MARK PLUMMER catches up with one of the busiest men in the business for his latest "˜Friday Feature'.
MICK Horton is not clearly not afraid of a big workload "“ or making a big statement for that matter.
The Coventry and Peterborough supremo has enjoyed quite a journey in speedway, going from being a boyhood fan to a major sponsor to a promoter with a fine portfolio.
Horton is responsible for teams at all three levels of the sport and has his sights set on a little piece of history this season.
"I want to be the first promoter ever to have a team in the play-offs at all three levels," stated Horton. "That is my burning desire and I don't think it is unrealistic either.
"The Bees have a good chance of making the cut in the Elite League, Panthers are dead certs in the Premier League as far as I'm concerned, and the Storm boys are capable of being right up there in the National League.
"Don't get me wrong, it is hard work having teams at all three levels, but it can also be very rewarding.
"I was probably slightly guilty of under-estimating the amount of travelling in the Premier League with so many fixtures coming thick and fast.
"But I have some very good people around me at both Coventry and Peterborough, and I'm enjoying every minute of it . . . well almost every minute!
"I still hate losing any meeting whether it be for the Bees, the Panthers or the Storm. Sometimes you have no choice other than to hold your hands up and accept you were beaten by a better team, but I hate leaving a track knowing one of my teams could have done more on any given day."
Horton is now into his third year in the Coventry hotseat and couldn't resist adding another string to his bow when Panthers' future looked bleak during the winter following the decision from owners Rick Frost and Julie Mahoney to pull out of the Elite League.
Horton thrashed out an initial two-year leasehold deal to secure a second stint in charge at the East of England Showground following a near three-year reign that ended in 2005 when he sold to his brother, Colin.
And he reckons the entire nation saw why he stepped in to keep Panthers alive when the Sky Sports cameras captured the club's first Premier League triumph earlier this week "“ a 54-40 success over Newcastle full of thrills and spills.
Horton added: "I never expected to find myself running Peterborough again, but I couldn't just sit back and potentially see the club close.
"It is my hometown club (Horton moved to the city from Slough after being attracted by a television advert more than 20 years ago!) and has a big place in my heart.
"I've not had a single regret about taking Peterborough on in addition to Coventry. Everyone saw on Tuesday night why I did it.
"A venue which provides that incredible standard of racing week in, week out could not be allowed to disappear.
"I've always been adamant that the East of England Showground is the best track in the country and now all the Sky Sports viewers know why. It was an incredible meeting on Tuesday, but it certainly wasn't a one-off."
It was particularly pleasing for Horton to see the TV cameras rolling at one of his tracks following the Elite Riders' Championship fiasco which dragged him into the headlines for all the wrong reasons at the start of the season.
Plenty of public mud-slinging followed the late postponement of the prestigious individual event at Coventry due to serious track concerns and with fans already admitted to the stadium.
Both sides (Horton and Coventry Stadium) pointed the finger of blame at each other, but thankfully some progress has now been made.
"Everyone's feelings have on the ERC have been well documented and I don't want to go back down that road again," continued Horton. "It is the in past now and I'm the sort of person who only believes in looking forward.
"It was obviously very satisfying for my promotion to be able to prove we can put on a good show for the TV cameras and I hope that we get the chance to welcome Sky back to Coventry at some stage during this season.
"The track is gradually getting better week by week and we are not far away from having a top surface again."
And Horton is also happy to be giving opportunities to so many homegrown riders at a time when the sport's chiefs are anxious to see new British talent develop.
"I think it is fabulous that we have a structure at Coventry and Peterborough that allows riders to progress," he insisted. "I'm also proud to be giving so many British riders the chance to impress.
"We've got four Brits in the Bees team, three at Panthers and all of the Storm lads. You won't find a more patriotic man than me and it is great for the future of the sport to have the Brits coming through."
