Opportunities occasionally arise in life that you simply cannot miss and Epsom Racecourse is, to make an analogy, right on target.
City Of Troy’s spellbinding performance in the Betfred Derby, following a similarly spellbinding performance from Ezeliya in the Betfred Oaks, emphatically demonstrated that these two historic contests represent the pinnacle of flat racing.
To win on that course the way these horses did, they are classified as bizarrely talented. They are animals that should be every advertising campaigner’s dream. It should be the images that serve as a foundation – a reminder that Epsom, so historic and magical, is the birthplace of champions.
Every sport needs superstars and every venue wants to be associated with them. On that score, Epsom – like Cheltenham and Aintree in the jump races – has the advantage that rival tracks would pay a king’s ransom to take advantage of and City Of Troy and Ezeliya added another layer to that shine.
But being on site for two days last weekend, it was inevitable that work would need to be done to make the occasion brilliant. There’s been a lot of talk lately about ‘how the Derby isn’t the same anymore’, but energy being expanded on events of yesteryear is a waste of energy.
City Of Troy’s spellbinding performance in the Betfred Derby had done wonders for Epsom
The course hits its target in terms of the opportunity to make the experience memorable, but there is work to be done
Nothing in sports is the same as it used to be. FA Cup final day isn’t an event where you have to sit in front of the TV from 9am to 6pm and test matches don’t have rest days on Sundays, but that still makes them attractive or occasions you’d like to watch or attend.
What matters is the future and what matters is making the experience as memorable as possible for those on course and appealing to those who are curious about participating but haven’t yet decided whether to make the leap.
The long-held view of this column, as a starting point, is that Derby Day should be an event in its own right. On Saturday we were presented with a situation that was, quite frankly, pathetic, as the Derby started at 4.32pm, finished at 4.35pm and then a learner’s handicap in Doncaster started at 4.41pm.
Six minutes to analyze one of the greatest Derby performances of all time? Ridiculous. Ryan Moore hadn’t even managed to land City Of Troy before the field loaded up in Doncaster, giving him a chance to win the first prize of £4,396.56. You cannot promote the interests of the sport with this kind of planning.
Doncaster was one of six other meetings vying for Epsom’s attention, but what nonsense that was: three of them – Hexham, Worcester and Stratford – went over fences and do you really believe that showjumping jockeys and trainers wouldn’t appreciate a day’s rest have stated? ?
It would be great to think that the many factions in racing, from the various racecourse owners to the British Horseracing Authority and more, could come together and agree on a way forward to be brave and radical on the competition lists, but unfortunately that is still a long way off.
What Epsom and its owners The Jockey Club have control over is that the Oaks and Derby Day experience is something to behold. There are certainly ways to get the crowd back to the middle of the course, where viewing is free, and there are certainly ways to increase the number of paying spectators.
When you walk onto the course, you don’t feel like you’re entering one of the most legendary racing arenas. Why don’t we have pictures of all those greats who helped make the races what they are hanging from lampposts around the course and in the town of Epsom?
There isn’t the feeling that spectators are at one of the most iconic events when they attend
Once in Epsom, more attention needs to be paid to giving racegoers the opportunity to see these wonderful athletes. The paddock where they parade before racing is beautiful and historic, but it feels more like horses sneak onto the track and then disappear.
Epsom has good, ambitious people working behind the scenes, not least chairman Brian Finch, who watched The Oaks alongside The King and The Queen last Friday – their presence in itself was a new boost for the course and the sport.
Finch and General Manager Tom Sammes won’t rest until they get things in order (making more bathrooms available to female racegoers is a must), but what they need to know is the platform from which they can start formulating plans.
Who wouldn’t want to be at Epsom in twelve months’ time when they are alerted to the possibility of seeing something truly wonderful? Get photos of the city of Troy and Ezeliya on platforms and billboards across the capital, spreading the word across the country that there is a race to behold.
City Of Troy and Ezeliya have provided the pass that gave Epsom and The Jockey Club a glorious opening: it is up to them to score the goal.
However, Epsom has good and ambitious people behind the scenes who will not rest until they get it right
Sheikh’s attempt to enter Royal Ascot
Some long faces in the Chantilly stables on Sunday as French Derby favorite Fast Tracker prowled around like an out-of-control speedboat before the petrol tank ran dry. This was not the performance his owners Wathnan Racing expected.
Wathnan, whose horses wear blue-gold silk with a red cap, is an initiative of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar. He is 44 years old and has a huge ambition to become a major player in the biggest flat races.
Royal Ascot was full of intrigue 12 months ago as no one knew who was behind Wathnan Racing until Courage Mon Ami won the Gold Cup, two days after Gregory won the Queen’s Vase. It was quite a way to announce their arrival.
But that success has made Sheikh Tamim all the more determined to be involved in the royal meeting
understands that he wants at least between 15 and 20 horses to be competitive. It means his bloodstock advisors have quite a job.
On Tuesday they bought Shadow Army, a two-year-old who remains in training with Richard Fahey, and is aiming for The Norfolk Stakes, but that won’t be the last deal they do. You can bet the phones will be ringing like a football club office on transfer deadline night.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, wants to become a major player in major flat races
Pricey candy
The price of food and drink at a racecourse is always a big source of debate on these shores, but don’t think things are rosier elsewhere.
At Chantilly on Sunday it was €9 for a beer, €5 for fries and €14 for a glass of champagne. This, unfortunately, is modern life.