Cheltenham Festival
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16 Mar 13
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• Bazalgette wants equivalent programme to the Flat
• Cheltenham Festival dominance making season too dull
Owen Gibson at Cheltenham
The Guardian.co.uk , Friday 15 March 2013
The head of the Jockey Club, which owns Cheltenham and 14 other courses, has claimed Sprinter Sacre can help drive the popularity of jump racing for years to come as it seeks to restructure the calendar to provide the season with more highlights in the run-up to the Festival.
Simon Bazalgette, the Jockey Club chief executive, admitted the jump racing season became "a bit dull" after Christmas and said he would be leading talks to restructure it in order to boost the season beyond Cheltenham week, using the Champions Series on the Flat as a template.
Confirming that it was exploring a range of funding options for a long overdue but potentially controversial redevelopment of the Cheltenham course, he insisted the revamp would not rob the meeting of its soul in the face of possible objections from those in stands that will have to be demolished.
With the Cheltenham Festival pulling in record attendances on the first three days and selling out a purposefully reduced capacity of 67,000 on Gold Cup day, Bazalgette said that the emergence of Sprinter Sacre, who powered to victory by 19 lengths in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, was important for the sport.
"You've got to have the stars. They are what gets the most interest. We've been lucky to have some great ones like Kauto Star and Denman and horses like Frankel on the Flat. Sprinter Sacre could be the next one on that conveyor belt. We've all seen the horses who have been built up and haven't quite delivered. But he has," he said.
"The great thing about jumps racing is that horses stay around for several years and he's still relatively young, so hopefully we'll get a good few years out of him."
But he admitted that the biggest names had to be encouraged to race more in the run-up to Cheltenham in order to provide racegoers and punters with highlights throughout the season.
"Where I think there is an issue is that the season is not really very well defined in the run-up to Cheltenham. Really, you've got a couple of key moments but horses don't need to run and you don't have the milestones. You've got the end and you've sort of got the beginning, but the middle bit is not really very well defined," said Bazalgette.
"If you want to follow it and for people to pay attention you need to have some pretty clear milestones. That's where I think the focus needs to be in jumps. And perhaps to get them running out more often, particularly after Christmas when it does tend to get a bit dull for a while."
He said the Champions Series, developed over the Flat season to try to provide a climax that mirrors Cheltenham, could be the model and would help other courses get "a piece of the action".
"In Flat, we had the milestones but we didn't have the end, so we created the end. In the jumps, we have the end but we don't have the milestones," said Bazalgette.
The Jockey Club has been reluctant to confirm its plans to redevelop the course until it has applied for planning permission later this year. But it is understood to be examining a number of financing options for the £40m scheme, expected to take at least three years, from bank loans to long term debentures or a bond scheme for high net worth individuals.
There is already concern among those who sit in the Queen Mother stand that they will be displaced by higher prices when it is demolished to make way for an extended modern grandstand, but Bazalgette insisted that it would be sympathetic to all racegoers.
"What we're looking at doing is adding to the end of the grandstand, bringing that into the 21st century. You'll get a better view of the paddock, more people will be able to see the parade ring which means there'll be less people taking up space. It'll just mean more room for everybody. And we'll stick more loos in, upgrade the bars and all that sort of stuff," he said.
"It'll be of significant benefit to everybody and hopefully it'll make financial sense as well. If anything, I think it will enhance the atmosphere because it will make it easier for people to see the horses, easier to move around. All the things people have trouble with we'll improve quite a lot."
Bazalgette said the sport had proved over recent years it could grow despite the recession, with attendances increasing by 1.5% year on year, a new broadcasting deal with Channel 4 and an ongoing effort to widen the audience.
But he admitted that an ongoing impasse with the government over a replacement for the anachronistic Levy scheme, and the divisions it created between bookmakers and racing, was a major blot on the landscape.
"The one thing that is a blot on the sport and makes life very difficult is the whole funding position. Statutory funding is falling apart and needs fixing. That's a long-term battle we've been fighting for a long time. There are things going on that I hope will improve that over the next year or two and we'll be heavily involved in that," he said.
"There's a recognition on the betting side and the racing side that in the end we've got more to gain by working together. Eventually we will get there, but it's a slow process – partly because to fix it properly you have to change the law
• Cheltenham Festival dominance making season too dull
Owen Gibson at Cheltenham
The Guardian.co.uk , Friday 15 March 2013
The head of the Jockey Club, which owns Cheltenham and 14 other courses, has claimed Sprinter Sacre can help drive the popularity of jump racing for years to come as it seeks to restructure the calendar to provide the season with more highlights in the run-up to the Festival.
Simon Bazalgette, the Jockey Club chief executive, admitted the jump racing season became "a bit dull" after Christmas and said he would be leading talks to restructure it in order to boost the season beyond Cheltenham week, using the Champions Series on the Flat as a template.
Confirming that it was exploring a range of funding options for a long overdue but potentially controversial redevelopment of the Cheltenham course, he insisted the revamp would not rob the meeting of its soul in the face of possible objections from those in stands that will have to be demolished.
With the Cheltenham Festival pulling in record attendances on the first three days and selling out a purposefully reduced capacity of 67,000 on Gold Cup day, Bazalgette said that the emergence of Sprinter Sacre, who powered to victory by 19 lengths in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, was important for the sport.
"You've got to have the stars. They are what gets the most interest. We've been lucky to have some great ones like Kauto Star and Denman and horses like Frankel on the Flat. Sprinter Sacre could be the next one on that conveyor belt. We've all seen the horses who have been built up and haven't quite delivered. But he has," he said.
"The great thing about jumps racing is that horses stay around for several years and he's still relatively young, so hopefully we'll get a good few years out of him."
But he admitted that the biggest names had to be encouraged to race more in the run-up to Cheltenham in order to provide racegoers and punters with highlights throughout the season.
"Where I think there is an issue is that the season is not really very well defined in the run-up to Cheltenham. Really, you've got a couple of key moments but horses don't need to run and you don't have the milestones. You've got the end and you've sort of got the beginning, but the middle bit is not really very well defined," said Bazalgette.
"If you want to follow it and for people to pay attention you need to have some pretty clear milestones. That's where I think the focus needs to be in jumps. And perhaps to get them running out more often, particularly after Christmas when it does tend to get a bit dull for a while."
He said the Champions Series, developed over the Flat season to try to provide a climax that mirrors Cheltenham, could be the model and would help other courses get "a piece of the action".
"In Flat, we had the milestones but we didn't have the end, so we created the end. In the jumps, we have the end but we don't have the milestones," said Bazalgette.
The Jockey Club has been reluctant to confirm its plans to redevelop the course until it has applied for planning permission later this year. But it is understood to be examining a number of financing options for the £40m scheme, expected to take at least three years, from bank loans to long term debentures or a bond scheme for high net worth individuals.
There is already concern among those who sit in the Queen Mother stand that they will be displaced by higher prices when it is demolished to make way for an extended modern grandstand, but Bazalgette insisted that it would be sympathetic to all racegoers.
"What we're looking at doing is adding to the end of the grandstand, bringing that into the 21st century. You'll get a better view of the paddock, more people will be able to see the parade ring which means there'll be less people taking up space. It'll just mean more room for everybody. And we'll stick more loos in, upgrade the bars and all that sort of stuff," he said.
"It'll be of significant benefit to everybody and hopefully it'll make financial sense as well. If anything, I think it will enhance the atmosphere because it will make it easier for people to see the horses, easier to move around. All the things people have trouble with we'll improve quite a lot."
Bazalgette said the sport had proved over recent years it could grow despite the recession, with attendances increasing by 1.5% year on year, a new broadcasting deal with Channel 4 and an ongoing effort to widen the audience.
But he admitted that an ongoing impasse with the government over a replacement for the anachronistic Levy scheme, and the divisions it created between bookmakers and racing, was a major blot on the landscape.
"The one thing that is a blot on the sport and makes life very difficult is the whole funding position. Statutory funding is falling apart and needs fixing. That's a long-term battle we've been fighting for a long time. There are things going on that I hope will improve that over the next year or two and we'll be heavily involved in that," he said.
"There's a recognition on the betting side and the racing side that in the end we've got more to gain by working together. Eventually we will get there, but it's a slow process – partly because to fix it properly you have to change the law
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You can't really compare the flat and NH because there is no 'black type' incentive with the jumpers - it's all about the glory of winning the main event at Cheltenham. The festival is so good because everyone is aiming at it all season.
Anyway between England and Ireland there are plenty of Grade 1 options for all hurdlers and chasers whether 2m, 2m4f or 3m+ - just needs English trainers to take their horses to Ireland a bit more.
Unless he goes to Ireland for the James Nicholson, Lexus or Irish Hennessey where is Bob's Worth going to run next season? The Betfair Chase is the only option before Christmas given he is most unlikely to carry a huge weight in the Hennesssey (he's not built to carry it like Denman was) or go to Kempton for the KG as he hates the track. Then the Argento is getting a bit close to Cheltenham and isn't really valuable or prestigious enough - could he even go straight to the Gold Cup next year?
With modern training I doubt most owners/trainers want their top class horses to run more than 2 times (maybe 3 times for 2 milers) before Cheltenham - unless they can offer huge financial incentives, which given the state of racings finances is most unlikely, I can't see it changing.
Anyway between England and Ireland there are plenty of Grade 1 options for all hurdlers and chasers whether 2m, 2m4f or 3m+ - just needs English trainers to take their horses to Ireland a bit more.
Unless he goes to Ireland for the James Nicholson, Lexus or Irish Hennessey where is Bob's Worth going to run next season? The Betfair Chase is the only option before Christmas given he is most unlikely to carry a huge weight in the Hennesssey (he's not built to carry it like Denman was) or go to Kempton for the KG as he hates the track. Then the Argento is getting a bit close to Cheltenham and isn't really valuable or prestigious enough - could he even go straight to the Gold Cup next year?
With modern training I doubt most owners/trainers want their top class horses to run more than 2 times (maybe 3 times for 2 milers) before Cheltenham - unless they can offer huge financial incentives, which given the state of racings finances is most unlikely, I can't see it changing.
Yes the NH season really needs a "Champions Series".
After all it's been a resounding success on the flat.
We really need a few students carrying around stupid placards.
FCUK OFF bazalgette ysc.
After all it's been a resounding success on the flat.
We really need a few students carrying around stupid placards.
FCUK OFF bazalgette ysc.
read carefully
" the champions series, developed over the flat season to try to provide a climax that mirrors cheltenham"
NH racing already has the winning formulae
" the champions series, developed over the flat season to try to provide a climax that mirrors cheltenham"
NH racing already has the winning formulae
the only reward other than cheltenham is good hard cash
what i mean, is their should be 2 champion races before cheltenham that pay more than the festival.
Don't forget that the weather plays such a big part in the jumps season. There is a good build up Nov upto the King George then apart from Trials day and Denman Chase there is not much for the class horses, also Cheltenham is not the end of the season as we have Aintree, Punchestown and Sandown, not many horses finish their season at Cheltenham.
Seems a classic case of 'If it ain't broke don't fix it'.
Should be bonus races before Cheltenham - so if a horse wins (or is at least placed) for say 3 races before and then wins at the festival - double the prize money and the horse will be seen by the racing public - Sprinter Sacre, Simonsig et al might have the incentive to run more(or at least the owner / trainer will)
Jumps season must be wary of Simon Bazalgette's urge to tinker
Jockey Club chief executive's idea of using the Flat's Champions Series to enliven the jumps season could be on the wrong track.
Chris Cook
The Guardian.CO.UK , Sunday 17 March
In the aftermath of the Cheltenham Festival, it is hard to remember what so many people were worried about beforehand. Though the meeting ended under a cloud because of the appalling injury to JT McNamara, the racing itself thrilled, new stars emerged and the major events were won by convincing champions.
Almost nothing in the sport works so well as the Festival, a reliable high point in the year of anyone who enjoys jump racing. But its success is a concern for some, who fear the desire of trainers and owners to win there is so great as to wipe out their willingness to race at any other time, if it might hinder their chance at Cheltenham.
Perhaps it might allay their concerns if the fretful were told that nine of Britain's 13 winners last week had raced four or more times earlier in the season. Or perhaps not, since the other four were the most significant: Cue Card (three previous runs), Simonsig, Sprinter Sacre (two each) and Bobs Worth (one).
The most tenderly campaigned three are, of course, all trained by Nicky Henderson, so anyone insisting on the basis of results at this year's Festival that the star horses should race more often is effectively telling him to change his ways. Aged 62 and after 50 Festival wins, 10 more than anyone else, ever, Henderson is likely to change nothing.
In his defence it should be said that Sprinter Sacre would have run in mid-November if the ground had been in its usual state at that time of year, rather than bottomless, while Bobs Worth and Simonsig were due to have prep-runs early this year, missing them because of doubts as to their wellbeing. Another trainer may have run them anyway, perhaps jeopardising their fitness for the Festival thereby.
On the day after the Gold Cup, this paper carried an assertion that the jumps season needs to be improved. It was made by Simon Bazalgette, who is in a position to do something about it, as chief executive of the Jockey Club, owner of Cheltenham, Aintree and other tracks. One of his suggestions is to use Flat racing's new Champions Series as a template, though it would be premature to call that Series a raging success.
"You've got the end and you've sort of got the beginning, but the middle bit is not really very well defined," says Bazalgette of the jumps season, striking a chord with all those of us who sport poorly defined middles. The issue is a familiar one, November and December having big races every Saturday while January and February are full of trials for more big races in March and April.
My feeling is that the jumps season is adequately stocked with high points and that the star names will be spread rather thinly if more are created. Anyone who ever told a story knows that each climax needs a build-up.
Bazalgette risks sounding like the man who liked Hamlet but felt the deaths were rather clustered at the end and should be staggered more evenly through the action.
There is always room for innovation but any major new race-meeting early in the year should be aimed at horses not catered for at Cheltenham. Otherwise, we will not be adding to what we have but competing with it and perhaps undermining it.
Powerful men must do something to justify their status but the urge to tinker is often best resisted, for fear of unintended consequences. The Festival is a glorious thing but it is also the natural conclusion to the season as it exists now; both have been many decades in evolution and executives are kidding themselves if they think they can improve either by sheer force of will in a short time.
Jockey Club chief executive's idea of using the Flat's Champions Series to enliven the jumps season could be on the wrong track.
Chris Cook
The Guardian.CO.UK , Sunday 17 March
In the aftermath of the Cheltenham Festival, it is hard to remember what so many people were worried about beforehand. Though the meeting ended under a cloud because of the appalling injury to JT McNamara, the racing itself thrilled, new stars emerged and the major events were won by convincing champions.
Almost nothing in the sport works so well as the Festival, a reliable high point in the year of anyone who enjoys jump racing. But its success is a concern for some, who fear the desire of trainers and owners to win there is so great as to wipe out their willingness to race at any other time, if it might hinder their chance at Cheltenham.
Perhaps it might allay their concerns if the fretful were told that nine of Britain's 13 winners last week had raced four or more times earlier in the season. Or perhaps not, since the other four were the most significant: Cue Card (three previous runs), Simonsig, Sprinter Sacre (two each) and Bobs Worth (one).
The most tenderly campaigned three are, of course, all trained by Nicky Henderson, so anyone insisting on the basis of results at this year's Festival that the star horses should race more often is effectively telling him to change his ways. Aged 62 and after 50 Festival wins, 10 more than anyone else, ever, Henderson is likely to change nothing.
In his defence it should be said that Sprinter Sacre would have run in mid-November if the ground had been in its usual state at that time of year, rather than bottomless, while Bobs Worth and Simonsig were due to have prep-runs early this year, missing them because of doubts as to their wellbeing. Another trainer may have run them anyway, perhaps jeopardising their fitness for the Festival thereby.
On the day after the Gold Cup, this paper carried an assertion that the jumps season needs to be improved. It was made by Simon Bazalgette, who is in a position to do something about it, as chief executive of the Jockey Club, owner of Cheltenham, Aintree and other tracks. One of his suggestions is to use Flat racing's new Champions Series as a template, though it would be premature to call that Series a raging success.
"You've got the end and you've sort of got the beginning, but the middle bit is not really very well defined," says Bazalgette of the jumps season, striking a chord with all those of us who sport poorly defined middles. The issue is a familiar one, November and December having big races every Saturday while January and February are full of trials for more big races in March and April.
My feeling is that the jumps season is adequately stocked with high points and that the star names will be spread rather thinly if more are created. Anyone who ever told a story knows that each climax needs a build-up.
Bazalgette risks sounding like the man who liked Hamlet but felt the deaths were rather clustered at the end and should be staggered more evenly through the action.
There is always room for innovation but any major new race-meeting early in the year should be aimed at horses not catered for at Cheltenham. Otherwise, we will not be adding to what we have but competing with it and perhaps undermining it.
Powerful men must do something to justify their status but the urge to tinker is often best resisted, for fear of unintended consequences. The Festival is a glorious thing but it is also the natural conclusion to the season as it exists now; both have been many decades in evolution and executives are kidding themselves if they think they can improve either by sheer force of will in a short time.
Its all crazy. The weather plays a big part in that it is very unreliable from mid January until mid February and by then it is probably too late to run most of the good horses. I understood the idea with the flat was to create this great climax at the end of the season. Now when one already exists in NH it appears we want to tinker and fcuk it up good and proper. As it is there are plenty of suitable grade ones at all levels anyway and to be honest many of them have small fields. Of course the idea may be to get more into the racecourse bars on a Saturday. They would be far better employed fixing the mid-week racing problem rather than making it worse. Of course many people have contributed to making The Festival a success but in many ways it has happened accidently because in truth it is what practically everyone associated with racing wants. As the man said IF IT AINT BROKE .......
i agree with baslegate....how about we create an aintree card that includes a grand national or something 
As a follower of several sports, I believe that NH racing gets it far more right than any other. And let's not forget that the season proper now extends for 6 weeks after Cheltenham, with further highlights at Aintree, Fairyhouse, Punchestown and Sandown. So the criticism focuses on Jan, Feb and the first two weeks of March. Given that the weather is uncertain, few are going to race Grade 1 horses in the two or three weeks before the Festival, and we also have during that period the Irish Hennessy, Irish Champion and trials day at Cheltenham,I have to confess I don't have a clue what this man is talking about.
Using the Champions series as a template? Is he quite all right?
Using the Champions series as a template? Is he quite all right?
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