Damaging laxity has crept into procedures on raceday

One of the few advantages attending the racecourse is to see how the bookmakers are betting in the flesh, but this is being rapidly eroded by an increasing failure to get horses into the paddock in reasonable time.

Too often nowadays several participants have failed to put in an appearance before the signal to mount is given.

When they do deign to do so they make a cursory half-turn around the parade ring, often with a rug on, before disappearing down the walkway.