Media man, Jimmy Lithgow, clearly choked on his cornflakes while reading my column of two weeks ago which dealt with the Equus awards. In a lengthy e-mail to the Sporting Post, he berates me for criticising the decision of the press award judges and then embarks on a general Mollett-bashing piece. Well, Yorkshire folk don’t take things lying down so here’s my response:
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1. I’m delighted that Jimmy Lithgow is an avid reader of my weekly Racing Express column. He’ll be happy to learn I’ve just signed another 12 months contract.
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2. I make no apologies for my view on the Equus awards – after 40 years as a journo I believe I’m entitled to voice my opinion. Jimmy Lithgow says he fancied Robyn Louw to win which is amazing as few people in Gauteng have even heard of the Cape-based scribe. Nevertheless, I congratulated her on the night and she seems a pleasant lady.
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3. If Jimmy Lithgow fancied the double of Miss Louw and his son, Aidan, I expect he could have got around 5000-1. For me, the writers category looked between Nicci Garner, Jack Milner and Lance Benson.
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4. Jimmy Lithgow rambles on about the rules of the media awards which stated: “Loyal support and positive contribution or coverage of the sport during the South African Horse-Racing season is essential.” Benson queried this criteria in his column and rightly so. Overseas press awards are given for “scoops” or “exclusives” – stories that have made the reader sit up and take notice – and not for towing the line. Begs the question whether the judges reached their decision on articles which said everything in the racing garden is rosy – which it isn’t!
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5. But what really got my blood boiling from Jimmy Lithgow’s e-mail was this. “Thank goodness the judges were persons of complete integrity, without any agenda, or we might have seen the awards being handed out like wristwatches, for long service, as was clearly the case when Mr Mollett’s R30000 worth of air travel was doled out two years ago.” Obviously sour grapes from Mr Lithgow for not being in the running for that 2009 award, but also a considerable insult to the late Brian Roux who realised that the media should be recognised as a vital cog in racing.
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6. Apparently, Jimmy Lithgow is a theatre fundi. I suggest he checks out the Joburg circuit to see if “Julius Caesar” is showing. He’ll enjoy it. Lots of stabbing.
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Via email – David Mollett
