RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY

The weather continues to play havoc with the fixture list and, with no sign of any major improvement on the horizon, it is no exaggeration to say the racing industry could be facing a crisis similar to last year`s Foot and Mouth outbreak, writes Alan Magee.

Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) brought racing to a standstill for 47 days (February 28 to April 15), with the loss of 26 meetings. The current inclement weather has resulted in 18 fixtures being cancelled since May 1, a period of 48 days. The great fear with FMD was the uncertainty of when racing would resume, and the parallel with the present problem is all the more frightening with news of further rain forecast for this week.

Recent events of course bring the need for an all-weather track into sharp focus but, even with the combined support of the industry behind such a development, it will still take a number of years to become a reality.

Laytown was one of the five fixtures to be axed during the past week, with the Co Meath beach course considered unsafe after ridges filled with water. The local committee are very keen to ensure the meeting goes ahead next year, and hopefully this unique meeting will be renewed in 2003.

The racing portfolio has been given a `free transfer` after the recent General Election from the Department of Agriculture and Food to the Tourism, Arts and Sport ministry. What this actually means for the industry is hard to know, but former Minister for Justice, John O`Donoghue, is now our man in the Government rather than Joe Walsh.

It is obviously a positive note that O`Donoghue is a regular racegoer, and appears to have his finger on the pulse judged by quotes in the press during the week. The Kerry deputy is aware that National Hunt racing has a much greater following with the public than the Flat, and intends giving the jumping game a greater slice of the financial cake in future.

Royal Ascot will dominate the game over the next few days, and Michael Kinane`s positionas odds-on favourite to be leading jockey is a clear indication of a powerful Aidan O`Brien team. The likes of Rock Of Gibraltar, Landseer and Johannesburg, plus a strong team of juveniles, will represent Ballydoyle, while Dermot Weld`s Vinnie Roe in the Gold Cup is another leading Irish-trained challenger.

Alan Magee