James Underwood's Digest

Hi Ramruna - I don't get the weekly any more so haven't seen the statement. Can you give us a summary of what it said? He publishes a weekly report (called 'the Digest') and an end-of-year magazine, too. Last year a lot of people were a bit brassed off at something he printed in the 'Digest' and the Racing Post made quite a song and dance about it. I think this had a knock-on effect on the annual magazine, which I think was a shame because I have read it for years. It might not be as good as it once was, but then again it's a lot of work for him and he's not getting any younger (like all of us!).

Somebody somewhere has persuaded the sports' organisations to stop inviting the Digest to their annual meetings and media events.
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While we have never said a word against Goffs, the ROA or Darley, they stopped their invitations with gusto.

That seems to be the gist of it.

@e14 re age, yes, the letter says he is 90. Yes, it does look like something he wrote offended, well, everyone. Although I subscribe, I rarely bother to read it except in hindsight, to look up what he has said about interesting horses.

Ah, it seems to be some crass remarks Underwood made about the BHA's diversity initiative in the last Digest of last season. Crass and offensive perhaps, though if you squint a bit he could be agreeing with the modernisers in some aspects.

Oh well. Underwood is by no means the first to imagine that expertise in one area demands one sounds off in others, and it rarely ends well. I expect losing glossy stallion adverts is more serious than missing out on free sandwiches at the ROA.

He's obviously a dinosaur but at least he is his own dinosaur.  So it'll certainly be sad if relatively 'independent' thinking disappears further from the business.  The studs and authorities only tolerate hearing positives even if the facts or logic don't stack up.  Racing Post Bloodstock is an advertorial, nothing critical ever.