Climate change is having an impact on horse racing – so should we bring back all-weather jumping?

WHEN you think about climate change, your next thought is unlikely to be about horse racing.

And why would it be when you flick on the news and see record heatwaves, wildfires and floods? There was a sodding tornado in Manchester the other day for Christ’s sake.

PA

Chambard won the Becher Chase on terrible ground at Aintree last month[/caption]

But make no mistake, global warming is already having a huge impact on this great game of ours. 

We had a brief spell in late November when it was brass monkeys, but since then it feels like it’s not stopped raining… and over the past four weeks we’ve lost 18 fixtures to waterlogging.

Arguably, a few more should have fallen by the wayside but tracks decided to plough on – the Becher Chase card at Aintree, when Chambard led home just four finishers in the big race itself, was as tough a watch as I can remember.

I’ve made this point in the past but if I don’t revisit it now I never will… it’s time for the return of all-weather jumps racing.

When all-weather tracks were first launched in this country in the late 80’s and early 90’s, jumping on the sand was pretty common.

But there were issues with the quality and consistency of the surfaces in those days, so the idea was canned in 1994.

Given the huge strides in technology, veterinary science and the superb safety record of modern all-weather tracks, I reckon it’s time we dusted off the portable hurdles and brought the band back together.

Plenty of jumps trainers – 14-time champion Paul Nicholls included – have some sort of schooling facility on an artificial surface at their yards, so why not stage a race meeting on the Tapeta at Southwell or Polytrack at Kempton?

This isn’t totally pie in the sky stuff and at least worth exploring – in 2009 the BHA said they were open to the idea of bringing all-weather jumping back.

It came off the back of a brutally cold winter in 2008 when dozens of meetings were lost to snow and frost.

A spokesman at the time said that all-weather racing would ‘undoubtedly’ have a part to play in jumps racing’s future, given our changing climate. 

Since then, nothing.

I accept it might not be for everyone and every horse – but at least you’ll get a reliable, safe surface and you can avoid blank days and the loss of valuable betting turnover.

The reality is the bookies in this country are the ones pulling the strings – why else would our leaders have agreed to stage Sunday night racing at Wolverhampton tomorrow?

If a top executive from one of the powerhouse bookmakers phoned up the BHA and proposed my idea they’d be all ears, I’ve no doubt.

Our winters have been getting milder and wetter and, if anything, it is only going to get worse because those in positions of power around the world with the ability to do something are not really interested.

It may be a bleak situation staring us in the face, but it presents some of racing’s top brass with a chance to prove they’re not as useless as a pair of sunglasses on a bloke with one ear.

It would cost a fortune to install new drainage systems at tracks around the country – money we just don’t have – but we already have the facilities to keep the show on the road when the grass is unraceable.

For once, let’s be proactive, flexible, open-minded and get on the front foot. How about it, racing chiefs?

FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org

---

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org