The current state of the UK horse Racing Industry. An interview with Ferdy Murphy.

Ferdy Murphy has been in racing most of his working life, starting with for Phonsie O'Brien in Co Tipperary and then with Paddy Mullins. He was stable jockey for Mr Mullins and held that post for five years.He was later to become private trainer for Mr Bill Durkan, teaming up with the brilliant mare, Anaglogs Daughter. Ferdy moved to England and became Geoff Hubbard's private trainer at Worlingworth Hall. Two of the highlights of Ferdy's time with Mr Hubbard were Sibton Abbey (1992 Hennessy) and Gee-A (1992 Foxhunters at Aintree). Ferdy's son Paul, rode Gee-A to this victory over the Grand National fences. In April 1994, Ferdy and his partner, Janet Morgan moved into Oakwood Stables in Middleham, as the tenants of Robert Ogden. In 2000, Ferdy moved his training operation to the current site; Wynbury Stables (owned by Bill & Edith Kettlewell, long-time friends of Ferdy) in West Witton, about three miles from Middleham.

Ferdy Murphy Racing continues to go from strength to strength, Cheltenham Festival success has come via Paddy's Return (1996 Triumph Hurdle), Stop The Waller (1996 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase), French Holly (1998 Royal & Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle) Hot Weld (2006 Challenge Cup), Youre Special (2006 Kim Muir), Joes Edge (2007 William Hill) and L'Antartique (2007 Jewson Chase). Other notable successes have come with Mac's Supreme (Kerry Grand National, Listowel); Narrow Water (Tote Eider, Newcastle); Ackzo (Midlands Grand National), Paris Pike and Joes Edge (Scottish Grand National, Ayr),Granit D'Estruval (2004 Irish Grand National) and many more.

Q1: Do you feel there are currently too many Horse Racing meetings?

Yes

Q2: Are the current meetings fairly and sensibly spread over the country?

No, racing in the North has too few fixtures.

Q3: What kind of races would you like to see more of and which less of?

More quality, less rubbish.

Q4: Do you feel the various grades of races receive the correct proportion of prize money?

No we need more money to filter down to lower grade races.

Q5: Is the current level of prize money on offer sufficient to both encourage new owners and retain existing ones?

No, only a matter of time before owners begin to question costs.

Q6: Should there be more major races staged on a Sunday?

Yes, great day for families to come racing.

Q7: Do you think the sex and age allowances in this country set at a fair level?

Yes

Q8: Is “All Weather Racing” good for the long term future of the sport?

No, only there for Bookmakers.

Q9: Should Racing only operate on six days a week?

Yes, we should have day off say on a Monday to give staff who work on Sunday a day off.

Q10. How can we make Racing more attractive to the Sporting public?

By putting on better quality.

Q11: Do you agree with artificially watering racecourses?

Yes up to a point, certain tracks would not be able to race in summer without it, but I do think that they over do it at times.

Q12: Are there enough new owners entering racing?

Yes

Q13: How can the BHA be improved?

By getting people on board who understand racing.

Q14: What changes if any, would you like to see in the way Stewards Enquiries are held?

None

Q15: Do the Bookmakers hold too much power?

Yes.

Q16: Are Bookmakers contributing enough to Horse Racing?

No, you only have to look at big firm's value on exchanges to see they are raping racing.

Q17: Do you agree that Betting Exchanges are a “cheat's charter”?

Yes

Q18: Who should own the Tote?

Racing

Q19: Can the average trainer survive on prize money won and fees alone?

It's a struggle

Q20: Is it harder to hire and retain staff now than it was ten years ago?

No, if you pay proper rates no problem.

Q21: What ratio of staff to horses do you operate?

1 : 4

Q22: In % terms, how much have costs risen in the last year and what single item has increased the most?

10 %. Fuel.

Q23: How much has rising costs affected your business?

We have to pass on costs to owners, and with them going up and prize money coming down it doesn't take a genius to work out we are in for hard times.

Q24: Are you able to pass any of your increased costs on?

Not all of them- we have to stay competitive

Q25: How has the Foxhunting ban affected you?

Has not, more people than ever are going.

Q26: In your view, how corrupt is Horse Racing?

Where there is lots of money around you will get corruption but BHA do good job monitoring racing.

Q27: Do you feel the Racehorse is as robust as it used to be?

Yes, but racing has got more competitive so there is more pressure on them.

Q28: Will we ever see a woman champion jockey (Flat or National Hunt)?

No, not strong enough.

Q29: Does “blood doping” exist within racing?

No, not possible to do.

Q30: Is it possible to stop trainers and owners betting on their horses to lose?

Yes it is now in force and exchanges are very quick to pick up strong partners and report it to BHA.

Q31: In your view, which kind of races should punters avoid?

0-85 handicap chases as usually runners past it.

Q32: Can you supply two horses for Priceform readers to follow?

The Hollinwell, Senora Snoopy

Anyone interested in finding out more about this stable can look on Ferdy's website http://www.ferdymurphyracing.co.uk