I love racing and believe it will go on forever: here’s why

The BHA - originally an elite group (Jockey Club) steeped in tradition, now a large organisation awash with money, hand in glove with the betting fraternity, Cgange and rearrange the composition and presentation of the racing so as to making it difficult for the punter to find a winner

Racecourses - a far cry today from the draughty stands, muddy paddocks and sandwiches reminisced over by some forumites. Some courses have fallen by the wayside due to irresistible financial enticement, although Great Leighs was lost for want of grass; Ffos Las will survive because of it

Owners - very rich, well off and the rest. Various reasons for owning, eg breeding connections, tax avoidance, business promotion, snobbery and love of horses; all contributing nevertheless

Jockeys - not just riders and future trainers, but holding and developing other commercial racing interests

Trainers - someone has to train for the top owners, some have strong family connections and here again - love of horses

Bookmakers - sharp brains originally, now collusive accountants; it's a business - suitably dressed to entice the unwary

Finally the punters - often perplexed by the idiosyncrasies of it all and seldom of one accord in their betting habits ensuring a constant flow of money into the accounts of those whose main interest is to take money out. God Bless ‘em