'Small trainers will be out of business in ten years' says retiring Alan Bailey

Alan Bailey – who is set to retire after training for almost four decades – believes small operators like him will be out of business in ten years if issues like prize-money and the fixture list are not addressed in the near future.

At 80, Bailey remains the senior trainer in Newmarket until he hands over to his grandson Joseph Parr next month. And the town's elder statesman had a grave warning for his colleagues.

He said: "I hope to hand over to Joseph next month but I've already told him to look for something else to do in the long term as I reckon most small trainers will be out of business in ten years' time.