Birthday time for racehorses and monarchs but joy is in short supply in the sport of kings.
The timing was shocking with Kempton’s Christmas meeting and the King George lining up. Proposals for housing development of the historic racecourse had been long-expected but the advanced position was stunning. Shades of Russian training exercises on Ukraine’s borders.
The racecourse home of King George legend Desert Orchid’s iconic statue – who knows where that might end up – looks doomed.
Big money is at stake and a Jockey Club deal seems done – and on the quiet.
But the Jockey Club will pay a price if it sells out the sport it represents without a hearing, let alone a just conclusion.
More tracks feel under threat. If it is too late for Kempton and the King George, organisations like the Jockey Club must be whipped into shape.
Meanwhile, despite all clandestine shenanigans, we still have great and open racing in prospect and our tipsters and fine writers have lined up another information-packed issue – so we can kick off the new year enjoying turf action to the full. Make it a Happy 2026!
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Editor: Alex Gifford
Photos: Tracy Roberts
Art Editor: Oliver Clements
Designers: Bethany Joel, James Stewart and Steven Dando
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EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Paul Ferguson, Robert Cooper, Nick Townsend, Paul Jacobs, Andrew Ayres, Graham Buddry, Jeremy Grayson, Ian Heitman, Andy Newton
Distribution: Intermedia
Printer: Mortons, Horncastle
Opinions in Racing Ahead are those of the contributors and not necessarily the views of The Racing Paper Ltd.
ISSN: 1743-551X
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