A few days ago, I helped my children set up the Christmas tree- OK, I bought it, they did the rest! Sat watching them on a cold night with a roaring fire, presents an ideal setting to sit back and reflect on what has happened over the last year.
However, as the saying goes, 'nostalgia isn't what it used to be'. It is better to look forward. Looking forward is no mean feat, I tried studying clairvoyancy, but the teacher saw me coming. But what I can do is give you one or two headlines, which may well appear in newspapers / journals over the next year or two. The Racing Post may well run an article in Spring 2006 under the banner of

"Irish raiders repulsed at Cheltenham"

And go on to say

"The feature pace on Champion Hurdle Day proved a humiliation for the brave Irish horses as England, Scotland and Wales scored a convincing one, two and three"

Before you fall off your chair, there is a good chance that there will be a Pace on Champion Hurdle Day. Lord Lipsey is working very hard to bring this about and we all wish him well. The publicity we could get from this would be amazing.

Go down the line a year or two and the lovely Tina Readman may well be reporting in Northern Horse

Ten Two Year Olds go in two minutes at York

Three Year Old races average 1.59

Not too bold a prediction. After four races, Rhyds Hallstar went close to two minutes, and there were others breathing down his neck. Just think what will happen in 2 or 3 years when Hasty Hall has more progeny on the track, when foals by the Alabar Stallions start racing and when great bred young stallions with tremendous records like Village Connection, Gothic Dream, Nianimble, JWs Best, Play With A Full Deck and Daylon Alert, all have foals from good mares - either imported or indigenous. You'll have to go two minutes to win £250 at York.

And there is the rub, Canadian times for English money.

What can we do about it? We have many positives.

   · Good horses and horse people

   · Some good tracks - both grass and hard, as well as plans to improve and increase racing facilities

   · An award winning television programme in Rasus - poised to expand

   · Three wonderful race series for young horses - the established Sire Stakes, the Little Welsh Dragon and the very exciting Breeders Crown, which embraces AI Sires as well as domestic, and will suit our racing by concentrating on three and four year old horses

   · A good Standardbred Sale at Builth Wells and a very exciting up and coming prospect to be developed in the North West courtesy of Harrison & Hetherington, Northern England's leading livestock auctioneers. No longer will we have to cross Offas Dyke to buy or sell a good horse.

What we need is more prize money. That will only come via improved crowds and alternative betting opportunities, as well as by promoting our sport.

There is in Yorkshire a gentlemen by the name of Bob Leader, an international expert on Racing, Sports Promotion and Gambling Systems. Courtesy of Ian Pimlott, Mr Leader is going to help us.

But what are you doing?

And before you choke on your mince pie, I mean you, the person reading this article. In the October issue I asked for volunteers for Media Representation in order to improve promotion. We already have Stella Havard and Tina Readman. Vivien Gill and Caroline Cullen have volunteered to give a hand. But we did not get one formal response. Nor do we have any volunteers for position of Deputy Regional Steward in the North. Just about everybody at the BHRC works bloody hard to keep this sport running and improve it, but we need more help. Can you make a difference - yes you can!!

I am very pleased to see that my visions of democracy and involvement are starting to bear fruit. Two new clubs are being started, one in the Midlands and one in the South East - modelled on the Harness Horseman Association of Yorkshire / Lancashire and NESC. These clubs will provide a focus point for ideas and a springboard for views to be fed into the BHRC. Everyone should be a member of such an Association, so that views, grievances and ideas can be channelled efficiently. The opportunity to suggest rule changes has proven very positive with the suggestions received presented later in the magazine. These will be debated and voted on - but at least your opinion is being sought and acted on.

There is a lot of work to do this winter, not least the two major issues of handicapping and resolution of the BHRC / STAGBI arrangement. I am not happy with how the STAGBI situation has developed, but I have great faith in its new figure head, Bill Howe. I have known him for 35 years, he has never been a 'Yes Man' and will do what is right, come what may.

To conclude, it is only fitting that I offer a valedictory for the late Clem Dodd. Mr Dodd was a lovely man; quiet, unassuming, always ready to talk to you, a master of his craft. I knew him since I was a boy and my father knew him since they were both boys. He was the dominant, big race driver from the War to the end of the 1970's. He had ice water running through his veins in a race, the horse was always in the best position possible, and as my father said - who has driven against him many times - "virtually impossible to get past once he got in front". I saw him win 6 races in a day at Droylesden - every race on the card, and I believe he did it twice! He drove Starlight to beat the unbeatable Make Way in a match race. He was a multiple Musselburgh winner, in fact he won everything! His 'blood' still lives in his grandson, young John Towe and (sorry Mr Towe Snr) if 'young John's' ability is in anyway inherited, it comes from the dam's side.

He was a wonderful man.

From all at the BHRC, may you have a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and of course the best of luck.