Goodwood’s Gulf crisis

CONSPICUOUS by their absence from Goodwood have been Dubai TV, who normally have a team working at all the big race meetings.

It is understood they did not want to give extra promotion to Qatar, who sponsor the festival and whose branding at the course is off the scale.

the snub became even more apparent when it emerged that Dubai TV did not take the world feed to show the racing from Goodwood in the Middle East on either tuesday or wednesday.

However, the blockade by Gulf states who have accused Qatar of funding terrorism didn’t stop Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed running horses at Goodwood, as Sports Agenda revealed it wouldn’t during Royal Ascot.

But Qatar’s racing top brass have yet to show at Goodwood despite their huge sponsorship. their absence is being put down to not wanting to be seen abroad too often during the current crisis. CARLO SERTORI, former England physio now working for Manchester City, was convinced he could jump the queue outside the Honky Tonks bar in Nashville, Tennessee where he had reserved a table while on pre-season tour with City. However, much to his embarrassment, the bouncers would not let him in even after he played the City card.