Time for some politics

SINCE the reduction in Levy Board funding was announced, there has been plenty of disquiet among owners and trainers about prize money.

The Horsemen’s Group have set their stall out about what they believe are acceptable levels of finance, but a lot of racecourses look like they will coming up short.

William Jarvis, like a lot of his fellow trainers, is far from happy with the situation.

He said: “I, and others, feel quite strongly that some racecourses need to be seen to making substantially more effort in this area.

“It is something that needs to be addressed and soon. And while I appreciate we are in a financial downturn, in quite a lot of cases we are now racing for less money than we did in the 1980s. That is unacceptable.”

On a more upbeat note, William took the two-year-olds for their first experience of the Al Bahathri – a trip that he enigmatically called ‘interesting’!

The older horses have all been up to the same all-weather venue on a couple of occasions where they have been asked to draw upsides in stronger exercise than they had previously been doing.

And with Racecourse Side currently riding too fast for gallopers to make the trip across town, William is optimistic that the ageless cushioned Limekilns training grounds will soon be open.

The Limekilns up and running before the end of March – now that would be something!