Frantic In France!

Yesterday was a busy afternoon for David at the first day of the sales at Saint Cloud in France when he was the successful bidder on three lots including a three year old full brother to Grands Crus called Gevrey Chambertin.  He was also quick to snap-up Taratata Sivola who finished a close second in an Auteuil handicap chase a couple of weeks ago, as well as Bladoun, an untried three year old son of Smadoun.  With over another two hundred lots to go through the ring this afternoon there could be a fair contingent on their way back across the Channel to Pond House.

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We have runners at Worcester, Chepstow and Perth today so is plenty of travelling and logistics to be sorted out to get our runners to the races.  David has been forced to go to Perth to find a suitable opportunity for Bold Perk who is well-in according to the handicapper who has put him up by 20lbs in future handicaps, while Stef And Stelio makes his debut for the yard since leaving Gerard Butler, so all in all it should be an interesting day's racing.

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There are some worrying statstics that show that there are 40% fewer registered foals this year compared with 2007 and that equates to the lowest figure since 1988.  Just think in three or four years time this will impact on jump racing as there will be a lot less horses to run.  If there are fewer flat horses, inevitably there will be a knock-on effect to the jumps side of things - I wonder what they will do in the future, have fewer fixtures?

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I was saddened to read of the passing of former flat jockey Richard Fox at the age of 57.  He was a larger than life character who always spoke his mind and never gave you any nonsense.  He was a very talented jockey and he had a great sense of humour.  He will be sadly missed and our thoughts are with his family.

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I see that the levy contributions in prize money for Hamilton racecourse has fallen from £700,350 in 2005 to £409,890 in 2008 and to £253,710 this year.  I am not sure where the tracks will find the extra money from...everyone is having a hard time of things, but I am fairly confident that trainers will not be too keen to run for prize money that is only just over a third of what it used to be.