PHIL SIMMONDS
Bernie Doyle should prepare himself for a huge culture shock when he switches from Wimbledon to Romford in two weeks time.
It is a well trodden route. John Simpson joined in a previous transfer window but the first migrant, three years ago, was Phil Simmonds.
The Barton based handler said: “When I was at Wimbledon, I had 30 dogs and two full time staff. I think I was losing around £10,000 per year but that was offset by selling a young dog or two. (Like Salad Dodger? – Ed) We were racing two nights a week and loved it there. There were decent crowds, lots of young people and a good atmosphere.
“I didn’t apply for the Romford job. My local steward Adrian Smith said that Romford were looking to replace Peter Payne who had retired some time earlier and asked if I fancied it. I met the management, we talked about what I had to offer, what they had to offer, and I made up my mind in about four seconds.
“But I had no idea what was coming, and I had to adapt very quickly. It was professional and it was relentless. I get phone calls from Romford six days a week and they demand certain standards from me and my staff. For example, I was used to saying to racing offices, ‘I think he might need a fortnight off, can you not grade him this week’. At Romford, if you have any quibbles, you make the dogs unavailable straight way. No messing. They don’t want unnecessary withdrawals.
“We all know that some dogs, particularly as they get older, can’t cope with running once a week due to little niggles. In those cases, I gift the dogs, I don’t sell them, to other trainers and those dogs may continue to enjoy their careers for the next year or more at places like Harlow. The money Romford provides allows me to do that.
“Staff are another issue. We have four full time and four part timers. If someone is scheduled for racing, it is all they do on that day. Eight runners requires one member of staff, more than that and it is two staff to accompany the dogs to the track. All my full time staff work a 40 hour week and are all PAYE. If they have to work more, they get paid overtime. They also get the full holiday entitlement. There are so many young people in this game who are working 80 hours a week because the trainers can’t afford more staff. Needless to say, they become tired and soured.”
There are two slightly more unusual appointments on the wage bill – private handicappers.
Phil says: “It is an idea borrowed from Newmarket where trainers will often employ private handicappers do help them place their runners. I need advice on the chances of my dogs We have so much racing that it is impossible to see every race at the track and if I am going to advise an owner, I need to do so on the basis of not just how my dogs will run, but how other trainers’ runners are likely to perform, what they are likely to do at the traps, how they take the bends and so on.
“There are a large number of people gambling huge money at Romford – incredible amounts – and some are as good judges as (racing manager) Peter O’Dowd.”
So does that lead to pressure?
“Of course it does. I am contracted to a bookmaker owned track. I had a dog running recently that, completely without my knowledge, seemed to have money on it from half of the East End. As it turned out, he got beat a neck, and it was a bit of a relief to be honest.”
So does any of this take the enjoyment from being a trainer?
“No far from it. I am very proud to be a Romford trainer. I also have delusions of being an open race trainer. I enjoy sending dogs to other tracks for opens and think it is a valuable experience for my younger kennel staff.
“I also love breeding, rearing and schooling. Most of the Romford trainers breed an odd litter or two and around 25% of my kennel are dogs we have bred ourself.
“Because Romford want a mix of grades, that means that an A6 pup is just as valuable to the kennel as an A1 runner. In fact, more so because you have had the pleasure of seeing a pup you bred come through the system. When John Simpson first arrived at Romford I used to joke that I had never met him (at Wimbledon) because he always had runners in the first six races and I had them in the last six. Everybody has a mix of grades at Romford.
“That is the other great thing about Romford, there is no jealousy. I wouldn’t say any of the trainers are ‘mates’, but they are certainly not enemies either. Everybody earns a living, there is no need for nastiness. As an example, if one of the trainers gets held up in traffic, the others voluntarily help weigh the dogs in. I like that – a lot.
“So although Bernie might be in for a shock, I think he will fit in well and won’t regret the move.”
