Time for racing to step out of the shadow of amateurism

General / The Assistant / 03 February 2008 / Leave a Comment

Professionalism must be embraced to really succeed on the world stage, says The Assistant

Reading John Bryant's fantastic book, 3:59.4: The Quest To Break The Four Minute Mile, has brought to mind how our obsession with celebrating amateurism is slowing British horseracing's progress, and seeing it lag behind the sport in other countries.

Bryant outlines how it was unfashionable for athletes of the early 20th century to try too hard, how it was better to succeed in spite of your lax preparations, and how gentlemen were expected to fit in athletic success alongside leading an army in the morning, being a doctor in the afternoon, singing in a choir in the evening, before retiring to a gentleman's club to socialise.

Making an effort was just not the done thing. And so generations of athletes - George, Cummings, Nurmi, Lovelock, Haegg and Andersson - were sneered at for their efforts, with the ultimate insult handed down: that they were "professionals".

But whereas for most sports these attitudes are an historical curiosity - a demonstration of how times change - British racing still finds itself within the grip of a culture that commends the tyro.

Within elements of the racing fraternity, no one is given greater hero status than the amateur jockey. What better kind of person can be found than the army captain who hunts on Sundays and rides in the odd race? And anyone who takes it more seriously? Well, it's a little distasteful.

But why is this important? What does it matter if a few hoorahs are given undeserved billing?

Well, it means the attitude permeates that there is merit in unprofessionalism, so that even our professional jockeys run their lives as a novice might. Few of them understand nutrition, few of them understand fitness, few of them are non-drinkers and non-smokers. Few of them take the measures required to really succeed in their sport.

The issue for British racing is that things have already changed, and rapidly, in other racing jurisdictions. And if our so-called professionals don't shed the yoke of our amateurish past and present, they'll have no place on the world stage.