Union warning over 'raw' stalls handlers

The Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) yesterday launched a fierce attack on the overall standard of the stalls handlers likely to be working at British racecourses when the Flat turf season begins this weekend.

Chris Kaufman, the union's national secretary for the food and agriculture sector, has been representing former stalls handlers whose contracts with the company RaceTech were terminated last October. Many have been replaced by new, inexperienced handlers employed on cheaper and more flexible terms.

Yesterday Kaufman revealed that a recent inquiry by the local council at Wolverhampton track, which followed a complaint under the Health & Safety At Work Act, had "failed to give the course a clean bill of health".

He said the investigating inspector had found that not all the stalls handlers employed at Wolverhampton had been given the proper training, while others did not have the necessary accreditation from the Jockey Club. Nobody from the course was available for comment last night.

"We either have the Jockey Club rules with our people properly restored to their jobs," he said, "or we have a race to the bottom and a free-for-all on standards. We can't [just] wait for an avoidable accident."

Ron Cox's Tip of the Day

Kandjar D'Allier 4.25, Chepstow

The official handicapper has made things tough for Kandjar d'Allier over fences, but Alan King's eight-year-old should have a confidence-booster on a return to hurdles off a much lower mark. Third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase off 135, he is 27lbs lower in the ratings here. That reflects his modest hurdles form, but this will be the first time he has run outside a chase for his present trainer.