspoken opinions of one of the horse’s owners.

We know how fickle sports fans can be so it is not out of the question, given the current headlines, that Alligator Blood’s standing might take a hit.

The truth is that the horse deserves better than that!

More articles