How a French lesson from Tom George can address some of British racing's issues

It was an education as much as an interview. By the end of a visit to Tom George's gem of a yard in Gloucestershire at the start of the year I felt like an expert in the intricacies of French racing – and I was the one meant to be doing the interviewing!

Along with his son Noel, George has recently become the first trainer to have a permanent training base in both Britain and France, which he hopes will future-proof his business against the frailties of the racing industry at home while giving his son an exciting future across the Channel, where the sport is on a far safer financial footing.

George is ingrained in British racing and the last thing he wants to do is give up on it after 30 years with a training licence. However, because he does not want to train hundreds of horses to make it pay, he has decided to diversify his business to incorporate French racing, meaning he has two calendars from two different jurisdictions from which to pick races for his horses.