EQUESTRIAN


Nothing has happened on the course at all since our meeting in the spring just prior to the Cheltenham


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Festival. It’s been unreal for long periods, and many of the Plumpton team - myself included - have been furloughed


on hold but, as a trainee Clerk, he is welcome at other courses to see different set ups and methods of handling a raceday, which is an excellent grounding. Already a fully qualified Head Groundsman, Marcus is well on the way to reaching the standard expected by the British Horseracing Association (BHA) which governs all racing in this country. This isn’t just a job. You have to be interested in everything you do. Marcus loves racing and was a Pony Club member here as a youngster. He’s tailor made for both of them.


I think my aim of achieving continuity is neatly in place.


When are you actually hanging up your ‘hats’?


I will continue as Clerk and Head Groundsman up to December 31st. I’ve already agreed, because Marcus’ training has been delayed somewhat, that I would be available to help out at meetings beyond that date, if necessary.


Our fingers are crossed that there will be at least some lifting of current


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restrictions. Who knows, we may even be able to welcome some racegoers?


The final jump in the straight is getting some birch filling ahead of September’s first meeting


116 PC August/September 2020 Landing areas are kept neatly mown to thicken growth


I live practically next door to the course in Plumpton Green, so I’m here in minutes.


Meanwhile, how will you deal with behind closed doors racing and all the restrictions associated with the Pandemic?


Nothing has happened on the course at all since our meeting in the spring just prior to the Cheltenham Festival. In all, we lost seven fixtures last season. It’s been unreal for long periods, and many of the Plumpton team - myself included - have been furloughed.


It does now begin to feel more like a racecourse again as the new National Hunt season gets moving. There is certainly a buzz around here thank goodness. The lurking anxiety is will the racegoers


return? Will they have turned to other things? We have yet to race since the lockdown and putting restrictions into practice is completely new to us. We’re used to face masks and sanitisers because we’ve had to use them anyway, but the button has yet to be pushed for handling


distancing on race days as far as jockeys, race teams and officials is concerned. Plumpton is a delightfully intimate course, but it is small and space restriction would be difficult. We have materials and contractors ear-marked for measures, but our first meeting is still some weeks away and things may well have changed by then. Our expectation and thinking is flexible to say the least. We’ll do what we have to do to make it a good day’s racing here come what may. Our fingers are crossed that there will be at least some lifting of current restrictions. Who knows, we may even be able to welcome some racegoers?


Aside from the unprecedented situation in racing this year, how has the sport changed during your career, especially at National Hunt courses?


Safety is what sticks out. I suppose it has had to be, not least because, bit by bit, racing - as all sport - has come under bigger and bigger public gaze. It used to be just television and the betting world, but now it’s


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