Grass Roots Are Way To Grow

Jul 6 2008 Joe Punter

IF YOU water the top of a tree but don't attend to the roots then you only have yourself to blame if it dies.

That's why I greeted news of the £10million Sovereign Series for racing's elite with raging apathy.

In a climate where small stables are battling for the price of a couple of pints in prize money at many tracks the fat cats growing ever more obese does not make economic sense.

Our top Group One races lag behind the rest of the world but not by the same margin our average prize money does.

The mega bucks intitiative is designed to elevate the sport to the glitz and glamour of F1.

But can we really sell racing to Joe Public when it is dominated by a handful of top players only interested in promoting themselves?

Look at the farcical Irish Derby when Team O'Brien carved up the British challengers Curtain Call and Tartan Bearer allowing wee Aidan to steal the spoils with his outsider Frozen Fire. That may have been within the rules but I was delighted when the splendid Mick Channon saddled Youmzain to beat Ballydoyle's Soldier Of Fortune in the Group One Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

A wonderful result that proves the big battalions can't have it their own way all the time.

Nuts to the Sovereign Series. Let's see better grass-roots prize money.

GOT a racing query? Write to Joe Punter, Sports Desk, Sunday Mail, One Central Quay, Glasgow G3 8DA or email joepunter@sundaymail.co.uk