At last we are to have a modern and simple Handicap system, it will be in place for the coming season. I can say that the overwhelming feeling of the people I have spoke to is that it will benefit our sport and consequently help our development, surely, that is what we all want.

Now, I know there are detractors amongst us who don't want change, they are the ones that I have mentioned many times before, the selfish ones, the short-sighted ones, the ones who are only interested in how the changes might affect them personally, the ones have a horse or horses that may not benefit under the new system.

Our new system will be for everybody, not just the few that own expensive imports or those who wish to compete in and hopefully win the high value races.

Only last week I attended a Harness Horseman’s meeting, it was almost a full house, far more than would normally have been at the meeting, there’s nothing like the possibility of a good old fashioned handicapping debate to focus people’s minds.

I ask myself where were they when we were discussing it at previous meetings when it was decided to support the proposals. Now, after listening to ill-informed negative rhetoric questions on dubious web-sites and the like, they feel they should have their say. I had to tell them the proposals had been carried and will not be reversed.

I was extremely upset and disturbed recently, to hear of and subsequently read a letter that has been distributed by an affiliated organisation , which accuses our Chairman and Council of implementing the new handicap system by undemocratic means, without consultation and taking decisions “behind closed doors”. In my reply I would say, scandalous, libellous, and totally untrue.

You will recall that there has been many people including myself and the Chairman wishing to see our handicap system updated and simplified, indeed, outside authorities have suggested this to be a  matter of priority, along with improving our integrity and security. These issues will have to be addressed if we wish to be taken more seriously in the outside world of Harness Racing. In our attempt to address these issues we have made a start and in doing so we have followed a totally democratic process.

We made it known in both Council and Committee meetings of the procedure we felt should be followed, that was that an independent panel be formed, comprising of four respected and 

Knowledgeable people who would be given a mandate to create a modern simplified monies won system, based on those used in other successful harness racing countries around the world.

As I mentioned previously I attended an Harness Horseman’s meeting recently. After the handicapping issue had been exhausted our Chairman—Glen Watson asked that we consider the merits of a vision he had been having. We are aware that in future S.4.C. Television will only be transmitting live from tracks in Wales therefore there will be no Crock of Gold races outside Wales. Glen’s vision was to create and promote a series based on the C of G principal but within England and Scotland but open to all UK horses. We would envisage legs/qualifying at tracks such as Appleby, Pike Hall, Fir Tree, Bells Field, Musselburgh, CorbieWood and York with the qualifying legs attracting total prize money of say £1,600 and a final of £8,000.

Should this proposal attract the necessary support (I am sure it will) it will be known as the ‘Cock of The North’ series. I can say that there are lots of people working hard to make this happen and that the tracks that have been approached seem keen to be involved. Personally I feel that it would be fitting to hold the final at the new-look York track, lets get it on.

Unfortunately I have to finish on a sad note. An old friend of mine, Nathan Hudson, passed away recently. He was a man I had a lot of time and respect for, he was a true gentleman. Like myself he was Bradford born and bred although he had lived and had his business in Skipton for many years. He was a founder member of the Harness Horseman’s Association and a stalwart and committee member of Hellifield, he hardly ever missed a York meeting, always cheerful, always positive, always a supporter. I drove my first winner on grass on a horse that I bought from Nathan some 30 years ago, happy days, he will be sadly missed.

 

Ever an optimist, I am looking forward to 2008.

 

Barry Delaney

Vice Chairman