Snazzy silks a colourful start to addressing racing's biggest problem

The number of racehorse owners in Britain has fallen by more than 15 per cent in a decade and the average age of those who remain is 59. Thankfully the BHA this week announced their latest plan to remedy the situation: release six sets of eyecatching racing colours for auction, each with a reserve of a mere £5,000. That should tempt the waverers.

The six silks are, according to the BHA's chief operating officer Richard Wayman, part of a larger bid to recruit and retain owners, in this case by assessing whether they would like "much greater choice when designing their colours". Well, you do wonder. Perhaps there are owners out there clamouring for less choice; I suppose there's only one way to find out for sure.

The thinning ranks of owners is, though, indisputably a long-term crisis for the sport and one that is receiving much-needed attention and investment from thae sport's powers. As part of that, any move that widens the choice of racing colours can only be beneficial to attracting and retaining owners.