Rab McNair was left distraught following another tragic night at Nottingham. Although his home bred runners landed the British Breeders Stakes and the British Breeders Midland Sprint, the Kent based Scotsman was left distressed and angry following the death of King Drake.
Drake was one of three litter brothers contesting the sprint final. King Sam led home King Bruno but Drake was knocked over at the first bend. His front leg sustained a double fracture and he also broke a hock.
Rab said: “I’m absolutely devastated about Drake. I don’t mind admiting that I shed a few tears as I held him. We re-home all our dogs but this was a bad one. A double break of the front leg. I just wasn’t prepared to let the dog face all that pain of the operations and for the coming years of his life. He would have been continuously visiting the vet.”
The fact that King Louis emulated his sister Queen Dolly by landing the British Breeders Stakes was no consolation for the McNairs or the KSS Syndicate. The injury came only two weeks after Drake’s litter sister Queen Jessiej broke her hock in the first round of the event.
While being interviewed over the sad loss of King Drake, McNair asked that the following quotes be included in this write-up.
He said: “I wanted it to go on record just how disgusted I am with the Racing Post and Jonathan Kay’s Monday column. I want to know what grounds he has to think that anyone wants his opinion. This is a man who is a useless tipster but decides that he has no problem with the ARC/Entain deal announced at the weekend.
“He then starts talking about deciding where the Derby should go for the next five years? Shouldn’t we give Towcester an opportunity to run a good one this year? Nottingham had their chance but decided it was okay to run for £100,000 to the winner when Towcester promised £175K. A decision which he said he had no problem with. Does he want ARC to get the Derby for the next five years? Let him put his hand in his pocket and spend £25-£30K on a Derby dog, and then give us his opinion. I hope Towcester is brilliant and I’m sure it will be.
“Also – so we lose a load of tracks and then what happens? Do the remaining ones race eight, nine or ten times a week? It is obvious to me that a lot of the problems are because they are already racing too much. There is no time to keep the racing surfaces in good condition. Do they even have time to bed the new sand down properly? Some tracks race five times a week and then close on the other two. When is the work being carried out and who is inspecting them to make sure it is being done properly? Does anyone care?
“But none of that seems to bother Kay. Well I am sick of it. I don’t want him, or anybody from Racing Post or RPGTV to contact anyone in this kennel. If other kennels feel the same as me, they should boycott them too. Maybe Julie Collier should decide whether Kay needs to be rescued or retired.”
Jonathan Kay has the opportunity to respond to Rab MaNair’s comments – on this website – should he choose to take it.
KING SAM wins the BGBF Midlands Sprint Final
Nottingham 22nd March 2021.
Photo: © Steve Nash
