Where would we be without ‘all-weather’ racing on artificial surfaces?
Where would we be without ‘all-weather’ racing on artificial surfaces? With Sandown’s jumping card frosted off last Saturday, I wasn’t the only one who scuttled across Surrey to Lingfield’s polytrack, where Betdaq had sponsored an extra day to keep the cash tills rolling and the internet wires humming with the bets that help to sustain our sport.
All-weather racing began here only 20 years ago, just before the Berlin Wall fell. But with an ear-nipping chill and snow still visible on the grandstand roof we still enjoyed a seven-race card.
Gone are the days when you went to Lingfield just to watch the little guys of the sport kicking sand in each other’s faces in front of crowds no bigger than a bus queue. These days top trainers, too, send their horses to the artificial tracks: Ghanaati won last year’s 1,000 Guineas on her turf debut after two prep runs on Kempton’s all-weather.
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in