How poor old Thirsk became a victim of the law of unintended consequences

Beware the law of unintended consequences, a phenomenon that has brought gloom to a handful of racecourses this summer.

Changes brought in with the best of intentions can cause unexpected problems as they take effect. Ask the people of Scunthorpe, whose online access is disrupted when a well-meaning Google or AOL attempts to clean up the internet with a profanity filter that blocks certain four-letter words. Or the British rulers who tried to rid colonial Delhi of lethal cobras by offering a reward for each dead snake, leading enterprising locals to breed them to collect the bounty and make the problem worse than ever.

There are no venomous snakes slithering around Thirsk, but there may be the odd poisonous glance in the direction of racing's decision-makers.