The going gets tough . . .

Jockeys v Jockey Club

It's good to talk, unless you are a jockey between half past one and five in the afternoon. The Jockey Club, stung by last year's Panorama investigation and two integrity reviews, have placed severe restrictions on mobile use to reduce the risk of privileged information leaking from the weighing room. But jockeys, used to organising nomadic lives on the hoof, would sooner give up nookie than Nokia.

Doing nothing simply wasn't an option for the Jockey Club, whose PR director John Maxse had to make a blushing retreat from a carriage when a fellow train traveller objected to him being interviewed via his own mobile on attheraces recently.

Caving in to the jockeys would avert a strike, but cause the Club to lose credibility. Standing firm would bring more negative headlines, but the punitive cost of court action and pressure from within the ranks could yet force riders into embarrassing retreat. Memorable quotes: "If I ignored the strike I'd hate to ride in a proper race in the future - this is a dangerous game," Kieren Fallon confirms

that the art of bullying is alive and well in the weighing room.

"They will lose in the courts and I can't wait to get there," Campaign leader Philip Robinson.

"This is as far as we go. Even if there was no racing for a week there would be no backing down," Senior steward Julian Richmond-Watson. draws battle lines of his own.
Odds against a truce: 3-1 and drifting.

Sir Alex v Coolmore

Posh and Becks should note that even the happiest marriages can end in divorce and humiliating rows about who gets what. The Manchester United manager and the most powerful bloodstock operation in the world have suffered an irretrievable breakdown over Rock Of Gibraltar.

Aidan O'Brien's record-breaking colt won more than £1million on the track, and Fergie now wants his share of stud earnings which could make even David Beckham's transfer fee look like chicken feed.

Reports suggest the Old Trafford boss has already rejected several offers to settle, while Coolmore supremo and major United shareholder John Magnier must rue the day he invited Fergie to join the owner's list at Ballydoyle.

A court showdown would have the media drooling, but the smart money is on a drawn-out process in which Fergie signs a confidentiality agreement in return for a pay-off running well into six figures.

Memorable quotes: "Nobody could be blessed with better partners," Fergie when the going was good.

"I really have no comment to make," Magnier keeps his own counsel now things have turned heavy.
Odds against a truce: 50-1.

Owners, trainers, BHB v The Levy Board

Fancy a 15 per cent rise in annual income? Most people would, but owners were hoping for much more in 2003 and are incensed that £6m has been cut from prize money. The cutbacks, imposed because bookmaker profits on racing have dipped, has led to races being run for as little as £2,000 and threats of boycotts designed to punish errant racecourses. Wolverhampton's Saturday card was decimated by protest action, but owners will almost certainly have to bite the bullet. Indeed, further cuts could follow in 2004 with a fixture list top heavy with duff racing. Memorable quotes: "People are in denial, but the BHB deal with bookmakers isn't realising the expected income," Levy Board chairman Rob Hughes.

"Racing is being destabilised by people who claim to be part of the industry but do not have its best interests at heart," BHB chairman Peter Savill.
Odds against a truce: 12-1.

The bookmakers v Betting Exchanges

These two make the others look like bosom buddies. Traditional bookies can only look with envy at the colossal growth in person-to-person betting facilitated by firms such as Betfair and continue to carp about the potential for corruption they offer. Exchanges argue they police suspect business vigilantly, but BHB chairman Peter Savill remains deeply concerned about a system which "enfranchises 30 million people to make money out of backing a horse to lose." Memorable quotes: "Our system gives the Jockey Club a tool in the fight against corruption that is unprecedented," Betfair PR spokesman Mark Davies.

"Racing's integrity jumped out of the window the moment exchanges jumped in," William Hill PR spokesman David Hood.
Odds against a truce: 1000-1 with no takers.