Well, well, well. Racing's new governing body, the Horseracing Regulatory Authority (HRA), has certainly been flexing its muscles over cheating.
Just four months after taking over from the Jockey Club, the HRA has adopted a get-tough policy as eye-catching as a fast-finishing non-trier (horse not running on its merits).
By upping an already hefty fine imposed on Sir Michael Stoute, Flat racing's eight-time champion trainer, over the running of one of his horses, the HRA sent out a clear message.
 Stoute has been champion trainer eight times |
"Racing beware, we aren't frightened of anybody, however big they are, and we'll tolerate infringements of the rules by nobody," it seemed to be saying.
Perhaps I'm being unfair, but it's hard to imagine the Jockey Club dealing with such an establishment figure, one of the Queen's trainers indeed, in a similar manner.
But as racing endeavours to overcome a tarnished image, the wielding of an iron fist by the HRA is a necessity.
Sadly there was no such steel demonstrated when a derisory one-day ban was handed down to a jockey for "head-butting" his horse before a race at Stratford.
A single day's punishment in this animal welfare-conscious era just wasn't good enough, and conveyed all the wrong messages about racing's stand on the issue.
GOODWOOD THE GREAT
During an interview on BBC Radio Wales, one of the presenters challenged my regular assertion that Glorious Goodwood is the most beautiful of racecourses.
Well, with its scenic and dramatic setting, high up in West Sussex, let alone views across the Solent, it will take something extraordinary to change my mind.
In fact, were you to turn racecourses into horses and stage a Loveliest Racecourse Handicap, Goodwood would be top weight, odds-on favourite and easy winner.
MESSENGER IS THE MESSAGE
A quarter of the way through the jumps season, and a new name is popping up on the list of in-demand jockeys.
While Tony McCoy and Richard Johnson are, as always, dominant (though McCoy is currently hurt), the third most sought-after rider is one Tom Messenger.
Tom who? Well, he may be little known at the moment, but some good judges are predicting a bright future for the 21-year-old from Northamptonshire.
And as the summer meetings grind on, Messenger has 4 October highlighted in his diary, the date of the next fixture at Towcester.
So successful has he been at the track, the Racing Post suggested he roll it up and take it home at the end of each meeting as something of a comfort blanket.
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