Racing diary

Former world champion John Parrott's love of horseracing and his penchant for a bet is well documented. But snooker's flamboyant Peter Ebdon has got to be the choice of anyone who follows the Turf to win the UK Championship which starts next weekend at York.

We wouldn't normally rush to praise a bookmaker of any sort, least of all a johnny-come-lately trading on the internet, but the web's Blue Square, sponsors of the annual Horserace Writers' and Photographers' annual lunch, have earned at least our polite applause.
Last year, at this most lavish occasion, two deserving stable lads were honoured for their contribution to the Turf and rewarded with cheques for £150 each.
As the pair had worked most of their lives looking after horses, this seemed pretty tight, especially set against the occasion's food and wine bill.
But after some lobbying of the sponsors, cheques for £500 each - an increase of 233 per cent - will be handed out to this year's nominated pair at the HWP lunch on 10 December. So that's a start, at least.

Some hope that Towcester racecourse might have turned the financial corner.
The Midlands track opened an afternoon's racing three weeks ago with the 'Sponsor at Towcester' Conditional Jockeys Classified Hurdle. And today's card features backers for all six races - though we seriously doubt whether the 'EBF/ Crandon Park Stud Mares' Only National Hunt Novices Hurdle qualifier (Class D)' will stick for long in the public's mind.

Hard to say for sure whether entries to the Discover Racing campaign's ' Name a Race' competition are showing any signs of real improvement since a modest soul recently suggested that the 'Fonzo Turbo Lover' Cup should be run in his honour, instead of something to commemorate an anniversary or birthday.
Better nominations include the 'Sue's 21 Again' Stakes, the 'Seven Years, No Itch' Hurdle, and, in this time of cutbacks and recession, the 'Redundant Work Colleagues Get Together' Sprint.
More upbeat is the 'Bruce Has Finally Found Someone He Loves More Than Horses' Handicap, in sharp contrast to the 'Dave Winder Decree Nisi' Stakes.

Biddlecombe's boy