Letter to the Editor: Mick Goss

I read your publisher’s note in the wake of the Derby with interest, not only for the fact that Mike de Kock warranted a mention, but especially for your positivity about American racing. You hit the nail right on the head, (as you generally do) when you pointed to the fact that the crowd that turned up for the two allowance races exceeded that of most big days on European racecourses. It was almost double that of The Championships meeting in Sydney recently, and there are few places in the world where the public appreciate racing like the Aussies do.

Like us, you Americans are sometimes tough on yourselves, none more so than those involved in our sport, so you can do without the negativity that is generated in the broader minds of the public when it comes to your drugs policy and every other excuse your critics need to knock the game. Just imagine how weak the battle for column space would look if you could do away with the drugs.

You did South Africa great credit in your acknowledgement of Mike de Kock: besides being an unusually talented horseman, he is richly endowed in brain matter and is an excellent man-manager. He will be the first to acknowledge however, that the competitive attributes of the broader horse-fraternity at home were the seeds that spurred him to where he is today: our jockeys have dominated the Hong Kong Jockey’s title for decades, our trainers can train with the best, and the natural talents of horsemen among our local people bear comparison with the best. All we need now is some compassion on the export front, and our horses will do a bit more talking for us!

Mick Goss, Summerhill Stud