HEXHAM last Saturday and Redcar on Monday were at the centre of complaints by jockeys and trainers about the rough state of the ground.

Hexham raced but with 16 withdrawals due to the ground, and a number of horses finished lame. Redcar had to be abandoned.

The problem was that at the previous meeting they raced on very soft ground and the divots had not been replaced well enough.

Another problem at Hexham is that there is a serious shortage of stabling for runners. They only have 70 stables and, with 92 declared runners, this meant that 22 horses had to stand in horse-boxes on what was a very hot day.

Racecourses have to ensure that there is enough stabling for all runners, otherwise they should have less runners.

What's the point of having security at racecourse stables when some of the runners are standing in wagons with no security?

I had a runner at Hexham and, although I was not there, following discussions with the owners and jockey, we decided to allow him to run.

Jockey Russ Garrity was instructed that if the horse, Northern Accord, was not enjoying the ground he could pull him up.

In the end, he actually won the race and, thankfully, came home safe and sound.

Meanwhile, at Redcar, trainers, horses, jockeys, staff, and members of the public arrived to find the meeting abandoned five minutes before the first race. What a complete farce.

Newmarket trainer Nick Littmoden was the first trainer to inspect the track and was amazed at what he saw. The ground was hard, rough and unsafe.

Clerk of the Course, John Gundill, said he had inspected the track in the morning and was unaware of a problem, which suggests he hadn't done his job properly.

Why did he not realise there was a problem? What was the point of him inspecting the track if he does not know why he's doing it?

He explained that due to 96 runners on soft ground 10 days before, divots had been made and drying conditions had baked the ground. Ten days is a long time to repair a racetrack and Redcar has an excellent watering system.

Mr Gundill - you and your ground staff have no excuse. Heads must roll.

I do feel that questions have to be asked about certain racecourses management of ground condition especially Hexham and Redcar.

I believe in giving credit to racecourse management who work hard along with their ground staff in maintaining decent racing conditions.

In the North, three of the very best conditions I have seen are at Ripon, Beverley and Hamilton. You always know that conditions on these tracks will be decent. Congratulations to them.

If trainers gallops were in the same condition as certain racecourses I'm sure that they would not even gallop their horses on them.

Perhaps the Jockey Club should do more spot checks on racecourse conditions - just to keep them alert.

Al Azhar found one and a quarter miles too short for him at Windsor. He ran creditably but I think a step up to a mile and a half will suit.

Mungo Park - a very frustrating character - and Storyteller both may run at Bath's two-day meeting on Monday and Tuesday, ground permitting. Both are well in themselves.

* Jefferey Anotherred may run at Goodwood if ground conditions are soft enough and we may even venture to Brighton with Square dancer. Busy times and, hopefully, winners are on the way.

Northern Echo possibly runs at Musselburgh in a 0-60 mile and six race on Monday. I think he'll stay the trip and run very well.

Column Published: Saturday, May 19, 2001