Racing's mismanagement leaves me worried and exasperated about the future

Ed Walker is a weekly columnist in the Weekender, out every Wednesday

Lambourn this week received the news we are losing another one of our trainers. Last week it was Joe Tuite and now it's Harry Dunlop, a Group 1-winning trainer. How is it possible this sport cannot accommodate trainers like Joe and Harry? Two great guys who have given their entire working lives to the industry.

Both are talented horsemen, both have had multiple successes at Group level and both are cracking characters and personalities, which we need. People love an underdog and it makes things more interesting when a lesser-known name basks in the glory that is usually enjoyed by the bigger yards.

Harry Dunlop: revealed he is closing his yard at the end of the season

That's why John Quinn and Jason Hart winning Sunday's Maurice de Gheest with Highfield Princess was a great result. John has won Group and Grade 1s before but he is not a regular at that table. Neither am I, but surely diversity is better for the sport? We are heading, as I said last week, for 'super stables' of 300-500 horses and that is no good for the sport but also, in my opinion, no good for horses and owners, and certainly no good for spectators and fans.

These two very good trainers being forced to find another way of life is a result of years and years of neglect by those who control the sport. It's time drastic action is taken. The model does not work and the reason is because nobody has control of the sport in Britain. The tripartite structure between the BHA, racecourses and participants, which is supposedly responsible for major decisions, is the most ludicrous setup of any industry. We need a governing body that makes decisions for the greater good and long-term interests of the sport, whether racecourses, bookmakers, trainers and jockeys like it or not.

The people who matter the most in this are the owners and, without them, there is no sport. That's why the only way we can get off this slippery slope is for owners to take action. It is all very well for trainers to boycott the odd race or meeting here and there but nobody is going to pay any attention in the long term until the owners, the people who ultimately provide the platform for all of us to make a living, say enough is enough.

Due to the drop in field sizes, the focus has gone from the staffing crisis in the industry, which is still one of our biggest threats. That is going to get harder as the cost of living goes up; trainers cannot afford to keep up with the inevitable rise in wages, and staff look elsewhere to make a living.

I am almost 40, I have three young children and I need to know my business and therefore my job is secure enough to see them through. Do I feel British racing can support me and my family for the next 25 years? I am beginning to wonder.

The industry needs to wake up and realise that is a very serious problem. There has been enough talking about it and there now needs to be some action before we lose more good people from the game.

Read these next:

Harry Dunlop cites 'economic climate' for decision to stop training this season

'It needs to change now' - more pressure for fixture reduction from top trainers

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