Agree with him or not, Aidan O’Brien is never less than interesting - and strong opinions are what racing needs from its stars
![Aidan O'Brien acknowledges racegoers after Opera Singer's success in the Nassau Stakes](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2Fdb3cff09cba8-goodwood-46.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
We have entered what in news and politics is often referred to as "the silly season". Some of the silliness has rubbed off on racing.
As a result of the clash with the Paris Olympics, Goodwood's leadership realised this year's Glorious meeting was bound to take place slightly below the radar. That proved to be the case, with ITV achieving an average audience across the five days down 25 per cent on last year and media coverage also understandably reduced. There was, however, one unexpected exception.
Making bold predictions can be dangerous, but one can generally be confident a television interview conducted before the Molecomb Stakes will not go viral on social media. Everything changed when the UK's shortest-serving prime minister, Liz Truss, attended Goodwood's second day alongside owner Fitri Hay, the single biggest donor to Truss's 2022 Conservative leadership campaign.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inLee Mottershead
Last updated
- Racing has a lifelong responsibility to racehorses - deciding who is responsible is a vital next step
- The Arc will be without two superstars due to an outdated ban - racing can ill afford this act of self-harm
- York has been buffeted by fierce headwinds - but it remains a shining example to all racecourses
- The growth of women's sport has become a global phenomenon - racing must do more to take advantage
- British racing will soon have a new BHA chief executive and chair – but the sport does not need a sugar daddy
- Racing has a lifelong responsibility to racehorses - deciding who is responsible is a vital next step
- The Arc will be without two superstars due to an outdated ban - racing can ill afford this act of self-harm
- York has been buffeted by fierce headwinds - but it remains a shining example to all racecourses
- The growth of women's sport has become a global phenomenon - racing must do more to take advantage
- British racing will soon have a new BHA chief executive and chair – but the sport does not need a sugar daddy