Al Shaqab uses Gimcrack speech to highlight how Britain is 'slipping behind'

The quality of British racing will be affected if the issue of poor prize-money is not addressed, the sport has been warned.

The message was delivered in a speech made by Paul Hensey on behalf of Sheikh Joaan Al Thani and Al Shaqab Racing at the 250th Gimcrack Dinner at York racecourse on Tuesday evening.

Lusail won the Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes at York in August for Al Shaqab, which has downsized its operation in Britain in recent years.

Hensey said it was unfair to raise the subject of poor prize-money at York, which he described as "one of the racecourses that really makes an effort in this regard".

He added: "It was good to read the announcement of increased prize-money at Jockey Club racecourses yesterday, but Britain is slipping behind the rest of the world and unless this issue is addressed soon it will start to affect the quality of racing here."

Outlining other concerns, Hensey added: "Brexit has caused problems for the movement of horses in and out of the country. There are veterinary and financial difficulties to be solved.

"It is good to see the recent progress being made and also to see senior EU politicians getting involved. But the importance of maintaining as near frictionless borders as possible is crucial for trade and for international competition."

Hensey also said public perception of racing continued to be an issue, with the sport having "a habit of shooting itself in the foot".

He added: "The sport needs to be more proactive in this regard. There are many positive stories to tell and sometimes we are slow to blow our own trumpet.

"It is also important to let the non-racing community know about all the good things happening in our great sport."

Hensey, who was appointed as Al Shaqab's chief operating officer last year, gave his backing to efforts to create a racing version of the popular Formula One documentary series Drive To Survive.

"At a time when traditional media coverage is under pressure this initiative could open new doors for the sport and attract long-lasting, knowledgeable fans who would go racing and perhaps own horses in time," he added.

"I would urge all industry groups to put personal interests aside and to pull together as we did during the pandemic to make this happen."

ITV director of sport Niall Sloane had also been due to speak at the event but was not able to attend.

A copy of the speech he was due to make was made available on the York website in which Sloane said ITV had people who wanted to play a part in securing racing's future and asked the sport to consider them if it wanted "independent counsel and informed opinion".

He added: "Over the last year we have witnessed some pretty bad optics around the sport, both from sole individuals' distasteful actions, combatants' angry fallouts and constituent members of racing negotiating for months and failing to agree on anything.

"Many sports say they are in perpetual crisis. But that is usually because they become fixated on the here and now rather than trying to build for the future.

"If we communicate together with a common and transparent purpose for the good of racing that surely must be a start."

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