Crass optics of Tony Martin celebrating a Newcastle winner cannot have helped racing’s image
It will come as no surprise to be told Sir Mark Prescott is a man of strong opinions.
Prescott is prepared to speak his mind and stand up for what he believes, regardless of whether he feels his audience will share or support his views. He has done that for years when defending field sports and, more recently, in relation to his principled stance that horses whose jockeys break the whip rules should be disqualified. What Prescott called for is now in British racing's statute book – and nothing that has happened in the interim suggests the rule change or those who wanted it were wrong.
Another of Prescott's long-held beliefs was aired in the latest Racing Post Big Read. After talking about his fears for racing's future and his concern that animal sports may ultimately lack sufficient public approval to continue, the master of Heath House stressed the vital need for those who work in racing to be able to be knowledgeable public advocates for the sport.
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
- The epic Shishkin v Energumene duel: a day when it was good to have shares in goosebumps
- Racing must make the customer king - replacing fractional odds with decimals would be an easy way to start
- Ascot's programme and prize-money changes leave British and Irish rivals with difficult questions to answer
- Nicky Henderson has been entirely vindicated - now he is key to transforming Britain's Cheltenham Festival fortunes
- Racing's failure to promote Premier racedays is embarrassing - and underlines why help from bookmakers is needed
- The epic Shishkin v Energumene duel: a day when it was good to have shares in goosebumps
- Racing must make the customer king - replacing fractional odds with decimals would be an easy way to start
- Ascot's programme and prize-money changes leave British and Irish rivals with difficult questions to answer
- Nicky Henderson has been entirely vindicated - now he is key to transforming Britain's Cheltenham Festival fortunes
- Racing's failure to promote Premier racedays is embarrassing - and underlines why help from bookmakers is needed