An Open Letter to Andy Burnham: The Potential Hero of Horse Racing

OUR Matt Chapman writes an open letter to Andy Burnham…

Dear Andy, it appears you will be Prime Minister next month. Good luck. Much to do if Labour has any chance of winning the next election.

How about being a hero straight away and putting a stop to the destruction of one of the country’s most successful industries?

You could do this immediately, and show you have an understanding of what actually goes on in the world, something your predecessor clearly struggled to grasp.

I’m a horse racing man. Loved the sport since I was about ten. Worked in it from the very day I left university.

You were born in Aintree, home of the world’s most famous steeplechase in the Randox Grand National. An event that means so much to Liverpool and the nation. It matters. You know this. It would be impossible not to with your roots.

And yet, you are now an MP for, and, if all goes as everyone expects, about to be Prime Minister for a Government that appears hellbent on bringing down a sport adored by Kings and Queens, world leaders and normal people – backers – up and down the land.

I can only hope you know that horse racing has been attacked in recent times by Government’s seeking what they might feel is an ‘easy win’ with voters while indirectly increasing the issues they claim to be trying to solve.

Tell anyone you want to stop gambling harm and the person you speak to will say ‘well done, we support you’. But then explain your method and they would reply ‘you are bonkers’. Denying the public the right to spend their hard-earned as they want is also always a vote-crusher.

The nonsense has been coordinated – although that is a hugely flattering term – by the Gambling Commission, which for some time has threatened the industry with affordability checks on punters.

It probably suits its members to keep the process rolling. But that has already had major consequences in lost income.

No one wants anyone with addictions to face gambling issues.

But, and really this should not have to be explained, but it does, if you make it tricky for anyone – addict or not – to place a bet you either lose sensible and disciplined players from the sport they enjoy or drive them and addicts to the unregulated black market.

It’s the worst possible scenario, which only someone with no knowledge of the game could consider viable.

Indeed, what the Gambling Commission and Government is actually doing could be considered scandalous. It’s enabling rather than curing.

Clearly, therefore, affordability checks are not the answer.

But don’t get me wrong here. All of us in racing understand addicts – remember gambling addicts are not just that, they are people with addictive personalities – need as much help as possible.

The sport understands its responsibilities and so do bookmakers, who already pay £100million a year towards helping those in need. We all need to do more. To try and spot addicts before damage is done rather than after.

It’s the same with those who drink too much or shop too much. It’s just, sadly, the reality of being human.

Andy, please work with the industry. Not against it.

Remember £300 million goes to the Treasury from horse racing. No less than £4 billion is contributed by the sport to the UK economy. Roughly 85,000 jobs are created through the sport, and it remains the second most watched in the country.

In addition, the sport of kings puts the UK on the map in terms of global prestige – as seen just the other day at Royal Ascot – and derives from centuries of tradition. The country is a leader in welfare and racing provides much community engagement and raises loads of money for charities that might one day save your life.

And let’s not forget the magnificent thoroughbred. Without the sport, the racehorse dies. Surely you don’t want to be the man who helped that happen?

Andy, please consider carefully what is going on. You can be the hero here. You can get it. You can help all those the Gambling Commission are throwing to the black market wolves.

Back to the racing. Two Derby’s dominate this weekend, with the Pitmen’s version this afternoon live on ITV and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, featuring Epsom hero Christmas Day and ‘non-runner’ Benvenuto Cellini at the Curragh tomorrow.

In the former, at Newcastle, I’m hoping Tribal Star can overcome a horrible draw. He will be dropped out by Adam Caffrey and it’s a long straight so hopefully he can make some ground up late on and get into the frame at least.

Last year, off a mark of 88, he finished fourth finishing strongly. He loves the all-weather so forget what he’s been doing on grass. Have a few quid on eachway for Ado McGuinness.

I just hope you can get a bet on.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

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Eze Chidiebere Paul

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