Equinties - Cheltenham Trials

Gm Equinauts

Some horses will be out to prove themselves today, others (namely CONSTITUTION HILL) just out for a bit of work,

but either way, Trials Day is one of the best meetings this time of year providing a small flavour of the entertainment coming in March.

Let’s dive in.

HEADINE ROUND UP

TRAINERS FEES

The Racing Post reported yesterday that trainers could refuse to give televised interviews should RMG (Racecourse Media Group) not be willing to pay the £500k demanded from them before February 1st.

The PRA (Professional Racing Association), a body representing trainers, has justified their ransom by likening their deal to that of the pre- and post-match obligations of football managers, who, under contract, provide airtime to the TV shows who so desperately rely on it for various content forms.

The PRA claims to have over 170 members, which includes many leading jumps trainer, meaning if they were to act, it would be a very effective silent protest heard loud and clear by the channels showcasing the sport.

The payment would bring trainers onto a level playing field with jockeys, who are currently paid to give interviews.

Nigel Payne, acting for the PJA, said in the Racing Post: "If you are Sky after a football match you have access by contract to the managers and players. In a sense this is what we are saying here in that when Sky or ITV or Racing TV are broadcasting they should have access to the main players.

"Now they pay the jockeys, which goes to the PJA for the benefit of the jockeys. So what we are saying is why shouldn't the trainers get paid as well. What's the difference? We felt trainers should be entitled to some remuneration for the enormous number of interviews they give."

In terms of a business deal, we think it’s a hell of a smart play from Peter Savill and his company, the PRA, who know they might have RMG bent over a barrel here, and justifiably so. Why shouldn’t the trainers get paid for content so valuable to the broadcasters? It’s basic supply and demand.

From a consumer standpoint we can also so the good side. If trainers are contracted to conduct media interviews, rather than doing it thanks to their ‘goodwill’, interviewers can ask more pertinent or tough questions live on TV without the worry that they will storm off and never speak to them again.

‘Oi Dan, everyone knows you’ve been cheating with LANGER DAN, can you give us one more horse you’re stopping that we should look out for please?’

That’s what the people want.

That said, of all the problems we have in horse racing, this really isn’t near the top of the pile but one can’t argue that a shake up of the old racing furniture every now and then isn’t a bad thing because quite frankly, numerous facets of the legacy racing world require drastic change, starting at the top – the BHA. After them, it’s the bookies who are killing the sport. We’ll stop there because we could get ranting…

SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO ACCESS THE BIG RACE PREVIEWS!

Become a paying subscriber of Premium to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

A subscription gets you:

• • The weekender edition (Mon-Fri still free)
• • The weekends best bets
• • That warm fuzzy feeling inside knowing the intern gets fed
• • Only £1 a week!