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Bill O'Gorman 29.8.2004 |
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Published in the Racing Post letters 29.8.04. We're running just to stand still. Trainer Bill O'Gorman says his remarks suffered a different interpretation. MARGARET CLARKE appears to have put her own interpretation on my remarks (Letters, August 27 ) I merely attempted to put the situation into perspective by pointing out that there has been a steady erosion in standards over the last decades due to the fact that horse numbers have expanded so quickly that sufficient staff have not been trained to care for them. Only a tiny minority of the current workforce will have even seen a horse done by a true old-time stableman, far less be capable of doing one to that standard themselves. It is difficult to see how the fact that untrained staff are paid a trained man's wage can be construed as exploitation, unless as exploitation of owners ! If this situation is to be resolved then some intensive and industry-specified practical training courses, as opposed to NVQs and so on, must be implemented as a matter of urgency, before the few remaining of those who have served a proper apprenticeship are lost to us. The main drawback to improving staff capabilities and conditions remains that the constant expansion of the fixture list has everyone running in order to stand still. |
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