Most of the racing crowd were saddened that Godolphin was dragged through the mire

Driving to Newmarket through a biblical-style deluge that had sheep, cattle and horses queuing in twos in case Noah had to get busy, I feared for my day’s sport last Saturday. But it takes more than rain to stop the British enjoying themselves and there they all were: the fashion train-wreck hen parties in garish satin and flimsy chiffon, the likely lads in hair gel and shiny grey suits, the county set in panamas and brogues. At the flower-filled July course you get up close and personal with the horses and their handlers in the parade ring or the winners enclosure; there is a sense of involvement that simply isn’t possible on some other tracks, and after a season seemingly dominated by drug scandals and warnings-off the sheer buzz of enjoyment was hugely reassuring.

Racing was rocked back on its heels this year by the disclosure that at Moulton Paddocks, one of the two Newmarket yards owned by Godolphin, 11 horses had tested positive for illegal anabolic steroids.