The turf: Risk assessment

After the 2011 Grand National, I sided with the reformers who wanted changes to the use of the whip by jockeys. If racing is to survive we need bums on seats and have to be responsive to public opinion. In the continuing furore after this year’s National, I find myself in a different camp because most of the noise is coming from those who know nothing and would never go racing anyway.

The one thing we racing lovers were praying for in this year’s contest was an incident-free race with every horse coming home safe. That we were denied. Not only did According to Pete have to be put down when brought down by another horse when running loose after a fall, so did Synchronised, the most high-profile horse in the race since he had won this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, was ridden by the champion jockey Tony McCoy, was owned by the multimillionaire punter J.P.