A Different Standard Of Racing – Southwell

I had always made the assumption that the role of The Clerk of the Course, at any racecourse, was to maintain the racing surface to as close as possible to the norm. In the case of a turf course this would be 'good', on an all weather course 'standard'.

Yesterday, I was left asking myself, after returning the times from Southwell, why no attempt was made to water the track to bring it closer to standard.

I appreciate that after the winter flooding Roderick Duncan might be sick of the sight of water and after re-opening in early February the times returned suggested business as usual. Whereas the times being returned since the 2nd March 2013 would suggest a gradual deterioration of the racing surface to the degree that if Southwell all weather course was a turf track the meetings would have been abandoned.

I would exercise some caution and be very skeptical of the form lines coming from Southwell over the last month unless the horses that have prevailed were to be facing bottomless ground. Or perhaps we are looking at a new standard of racing at Southwell.