OUR TIME TO SHINE

Racing’s opportunity to raise a nation’s spirits

LET’S start with a quiz question.

How many days have passed since Glencassley and Aidan Coleman won the Family Fun Raceday – Sunday April 26th Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at Wetherby? a) 74; b) 740; c) 7,400.

Don’t worry if you got it wrong. I did, too. The answer is actually a) 74, but the coronavirus-induced blackout feels like an eternity for us all.

Daytime TV can take you only so far. The Sweeney remains a classic, and Minder is full of laughs - but it was never the same after ‘nephew Ray’ came in for Terry Mccann.

And, while Will Rogers Downs and, latterly, Le Lion-d’angers dutifully kept its seat warm, there is nothing like British racing. As, barring any lastminute hitches, we are about to rediscover.

Racing horses round a field with knobs on is hardly more than a meaningless frivolity in the contemplation of the wider picture.

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed many thousands of lives and has ruled that millions more will never again be the same.

But it’s meaningless frivolity.

Racing should be proud to be the first of the major sports to resume. It entertains and stimulates the mind – much needed, given the threats posed by lockdown to the nation’s mental well-being.

The wish to return is no dishonour to those who have suffered. Every industry manufacturing and retail are no different - needs to restart to give lives back their purpose and help the economy back to its feet.

And now our sport has a window – more of an arrow slit, given that Premier League football comes back in less than three weeks – opportunity.

Interest in racing – not to mention betting on it – enjoyed a surge in those countries able to continue while we were in abeyance.

And the compressed 2020 Flat season means the goodies come thick, and they come fast – just look at the 21 races – including the first two Classics of the campaign – on ITV next weekend.

In 17 days’ time, it’s

Royal Ascot. No pageantry, no fashion, but no fewer than 36 contests – six more than ever before.

All this presents a guilt-edged chance to show racing as the great sport we know it to be – while football will recommence shortly, the wait goes on for many others – and we mustn’t let it go begging.

There was no Family Fun Raceday on April 26 at Wetherby, but there is enjoyment aplenty in the weeks and months to come.

It starts with the Brenkley Handicap over a mile and five yards at Newcastle on Monday.

Have you ever salivated this much over a 0-65?

Neither have I. Let the games begin. o f

Pinatubo is one of the leading horses showcasing racing during the next few weeks