Exposing awful views can be a spur to make racing more diverse

Prior to signing off before a short break, this column included a piece reflecting on the first meeting of the BHA's Diversity in Racing steering group. As a result of some shocking comments recently penned by a fellow writer, no apology is made for returning to the subject.

The group, of which I am a member, was created because racing has a problem. Far too few women jockeys are given opportunities in the top races and far too few women hold senior positions in racing governance and administration.

The sport is dominated by white people, not in betting shops but certainly in terms of racecourse attendance, the weighing room, training ranks and media.

Facilities for disabled racegoers are often wholly inadequate, while only one jockey has ever come out as gay while riding. It can also be argued racing all too often seems to nurture elitism and fails to embrace a sufficiently large social and financial demographic.

This all needs to be tackled, in part because it is right and proper that all people should feel welcome and be treated equally, but also because there is a long-term commercial need to increase racing's appeal.

BHA chief executive Nick Rust is chairman of the Diversity in Racing steering group

To achieve real improvement, racing has both to make meaningful, tangible change, but also tackle the way some people may perceive the sport. Such perception may not be fair but perception is the same thing as reality until that perception is smashed.

This is a big subject. For that reason it was, at first, heartening to see long-time racing and bloodstock journalist James Underwood had penned a response to my column in the November 14 edition of his European Racing & Breeding Digest. However, after first generously describing the piece as "entertaining" with some "original ideas", the tone began to deteriorate.

Prior to stating his own assessment that, "racing appeals to punters and certain social groups and rich men who can afford it", Underwood provided subscribers to his digest with his own take on racing's position in relation to two particular communities.

I have made some spelling corrections, but otherwise this is, word for word, what Underwood wrote:

"One doesn’t imagine that black people or other ethnic minorities are interested in going racing. They prefer football, like most people here who spend slabs of time watching it and other ball games in a life that can be written off as balls. Racing could send a boat to Libya to save a number of black people in the awful refugee centres there to be settled in accommodation at Kelso and Southwell – but they’d soon be hitching a lift to East London.

"As for the gays they would soon find that the racing crowd isn’t very sympathetic to their way of life and if they couldn’t get into the stables to meet the lads there they’d soon be bored."

It is rare to read something that takes your breath away, particularly for all the wrong reasons, yet Underwood managed to do that to me and others.

Seeking to be kind, there was an initial attempt to believe he was simply being tongue-in-cheek or had made a wildly unsuccessful attempt at humour. Rather, it just seems the comments are deeply unpleasant.

There is absolutely no need to explain why what Underwood wrote, on either front, was so blatantly wrong, condescending, dismissive and offensive. I can, however, assure him that, as one of "the gays", I have never found that my "way of life" worries the racing crowd.

Not one trainer, jockey, owner, industry professional or colleague has ever seemed remotely concerned about that way of life, which involves going racing, writing about racing, betting on racing, enjoying trips to the theatre, a weekly pub quiz, cooking with varying degrees of success and sharing a home with my husband.

I can also assure him that I have yet to feel the remotest urge "to get into the stables to meet the lads".

Racing has a not inconsiderable number of LGBT people working across the sport, the one obvious exception being the weighing room. It is to be hoped that is largely down to aforementioned issues of perception. Opinions such as those expressed publicly by Underwood may, for some, strengthen that perception. They therefore need to be called out.

The BHA's Will Lambe objected to the Underwood article on behalf of the BHA

The BHA had been a subscriber to Underwood's digest. That subscription was cancelled last week in an email to Underwood from executive director, Will Lambe, who wrote:

"There can be no place in our sport for such appalling views. Respect and inclusivity are integral values to British horseracing. These statements are patently racist and homophobic and we will not stand for, nor turn a blind eye to, such comments.

"We are committed to enhancing diversity in British racing and have undertaken to stand up to, and challenge, any form of discrimination."

Lambe's words are strong. As British racing tries to make itself more open, accessible and healthy, they are also extremely encouraging.

Gold Cup will soon need new sponsor

Sponsorship of the Cheltenham Gold Cup is up for grabs. In December 2015, internet and communications service provider Timico was unveiled as the new backer of jumping's most prestigious prize, which, in effect, had previously had one supporter since 1979, when the Tote took over, later followed by its new owner Betfred.

Timico's interest in racing was strongly influenced by its founder and former chief executive Tim Radford, a keen racehorse owner. It was announced earlier this year that private equity firm Lyceum Capital had bought a £50 million controlling stake in Timico, since when Radford's role has changed to that of non-executive director.

Robbie Power celebrates landing the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup on Sizing JohnCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Gold Cup deal has worked well for Timico, given it is understood Radford believes the publicity it secured was helpful in raising interest in the company and securing the Lyceum deal.

However, Timico's new principal owners do not share Radford's passion for racing. For that reason, Cheltenham and Jockey Club Racecourses have no expectation Timico will want to extend the deal beyond the 2019 Gold Cup, after which the partnership comes to an end.

That does not necessarily mean the 2020 Gold Cup will be the first with a new sponsor. Although Cheltenham does not intend to actively begin searching for Timico's successor until after the 2018 festival, it is believed if the racecourse finds a party keen to add its name to the Gold Cup, and that party is keen to be involved sooner rather than later, Timico might well be prepared to end its four-year arrangement early.

Moreover, while a subplot to finding a replacement for Betfred was the authorised betting partner standoff that forced Betfred out and meant most major bookmakers could not be considered to take over, the landscape is now very different. Cheltenham has many more options than it had when joining forces with Timico.

As such, while there may not yet be a race to become the next Gold Cup sponsor, it will not be long before the starting gun is fired.

Frost proving to be real winter star

Returning to the diversity theme, it was heartening to see Bryony Frost shine for the second consecutive Saturday.

High-profile female jump jockeys have been few and far between. Lizzie Kelly has made a significant impact in recent seasons. Frost is now doing the same.

Bryony Frost interacts with the crowd following victory aboard Black Corton at Cheltenham on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Watching her success aboard Black Corton at Cheltenham it was hard not to be struck by how stylish and effective she was aboard a novice chaser on whom her unbeaten run now stretches to five races. Frost was impressive riding and then equally impressive afterwards, talking wonderfully well about the race and the horse.

Frost is clearly a very talented jockey but she is more than that. She appears to be an engaging and grounded person, one perfect at selling the joys of both the sport and her profession.

We should, however, not want to heap pressure on her shoulders. While it is inevitable Frost, like Kelly, will be seen as an ambassador, she must put herself and her career first.

The great hope is that career takes off. Thanks to her association with Paul Nicholls, her ability and her likeability, it very well might. Let's hope it does.

If you enjoyed reading this, you might like...
True turf icons are rare but Gosden stars do look very good indeedHatch sheds tears on emotional afternoon for two fine young men

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com