Nostalgia shouldn't be an obstacle to change - and the days of the Duke of Albuquerque were long gone anyway
I am getting more sentimental as I get older but don’t expect me to get all dewy-eyed at last week’s announcement that the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival will no longer be restricted to amateur jockeys.
Steeplechasing’s link to hunting means the amateur tradition is stronger than in most other sporting disciplines, but nostalgia should not be an obstacle to change.
It seemed like less serious times when jump racing was sprinkled with engaging amateur jockey characters, colouring the sport with their Corinthian spirit and daring. They were part of racing’s rich tapestry, adding to the fascination and lure.
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Published on inMarcus Townend
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