Letter to the Editor: Sires' Championships Need Reworking

Dear Sir/Madam,

Maybe it is just tradition, but can someone please advise if there is a justifiable reason for the stallion statistics and championships for Britain and Ireland to be combined? This is at odds with other championships such as trainer, owner and jockey statistics.

This situation was highlighted to me when Camelot received scant praise for being European champion sire, but Dark Angel had many column inches written about his achievement of being champion sire in Britain and Ireland.

My suggestion is that stallion statistics should be reported for each individual country (Ireland, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, etc.) and then a compilation is made for Europe as a whole. Surely being champion of Europe should be the ultimate accolade?

No disrespect to Dark Angel and the O'Callaghan family for a wonderful and thoroughly deserved achievement, but Camelot needs better recognition for a stellar year when his progeny won an Irish Derby, Coronation Cup and Prix de l'Arc de  Triomphe with three different horses.

Grant Pritchard-Gordon