Racing: Fog lifts off Scottish racing future

Had Scotland voted yes, Scottish racing, like many other businesses, would have been staring into the mist. Photo / Getty Images

Ailsa Craig, the beguiling island backdrop to Turnberry and Troon, was not visible from the Ayrshire coast on Friday, obscured by a light mist over the Irish Sea. But, after months of uncertainty, the future of Scottish racing was considerably clearer after the No vote in the independence referendum last week.

The vast majority of those involved in the Scottish racing industry, some of them gathered here for the three-day meeting, as well as trainers based in the north of England, some of whom have a third of their runners in Scotland, had breathed a sigh of relief.

Had the vote gone the other way, Scottish racing, like many other businesses, would have been staring into the mist, looking for islands.

It would have begun a 12-week consultation with the Scottish Parliament, during which it would have had to come up with a plan - to be implemented before March 2016.

Whether it would have remained part of British racing or sheered away will remain one of the great unknowns and whether its five courses, Ayr, Hamilton, Kelso, Musselburgh and Perth, would have survived, dropped off a precipice or, as some such as trainer Mark Johnston have maintained, thrived, will always be a mystery.

"We all woke up in the same clothes," said trainer Jim Goldie. "We won't know what would have happened but, for racing, I think it's better that we're together."

A report commissioned before the vote concluded that, in the event of independence, there was a "very real and very high risk that racing would be considerably worse off".

With the exception of Perth, a prominent No campaigner, the courses have kept their cards close to their chests. "I've been very energised," said Sam Morshead, who runs Perth. "We were advised to be non-political in case it upset some of our customers but I thought the future of our sport was a much bigger picture so threw off my handcuffs. I'm pleased it's behind us. It's onwards and upwards now."

Nick Alexander, the Fife-based jumps trainer who is also on the National Trainers' Federation council, believes some good has come out of a bruising campaign.

"I am very relieved we can continue to train without the huge cloud of uncertainty in front of us. Dialogue with the Government means it is now more aware of our existence. Hopefully, we can build as good a relationship with it as English racing has with Westminster."

Paul Bittar, the chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority who was paying a visit to the course, was also pleased at the outcome. "We didn't take a position before but a No vote is good for British racing and Scottish racing."