Six Flat Fixtures

There are six meetings taking place this afternoon and once again they are all on the flat!  At least there is a good jumping card from Market Rasen to look forward to tomorrow (where Ballynagour, pictured above, is an intended runner in the Summer Plate).  Anyway, today's action comes from Newbury, Haydock, Nottingham, Hamilton, Newmarket and Pontefract.  Golfer Lee Westwood might be participating in the Open at Royal Troon but I know what he will be doing at 7.40pm.  Westwood and his agent Chubby Chandler own Hoof It who participates in the six furlong sprint handicap.  Hoof It is a 10/1 chance so let's hope that he runs well for Westwood who finished his first round of the Open on par.

I see the Racing Post are asking the question I have been banging on about for some time...how do we attract new racegoers?  Tom Kerr says that betting is the best way to attract people to the sport, while my son says that it is all too slow with too long between races.  The world seems to move at a much quicker pace than it did even twenty years ago and people just want a quick fix (just look at the T20 cricket format, or even how snooker tinkered with 'speed snooker').  My boy also says that is too expensive to go along, have a bet and few drinks and something to eat.  Towcester offer free admission to their spectators, knowing that they will get the money back elsewhere on the course - if it were ineffective I am sure Towcester would have put a stop to it, so maybe some of the other tracks should give it a try and see what happens?

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It was a perfect day to record a low score at the Open yesterday and that is just what Phil Mickelson did as the left-handed American shot a magnificent 63 - it could have been 62 but he lipped out at the last.  He now leads by three shots.  They say that the weather is going to get bad today with wind and rain so the scores certainly won't be as low - a three shot lead could yet prove very handy.  It is going to be another long day in front of the television...Mrs Barnes will be thrilled.

Pakistan look as though they can play a bit as they reached 282-6 in the first Test match against England.  Once Pakistan reach 300 it will be difficult for England to win and already it looks as though the best the home side can hope for is a draw.

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has flown to Serbia to watch Britain participate in the Davis Cup.  What I would like to know is, if he is out there why can't he play?  Is he injured?  He says that he "would love to have played here".  So why doesn't he?  Is he tired after Wimbledon?  I'm sure even a tired Murray would be a considerable upgrade on the rest of the side.

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What do you call someone who is scared of KFC?  A chicken.  Have a nice day...