'CERTAIN trainers are bleeding the system by running horses totally out of their depth to gain appearance money.

This was again apparent at Pontefract this week when in the 0-90 classified race, with appearance money of £500 for each runner, 12 of the 19 runners were rated below 50 and 11 of those below a rating of 40.

This means splashing out £6000 in appearance money alone. Eight of the 12 inferior horses were shared between three trainers and were rated below 40. Only eight horses were below 100-1 in the betting.

I would agree that there is a lack of opportunities for low grade horses - horses rated below 65 - and there should clearly be more opportunities for the less talented performers. They would then not have to compete in races where they are totally out of their depth.

It's a shame that races have to be spoilt by the stupidity of certain trainers only wanting to gain the £500 appearance money and also a run. I think that a far better idea would be to pay the appearance money only to the first five placed horses. This would discourage the no-hopers from competing and spoiling the race.

In simpler terms, in a classified race, a four-year-old gelding rated 90 would carry 9st 8lbs, and a four-year-old gelding rated 30 would also carry 9st 8lbs.

But if the race were a handicap the horse rated 30 would be handicapped to carry 5st 4lbs - 60 lbs below the 90-rated horse.

Alternatively, Pontefract could have staged a 1 mile seller which would have accommodated 12 of the no-hopers, saving £6,000 appearance money. The seller could have been a £4,000 race, therefore saving £2,000 in wasted appearance money.

One way or another, something has to be done, to stop what is rapidly turning into a farce.

* Kings Welcome made a super debut in the High Rise Classified at Pontefract - taking on older horses which is extremely difficult for three-year-olds at this time of year.

The Chris Fairhurst-trained and George Leggott-owned bay colt did extremely well to finish second to the Mark Johnston-trained Shayadi. It won't be long before Kings Welcome visits the winners' circle.

* I was planning to have a number of runners, including Storyteller, at Thirsk next Friday and Saturday but the meeting has been abandoned due to foot and mouth. Hopefully, the ground conditions will improve so we can start getting some runners soon.

* We can't let the week go by without adding our congratulations to Norman Mason and all his staff on Red Marauder's win in the Grand National.

It's wonderful for the North-East - and County Durham in particular - to have a Grand National winner.

The debate is still raging over whether the race should have been run but the bottom line is that there were no horses or jockeys injured. In Ireland, they would have probably classed it as soft ground because they race in a lot worse conditions over there.

In terms of a spectacle, they will talk about the 2001 National for years to come because there were only two finishers, apart from those remounted. Foinavon hasn't easily been forgotten and neither will Red Marauder.

Published: Saturday, April 14, 2001