Prize Money Row Escalates

Trainer Mark Johnston has never been shy about expressing his views and yesterday he launched a broadside at Redcar racecourse over the funding levels, branding it as a "flapping track".  Prize money for the seven race card is just £22,600 which is a disgrace and well below the tariff levels set out by the Horsemen's Group.  The only way things are going to change is if all trainers stick together, afterall if the tracks have no runners then they will have no spectators and the bookmakers will have nothing to bet on...I am sure someone would do something about it then!  However, as long as trainers continue to run for poor prize money the tracks will continue to provide poor prize money.

Frankie Dettori received a £290 fine for refusing to ride a horse in a below tariff race at Newbury.  Personally I applaud Frankie for taking a stand against prize money levels...how can a race at a Grade One track fall below tariff ?  Maybe all the jockeys should refuse to ride in these races as well?  If jockeys as well as trainers stood firmly united things would have to change - the bookmakers (who seem to run racing these days!) would be screaming...there were small fields at Folkestone and Brighton yesterday afternoon and both Hills and Ladbrokes were moaning about poor turnover.

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There is plenty of money around for Harry Redknapp to join Chelsea as manager.  Someone must know something because he was an 8/1 chance yesterday morning and by the close of business he was an odds-on shot.

Talking of football, Barcelona have been well backed ahead of their Champions League final tomorrow night.  They are now a best priced 21/20 with Hills and according to pundit Gary Lineker they are good things, so get on!