SO we’ve made it to Christmas! It feels as though it has been a long, long year in the racing world of 2021. That Grand National finish that we have enjoyed again over the last week could almost be from a different year. You would be forgiven for thinking that racing drew a short straw from the good news gods this year.

Investigations, allegations, trainers suspended, drugs, welfare, interference, bullying and prize money. The headlines were too often of the negative variety yet all the while our administrators on the ground kept the show on the road.

Waking up to lashing rain on Wednesday morning and thinking with your racing hat on, ‘thank heavens for that’ just about summed up another crazy year, part behind closed doors, part restricted, part cowering from another bad news story, part still cheering our stars right to the very end.

There were momentous days in the midst of it all. April 10th at Aintree was one. Some (mostly men?) attempted to brush off Minella Times’ and Rachael’s success as ‘Oh it was the best rider on the best horse on the day’ but that was to trivialise all that has gone before for women in racing, back to those first attempts by female riders in the National, times when most of us who can remember nothing but patronising comments as females tried to get established. Nina and Katie had done much to pave the way but this was a triumph for every girl, from any background, who dared to dream they could be a successful jockey.

Captivated

The amount of photos posted by mums and dads of their young daughters, many on their rocking horses, being captivated watching the scenes from the aftermath that day, made it the standout day of the year.

There were other great stories over the year and success was well divided out over the big players, from Coolmore and Godolphin on the flat, to welcome stories for smaller players like Chipotle in Britain and Sonnyboyliston’s Ebor and classic win at home.

Cheltenham brought success for bigger operations like Cheveley Park Stud– Sir Gerhard’s £400,000 purchase price would go a long way to fill many yards - but there was also a share of the Cheltenham spoils for Paul Hennessy and the Flooring Porter Syndicate. Jonbon will never repay his £570,000 purchase price but you could still have had success from as little money as €600 with Skyace.

Many of us will be glad of a few days rest from racing until we join it all again on St Stephen’s Day. Happy Christmas.

Laugh of the year

WE needed lots and they were often hard to find but perhaps the funniest, and a sign of the times when social media is blamed for a lot of the bad stuff, was when Twitter police decided to suspend Katie Margarson’s account after she had posted: “I also hope you get drowned.” She was actually wishing Tony Mullins well in the rain, as he went to walk the course in the hope of softer going for Princess Zoe in the Gold Cup at Ascot.

Meta Osborne@metaos

And that’s some weekend double for @rachaelblackmor! Adding @BBC World Sportstar of the Year to last night’s @RTEsport Sportsperson of the Year. So well deserved!

President of Ireland@PresidentIRL

Congratulations to Rachael Blackmore for her double achievement over the weekend in winning the Irish Times @sportireland Sportswoman of the Year and the BBC World Sport Star of the Year

Micheál Martin@MichealMartinTD

Well done @rachaelblackmor on being named RTE Sportsperson of the year and BBC World Sports Star of the year in one weekend. Richly deserved after a truly historic year in racing.

Ian Fortune@IanFortune

I’m the father of 3 girls. My 10-yr-old has no knowledge of horse racing. I mean absolutely none but when she sees a race she asks if Rachael is riding. What she has achieved and continues to achieve is inspiring to so many young girls. Thank you & congrats