Todd supporters and O'Leary show racing has dangerous friends as well as enemies

With apologies to William Shakespeare, methinks they doth protest too much.

When Sir Mark Todd repeatedly hit a horse with a branch the legendary equestrian succumbed to a moment of madness. What he did was surprising and disappointing. Equally hard to defend was the manner in which certain individuals sought to berate some of those who expressed disgust.

There are people who hate not just horseracing but also the very idea of horses being used for sport. They are the folk who hold banners and shout loudly outside Aintree on Grand National day or by Federation Square when the annual Melbourne Cup parade takes over the city. These are the antis. They are a danger to racing's long-term future. So, too, are some of those they detest, the pros.