Sir, - I was fortunate to earn a living from racing through the medium of the newspaper industry, and over those 40 mostly enjoyable years I watched as the sport went from a bit player internationally to one of the great success stories.

Irish trainers are now proudly and rightly regarded as the best in the world, as are the breeders and jockeys. With that comes responsibilities, especially to the lifeblood of the sport, the punters.

Quite simply if there was no gambling, there’d be no racing.

Back in the day it was simple arithmetics. We took on enemy number one, the bookies, in the hope that we could provide our readers with a few winning tips. It was a thankless task but somehow we managed to keep them, and our editors, reasonably happy.

Of course you would be naïve to think that there was no collusion between racing professionals and bookies back then but overall it rarely reared its ugly head.

The industry has moved on to another level now and the number of bookies operating today is staggering, as well as the endless opportunities for punters to access a whole variety of different bets. Indeed, the world would be a duller place if you couldn’t have a few bob on the gee-gees.

Racing was an attractive medium for advertisers back in those innocent times but the recent trend that sees some of the top bookies dominating our TVs, radios, industry newspapers and racetracks is worrying. As is the working association between some our leading trainers and jockeys. No-one would deny anyone’s right to make a few extra euro but frankly it’s not a good look for the industry.

Now we are being told that the proposed advertising ban on gambling is going to ruin the industry. That’s a joke peddled by vested interests.

Racing needs to stop cosying up to the bookies whose sole goal is to empty the pockets of punters. Despite its best efforts to promote responsible gambling, there are too many people with addictive natures falling through the cracks. The racing industry at least needs to be seen supporting its greatest asset. - Yours, etc.

John Kelly,

Leixlip, Co Kildare

Puzzled by Tipperary flat racing cancellation

Sir, - I am very confused about the cancellation of the Tipperary flat meeting last week. How did the track’s National Hunt meeting go ahead two days earlier but the flat meeting had already been called off?

My theory is the flat course was used for gallops by a large number of horses despite all the rain we had. Instead of protecting the flat track it was like a ploughed field. Or did all the rain flow from the NH track on to the flat course?

I wonder if the ruling bodies asked these questions of the course manager or clerk of the course. It needs explaining to us racehorse owners who keep the lower-end of the business going. Maybe there is an explanation. If so I would love to hear it. - Yours etc.,

Frank A. McNulty

Leopardstown

Dublin 18

Tipperary Racecourse manager Andrew Hogan replies: Firstly, I would like to say that we were gutted to have to cancel the flat fixture. A lot of work behind the scenes goes into preparing for each fixture and it’s especially heart-breaking for all the track team to have to cancel our first flat fixture of the year. We pride ourselves in Tipperary on providing a top-class racing surface for every fixture with horse welfare and jockey safety being our top priority and something we will never compromise on.

Unfortunately, following one of wettest winters and springs in history, there were areas of the flat course on the back straight where there are undulations and dips that were saturated constantly over the winter and subject to flooding on numerous occasions this winter. These areas had not dried out sufficiently to allow racing to go ahead. This spring has seen record numbers of cancellations at racecourses and point-to-point venues.