ON THIS DAY
TODAY: Tuesday February 16, 2021
50 years ago (1971)
We said cheats had taken advantage of the UK’s switch to decimalisation by fiddling coin-operated machines which accepted the new decimal coins while giving more than its value in goods and services. Otherwise, we said Decimal Day, or D-Day, as it was called, had gone smoothly.
Shops continued to accept payment in pounds, shillings and pence but issued change in the new money.
62 years ago (1959)
Revolutionary Fidel Castro was sworn in as Cuba’s youngest ever Prime Minister at the age of 32.
Castro’s guerilla troops had led resistance against the country’s military regime forcing President Batista into exile on January 1.
Castro would rule the country until he stepped aside in February 2008.
56 years ago (1965)
Dr Richard Beeching issued his second report on the future of Britain’s railways and recommended cutting routes would save up to £100 million.
Beeching’s two reports led to the closure of a quarter of the UK’s rail network, including more than 2,000 local stations with the loss of nearly 70,000 jobs.
THE boss of the Wetherspoon pub chain has called on the Government to reopen bars at the same time as non-essential shops.
Tim Martin warned that the industry is “on its knees” and needs to restart to save jobs.
He said pubs make a massive contribution to the economy, with Wetherspoon alone paying about £10 of tax for every pound of profit it makes.
Mr Martin, 65, said: “Surely it is possible for the hospitality industry to reopen at the same time as nonessential shops, now that a vaccine exists, on the basis of the social distancing and hygiene regulations.
“Unless the industry does reopen on that basis, economic mayhem will inevitably follow.
“In the past 10 years Wetherspoon has generated £6billion of taxes, something we are very proud of.
“Many people have correctly pointed out that the three lockdowns have been a disaster for the hospitality, retail, arts and entertainment industries. “But our calculations show that they have been an even bigger disaster for public finances. “The taxes paid by Wetherspoon are mirrored by thousands of companies which have been annihilated by lockdowns.
“As a result, government finances have been annihilated even more.” Mr Martin, pictured, has been a heavy critic of the Government’s handling of the crisis.
He again questioned the policies put in place, saying: “We’ve had 50 million customer visits since July last year and we have had no outbreak among customers.” Mr Martin said the idea pub gardens could open in April was not the solution. He added: “That will make the whole industry
HARRY COBDEN, 14 winners adrift of Brian Hughes for the jump jockeys’ title, has not lost faith he can become champion for the first time.
“It’s not over yet,” said Cobden. “It’s not an impossible task.”
Cobden will not lack support riding for 11-times champion trainer Paul Nicholls (right).
“Paul’s got lots of horses that are going to be running. I think we’re going to have a good two and a half months,” Cobden added.
“And, obviously, it will be helped with Colin Tizzard supporting me as well.”
Hughes, attempting to become champion for the second successive season, dominates the northern circuit but does not have the ammunition of Cobden.
More immediately, Cobden is after more success with Cyrname in Saturday’s Betfair Ascot Chase, which they won two years ago. The gelding might have lost his status as the highestrated chaser in England and Ireland, but Cobden believes he is now back to his best.
“I schooled him this morning and he feels really good,” said Cobden, in a call hosted by Great British Racing.
“We’re going to ride him more aggressively. I don’t want another episode like we had at Kempton (pulled up in the King George VI Chase).”
Nicholls also runs Master TommyTucker in the Grade One contest. ALLMANKIND was cut to 7-1 (from 8s) by Paddy Power for next month’s Arkle Chase at Cheltenham after winning the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick yesterday.