If racing is to develop it's vital it listens to those who speak out on race

Not for the first time, a clip circulating on social media last week attracted a great deal of attention. In it, broadcaster Rishi Persad was in conversation with Josh Apiafi in part three of Sky Sports Racing’s Leading The Way series investigating diversity in horseracing.

Persad questioned why people of colour do not appear to progress into more senior roles in the sport, with established trainers from those backgrounds starting out in different countries often with the benefit of powerful connections, with Apiafi asserting “if you can’t see it, you can’t be it”.

Disappointingly – although perhaps unsurprisingly in the era of social media – the clip proved divisive on Twitter, where negative reactions were at best ignorant and at worst abusive.

Persad, who did not directly link the lack of progress to racism but asked why more people of colour were not rising through the ranks, was verbally attacked in the comments, with some decrying his experiences. Among the responses were those pointing the finger at the BHA’s official criteria for becoming a trainer and another claiming "we’re in a white country, if he went out to the Bahamas I bet it’s only black trainers and jockeys".

Many indicated becoming a trainer was about capital and backing, not race. Yet what impact does race have on attaining those means? Some of the younger generation of trainers have shown it’s possible to succeed at an elite yard before starting out alone. It is a valid question to ask: what has prevented those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds treading the same path? And are there enough opportunities for them in non-entry-level positions?

Apiafi introduced the topic of representation and the knock-on impact the lack of non-white faces and voices in senior positions has on the ambitions of others. The issue is not confined to sport, with only 51 out of the 1,097 most powerful roles in the country filled by non-white individuals as of July 2020, according to the Colour of Power survey by consultants Green Park and not-for-profit organisation Operation Black Vote.

There is no BAME representation among chief constables in the UK’s police forces or permanent secretaries in the civil service, with only one BAME trade union boss and six BAME council leaders. Just two FTSE 100 chief executives were from an ethnic minority, as well as no chief executives from the top UK financial institutions. At the UK’s top 61 law, accountancy and consultancy firms, only six chief executives or managing partners were from an ethnic minority. This reveals the extent of the myth of meritocracy and shows why diversity needs to be more than just convenient rhetoric for companies and sporting and governmental bodies.

As Persad mentioned himself, it was the BHA which acknowledged the issue by creating the Diversity in Racing steering group, which was established after the release of Oxford Brookes University’s report on women’s representation and diversity in the horseracing industry in 2017.

A 40:60 female-male gender split in spectators and the fact female and male riders operate equally are rightly recognised as unique opportunities in the introduction of the 2018 Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, but it also acknowledges the lack of data we have on the British racing landscape, a significant obstacle to assessing the impact race has on experiences within the industry.

This is a conversation that should go beyond a handful of bullet points and visible barriers to entry. Psychologists like Jennifer Eberhardt, a professor at Stanford University who specialises in the study of unseen prejudices, have gone some way in exposing the unconscious biases present in society and the tragic consequences of the ‘other race effect’, such as fundamental attribution error, a tendency to credit or blame other people for actions or qualities for which they bear no responsibility. John Dovidio, a professor of psychology and public health at Yale University, studied 'aversive' racism, whereby feelings of avoidance and discomfort are harboured rather than explicit hatred, and they manifest as unconscious, implicit biases.

As a white woman who grew up in a working class household, I acknowledge my perspective in the conversation will be very different from other people’s experiences, but I believe it is vital we listen, respect and try to learn from those who speak out. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain when it comes to making racing more accessible and inclusive. It is difficult to understand why anyone would wish to oppose positive progress.

Whenever I have wished to speak out about diversity in racing and the Black Lives Matter movement I have either been discouraged or not been brave enough due to the backlash the likes of Persad and Apiafi have faced. It is not good enough and racing should see that.

Relegate ready to prove her worth over hurdles

Last week's column didn't get off to the flying start I hoped for when Theinval wasn't declared to run on Friday, so if I pick a runner I'll be doing better than last week!

The Betfair Exchange Stayers' Handicap Hurdle is a race I always enjoy and after spending far too long analysing it, my pin landed on lightly raced mare and 2018 Champion Bumper winner Relegate.

She has been delicately handled since joining Colm Murphy's yard but I still don't think we've seen what she's capable of over hurdles. She was given a mountain to climb in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival but still flew home to grab fifth and races off the same mark here.

Relegate: 2018 Champion Bumper winner is capable of more over hurdlesCredit: Grossick Racing (racingpost.com/photos)

Again behind Sire Du Berlais in the Lismullen Hurdle on her return, she plugged on well, giving the impression that she would improve for the run.

I also looked at the well-handicapped Clyne, but I'm not convinced he truly stays three miles, and the fragile Portrush Ted, but Relegate is race-fit and this race often turns into a real slog. Off a feather weight I could see her flying home late to snatch the prize.

It's been fascinating to see how Paul Nicholls has re-energised troubled ex-Willie Mullins inmates Next Destination and Duc Des Genievres and I think he can repeat the trick with Laurina in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot.

I don't think any of these are likely to match her Champion Hurdle fourth, and that's without taking into account the fact she beat Minella Indo on her chasing debut last season too.

Nicholls is up to the challenge having transformed frequent bleeder Politologue to win the Champion Chase in March and the opposition all have questions to answer. An intermediate trip over hurdles should give Laurina the perfect opportunity to show what she's capable of.

Playle's plays

Tamaroc Du Mathan
3.12 Wincanton, Thursday

With strong fancy Southfield Harvest not declared to run, I’ve plumped for another Paul Nicholls-trained youngster at Wincanton on Thursday. Tamaroc Du Mathan showed promise when second to Master Debonair at Ascot last November before finishing a respectable fifth and seventh in two valuable handicap hurdles. A strong traveller and fluent over his obstacles, fences could bring out further improvement and a mark of 131 is not unassailable.

Playle's lays

Itchy Feet
1.50 Haydock, Saturday

Has other options throughout the week but I would be against him if connections plump for this graduation chase. Undoubtedly talented and a Grade 1 winner, the wheels rather fell off in the Marsh Chase when he never jumped or travelled. The signs weren't much better in the Old Roan on his return, when he hung badly up the straight. He's entitled to come on but there are some quality horses entered up against him and he's likely to be a short price, so is worth taking on.

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