Is It On?

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Is It On?

Back in the days when bookmakers employed floormen on course, one of the best loved in the Westcountry was nicknamed ‘Badger’. One story I remember fondly is one very cold winter’s day Badger was supposed to be working at Wincanton. It was one of those meetings where the weather had put racing in doubt, and they were going to have a look. Badger hung around for a decision only for a further inspection to be called by which point he’d missed his lift.

Not one to miss a day’s pay Badger decided to thumb it from Exeter to Wincanton, he was lucky and quickly picked up and given a lift to the A303 but was then stranded for some time, past the time of the second inspection. Finally, a kind-hearted soul pulled over, not wanting to make a wasted trip, before getting in the car Badger asked the question out ‘IS IT ON?!’

I know this story because Badger told us all when he arrived at Wincanton which had survived the inspection. It was quite some feat to make it from Exeter to the races, though that’s wasn’t the story. No, Badger was absolutely dumfounded, the chap he asked, ‘DIDN’T KNOW’, he didn’t even know where the racing was let alone if it was on. Badger simply couldn’t believe it.

Badger was a lovely chap, his life revolved around Exeter City Football Club and racing. He was the epitome of an old school floorman, always trying to get a few quid and had half an eye on the floor for a ‘scoop’.

Talking of scoops. Listening to the excellent  AK Bets Racing Room Podcast this morning, there was talk about the BBC not covering Saffie Osborne’s historic Group 1 win in the St Leger on Highwayman. It has been suggested that there might be someone at the head of BBC Sport that has an anti-racing agenda and chose to ignore what really was a big sporting story.

Maybe they just didn’t know.

It was a very busy afternoon of action. If as many suspect there is very little interest in horse racing in the upper echelons of BBC Sport literally maybe they just didn’t know. Did anyone tell them or any other major news agency about the magnitude of Saffie’s win? I’d bet the answer is no. Does racing not have a press department pumping out good news stories like every other multi-million pound business would? 

Harry Stewart-Moore already used the word insular on the pod, but I was going to use it anyway, ask Tony. That’s the perfect word exactly what racing appears to be, insular bordering on arrogant.

Everyone’s going to know that Saffie Osborne won the St Leger, right?

Wrong.

‘Is it on?’

Simon Nott  

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