'Without the staff there is no show' - Nars chief calls on tracks to do more

An abysmal first inspection of racecourse facilities in 18 months has prompted National Association of Racing Staff (Nars) chief executive George McGrath to call on all tracks to do better in providing for stable staff.

He thinks a situation that was improving has been allowed to slip, with Covid protocols making it impractical for checks to be carried out over the last year and a half, and the first inspection of 2022 at Huntingdon shocked McGrath, who subsequently accepted an invitation to see the fallout from that at the course last Thursday.

"At the previous Huntingdon meeting one of our Nars-appointed racecourse inspectors attended to look at the staff and equine facilities," said McGrath.