Megan and McCririck show racing's good and ugly sides

The Industry View / Paul Nicholls / 23 October 2011 / 1

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Shut up, McCririck!

"I stand by my Thursday tweet that McCririck does racing more harm than good on many occasions – and this was one. He should think before he sounds off, and remember racing pays his wages!"

Paul's daughter's dedication to racing is easy to admire but John McCririck's words just annoy.

To judge from their antics on Wednesday, I think I am on safe ground in saying that not too many former World War Two spies or ex-GCHQ employees have relocated to Ditcheat in recent years. But plenty of Captain Manwarings have, it would appear, to judge from those propping up at the bar at the local!

I'll explain...

Wednesday was my 20th anniversary of training here at Ditcheat and the locals clearly decided to throw a surprise party in the Manor Inn for me in the evening.

How did I know? Well, it helped when someone rang me in the morning and said I will see you in the pub tonight for the celebration!

I decided to have a bit of fun with them, so I went in the pub for a coke and sandwich as usual on Wednesday afternoon and just mentioned in passing that "I could really do without going up to London for a Betfair dinner this evening."

You have never seen so many faces drop at once, as they all hurried for their phones!

But we obviously had a great night and hopefully it will be business as usual for me now after the back operation, as I am due to make my return to the racetrack at Chepstow on Saturday.

Georgie rides out Master Minded, so she will be in charge at Aintree. And hopefully it will be smiles all round for the family there as my 14-year-old daughter Megan rides her pony Wotarisk in the 148cm and under pony race before racing.

These are the pony race finals and the best 15 in each category (the other being 138cm and under) line up and Megan will be fancying her chances as Wotarisk has won at Chepstow, Kempton, Ascot and Newbury, while only losing out to by a short head to Miss Wonderful.

It's a big day for all the kids who have been hard at it since March, and if dedication is any route to success, Megan should go close; for the past fortnight she has been riding out in the dark before school.

One person who would be better off going out in the dark in disguise when he gets back from America is John McCririck after a disgracefully misleading, and over the top, article about the whip in Thursday's Daily Mail.

At one point, he wrote - and yes, this actually appeared in the paper - that "after all, if speed is all that matters, regardless of the animal's welfare, then why not attach electrodes to horses' private parts? The electric current would certainly send them shooting round the course."

Well, having spoken to many professionals in racing since then, I think we have an alternative use for the electrodes.

In all seriousness though, I stand by my Thursday tweet that he does racing more harm than good on many occasions - and this was one. He should think before he sounds off, and remember racing pays his wages!

Because what I read in the Mail just wasn't on, and trust me it has angered many jockeys, trainers and owners.

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david elliott | 25 October 2011

At last someone is prepared to tell it like it is with mccririck , he does so much more harm than good with his ill thought out comments and his mysogenous attitudes , its a wonder tanya hasnt sued C4 for allowing him to behave that way . I guess she woulds have a great case for sexual discrimination .