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DAVID CARR |
Weblog: What do you mean the Wi-Fi doesn't work? The life of a Racing Post reporter
Every vote counts
Newsnight meets Racing UK. The local election results mean plenty at Musselburgh.
Four of the seven seats on the board that runs the place go to members of the ruling party (or parties) on East Lothian council so general manager Bill Farnsworth could be forgiven for having other things on his mind this afternoon, waiting to see whom the voters had gone for in the 23 wards - and what type of governing coalition might emerge from the proverbial smoke-filled room.
It's to be hoped that the new influx arrive with an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' attitude.
This is a good place and it doesn't want messing up.
You can see why they keep picking up awards. Three of them at the latest count - Betview racecourse of the year, Neil Wyatt groundstaff award and RCA operational excellence award.
Mark Johnston is not a trainer who is renowned for dishing out praise when it is not entirely warranted and he joined the chorus today, saying: "There is only one track in Britain better than Musselburgh and that is Hamilton - but I am biased!" (he's on the board at Hamilton).
That was just after Prussian had beaten fellow promising three-year-olds Silver Blaze and Clayton in a £12,000 handicap, a cracking race for a Friday afternoon - this is not a tipping column but I'd be astonished if the first three do not win plenty more races between them.
Even the racecard is better than most, with bespoke, bang-up-to-date editorial. On page 4 local trainer George Foster told racegoers his Hellbender would 'take a lot of beating' in the 5.00. Good price he was too at 14-1. Shame the horse could finish only third.
If you have time between the 2,000 Guineas and the FA Cup Final tomorrow tune in to the emotional tumult that will be the At The Races broadcast from Uttoxeter where Gordon Brown does his final shift for the channel.
After a long drawn out, cloak and dagger procedure that had twice as much intrigue as Roy Hodgson's appointment to the job of England manager - and considerably less chance of ending in disaster - 'Broony' has been snapped up by Racing UK.
It makes sense. Scotland's most familiar racing presenter will front the coverage for the channel that televises racing on each of the country's five tracks.
But it is not clear whether his contract includes an 'Alex Steedman clause', requiring him to wear a kilt on Scottish Grand National and Ayr Gold Cup day.
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