Let us begin with two items about two jockeys we are very familiar with. This is what happened to Richard Hughes. At Kempton last Wednesday, Hughes’s mount was withdrawn at the gate after a veterinarian authorized it. The Kempton stewards gave Hughes a 10-day ban for cantering a ‘lame’ horse back to the unsaddling enclosure. However, the British Horseracing Authority, after due consideration of evidence part of which was not available to the course stewards, has ruled that jockey Hughes did not violate any regulations. A hearing scheduled for Thursday has become moot. Now, Hughes is free to ride Canford Cliffs, trainer Richard Hannon’s best hope for the Classics this year, in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on April 17. At the moment, Canford Cliffs, winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2009, is the second choice behind St Nicholas Abbey for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1.

Jockey Hughes spoke. “It’s a big relief. I know there was some confusion because I did not break any rules. A 10-day ban would have made things difficult.”

You may remember that Kieren Fallon was struck by owner David Reynolds after a race run at Lingfield a little over a week ago. Reynolds has been given a three-month disqualification and a 10,000-pound fine. Reynolds owned The Scorching Wind, the favourite in the race who finished third. Reynolds believed, according to reports that Fallon’s riding of Elna Bright caused interference to his horse and that resulted in his horse’s defeat. The authorities charged Reynolds with violent and improper behaviour. He was found guilty of acting in a manner prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of British racing.

Jockey Fallon has been winning races at a good clip. He is getting live mounts. I am looking forward to following him when I spend a major part of the summer in Europe.

Last Saturday, the Louisiana Derby was run at the Fair Grounds. It was a dirt race over 1,800 metres. As the dust settled, another strong Todd Pletrcher Kentucky Derby prospect emerged. Rajiv Maragh steered Mission Impazible, a 7-1 chance, to an easy victory. Mission Impazible, fourth in Oaklawn’s Southwell Stakes last time out, was seen in different light in the Louisiana Derby. Maragh was prominent early, fell back to seventh and rallied on the far turn to gain the advantage close home. A Little Warm, the pacesetter, held on for second. Discreetly Mine, the favourite and another Pletcher ward, took fourth.

Jockey Maragh, the rising star in America, explained his ride, “I just sat a trip where he was comfortable. The good thing was he was pulling away. An extra furlong (the Derby is over 2,000 metres) should not bother him.”

Turfway Park in Kentucky hosted an important race leading up to the Run for the Roses. It was the Grade II Lane’s End Stakes on the polytrack. The favourite, Connemara, a Pletcher trainee, failed to justify the optimism. Winner of the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate, Connemara raced in the rear and staged a lukewarm rally to salvage third. The winner by three lengths was Dean’s Kitten, a Cornelio Velasquez mount and a Michael Maker pupil. Northern Giant took the runner-up berth. Dean’s Kitten sat off the pace and hit the front at the top of the lane and the race was put to bed.

Jockey Cornelio Velasquez was full of praise for Dean’s Kitten. “I really like this horse. That is why I came here today. He loves polytrack. I had a ton of horse in the stretch. I was very confident. He is a nice horse.”

The first big race of the English flat season went to Penitent. The 3-1 favourite ran out an easy winner in the William Hill Lincoln Heritage Handicap last Saturday. In the hands of Johnny Murtagh who had come down from Ireland, Penitent, trained by William Haggas, proved the best in a 21-horse field over 1600 metres. That was the third time that trainer Haggas was winning Doncaster’s opening day feature.

Jockey Paul Hanaghan covered himself with glory and served notice that he is a big player in the title for leading jockey. Jockey Hanaghan clicked with four winners. He won with Irish Heartbeat at 4-1, Inxile at 17-2, Chiswick Bay at 6-1 and Red Jade at 7-2. Since opening day at Doncaster, Hanaghan has been riding a lot of winners.

For Hyderabad fans, here is some news. Duran Fentiman had a winner, Rosbay, a 9-1 chance, trained TD Easterby.

Richard Hughes, prominent in the jockey standings, had a double on Saturday at Kempton. He scored with his father in law, Richard Hannon’s Takeway, a 7-2 chance. His other winner was the 5-2 favourite, Gala Evening. There are a lot of arrows from Richard’s quiver. He is one to follow.

On Sunday at Doncaster, Paul Hanaghan and R A Fahey combined for two winners, Deadly Encounter, at 5-1, and Kaldoun Kingdom, a 6-1 chance, won. Martin Dwyer scored with Paintball, a 12-1 chance.

Doncaster is north of London. A train from King’s Cross takes you there. I have not been to Doncaster. The St Leger is run at Doncaster in September. The Racing Post Trophy, a race for freshmen, is also held at Doncaster.

Chris Hayes connected with Baglioni, a 3-1 chance, at Leopardstown in Ireland on Sunday.. Leopardstown is in Fox Rock, half hour outside of Dublin. There is a plan to hold the Irish Derby festival there when Curragh goes through its reconstruction phase.

At Leopardstown on Sunday, the Grade III 1000 Guineas Trial was run. Lady Springbank, trained by P V Deegan and ridden by Jim Crowley, ran out a comfortable winner. A Choisir filly, Lady Springbank tracked the leaders, was fourth halfway and took the winning lead 300 metres out.

Aidan O’Brien had four runners. Famous, the 2-1 favourite and John Murtagh’s mount, raced prominently and beat a hasty retreat in the last 200 metres.

The other race of some significance on Sunday at Leopardstown was the Grade III 2000 Guineas Trial. Noll Wallop, with Wayne Lordan, registered a convincing win. A Tommy Stack trainee, Noll Wallop, a High Chaparral colt, was fifth halfway, fourth with 400 metres to run and took charge 300 metres out. Aidan O’Brien had three runners and Viscount Nelson did the best among them by finishing second. Colm O’Donoghue was aboard Viscount Nelson. Free Judgement, the 2-1 chalk and a trainee of Jim Bolger ridden by Kevin Manning, finished sixth.

Christophe Soumillon won the UAE Derby with Musir at the Meydan on Saturday. He was in action at Saint Cloud on Monday. Soumillon won three races. Saint Cloud is in Paris and is easily accessible. It is left-handed and when the horses turn for home you get the impression they are descending from a higher level. Saint Cloud is beautiful beyond words. The Friday before the Arc weekend in early October, Saint Cloud has a raceday that I attend without fail.

In Britain, the big race coming up is the Grand National at Aintree in Liverpool. It is a ‘jumps’ spectacle. Please check TV listings in India. It is a ‘must see’ event.

There are three high-profile races in America on Saturday. Hawthorne in Chicago, where I am based, hosts the Illinois Derby. Not long ago, War Emblem won the Illinois Derby and went on to win the Kentucky Derby. Santa Anita’s feature is the Santa Anita Derby, a reliable guide to the big race on the first Saturday in May. Then there is the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. The Derby will be run on Saturday, May 1 at Churchill Downs in Louisville. It is in the State of Kentucky. Churchill is about 330 miles from where I live. I drive for the Derby weekend. The Kentucky Oaks is on Friday, April 30.

On May 1, the English 2000 Guineas will be held at Newmarket. On May 2, the 1000 Guineas will be run. These two races are run on a straight (grass) race. Newmarket is near Cambridge University. There are convenient trains from London’s King’s Cross to Cambridge. There is a train from Cambridge that takes you to Newmarket and there is a free bus service from the train station to the racecourse. Newmarket is considered the home of horse racing and is referred to as the ‘headquarters.’

In America and England and in other countries, there has been a drop in the attendance. Wagering is considerably down. Purses have been cut. In the US, New York tracks are in a precarious financial condition. In Italy, there are serious problems. There is a boatload of trouble in Germany. The State Governments are promoting casino gambling and the lottery to generate revenue. It is a bleak picture all over the world. Racedays have been reduced. Fields are smaller. Many say that racing is a dying game. I disagree. Racing is in trouble but there are no signs of imminent demise.