willie mullins being interviewed at cheltenham 2

Racing Shoots Itself in Foot with Trainer Interview Payment Row

Horse racing has a habit of shooting itself in the foot, and in the latest instalment of this, look no further than the current row between trainers around whether they should or shouldn’t get paid for TV interviews.

At times, I struggle to believe what I’m reading with this, as the interviews benefit the trainers just as much as they do the media companies. Even the top names in the sport aren’t full to capacity, with a waiting list, there’s always room for a bit more business, and showing up well in these interviews could be what lands them it.

The argument to be Paid Like Jockeys is Flawed

The PRA, led by Peter Savill and with around 170 trainers involved, including Dan Skelton, the highest profiled trainer who has spoken out about this, are refusing to give live TV interviews on Saturday at Sandown unless they are paid.

While there are a few reasons for it, the main one is that they want to be paid for their time, just like jockeys are. But this argument doesn’t actually give the complete picture of the payment given to jockeys. They don’t get the money, as such, instead, this is paid directly to the Professional Jockeys Association and goes towards an injury insurance scheme due to the dangerous nature of the sport.

This is fair and the right way in which this kind of money should be spent. But trainers, well, they do not actually want this for any other reason than to be paid for their time and receive that money themselves.

Winners will always attract business, but on top of that, how trainers conduct themselves, how they speak, how they plan, and their race thoughts are all part of the thought process for owners looking to team up. The best way to find out this kind of thing about a trainer is through a TV interview, so effectively, these interviews are a way in which trainers can sell themselves to prospective clients.

A Chance for Media Companies to Take a Different Route

nicky henderson being interviewed in cheltenham parade ringIt’s definitely worth asking whether the interviews given by trainers are actually worth the airtime they get and worth some kind of payment. Interviews, where trainers give the whole story and inform the public without masking certain things, are few and far between, in my opinion anyway.

I always hear lots of ifs and buts, half a story, and wonder whether there’s a game being played behind the scenes. I’m sure I’m not alone.

So, if the trainers don’t want to give an interview for free, then don’t give them the airtime. Find a different way to fill the gaps, make something new, and try to provide us with even more information.

It could be a bookmaker, a punter, more analysis from a different angle, or something else, but they’ve all got a chance at being better than what we currently get.

The whole situation is laughable. Imagine football managers refusing to do interviews at full-time and how much they’d be laughed at for such a stance.

Racing is desperately trying to promote itself. Money in the sport is needed, as the recent Jockey Club prize money freeze for 2025 shows, but at the same time, it loves to shoot itself in the foot.

Resolved or not, the fact that we’ve seen the argument makes racing look a little silly. If it drags on, it will only embarrass those involved at a time when this is really not needed.

For the sake of the sport, it’s this kind of thing that needs cutting out.

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