Hayley Turner Rides for the Queen
Hayley Turner is riding Momentary for the Queen in the Ribblesdale Stakes today.
Hayley is a coeliac and now is the best lady jockey in the UK. Many will say the best lady jockey ever to ride in the UK.
A Coloured Horse in the Royal Procession
The Royal Procession at Royal Ascot is always accompanied by police outriders. Some might be passing derogatory comments as one of these horses appeared to be coloured and some but only a few these days, look down on a skewbald or a piebald horse. But police forces in the UK, have had the odd coloured horse for some years now.
Are You Watching Cyril?
Vague Shot is a horse I own and he goes by the nickname of Cyril. He is known for winning the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in 1987 under top weight in heavy going. He did have the advantage of carrying the best jockey, who ever rode for C or myself, Steve Cauthen. Sadly, we didn’t own the horse at that time and only acquired him later in the year.
A few years later he ran in the first race at Royal Ascot, the Queen Anne Stakes. He wasn’t expected to do well, but we did have a good day out.
I do remember that day, that he was saddled by Julie, Sir Henry Cecil‘s first wife. C commented her on her amazing jacket and Julie said that she’d got it for a few pounds in an Oxfam shop. C approved, especially as it was so good.
Incidentally, Vague Shot is now 29 and happily turned out in a field at the stud I still own and am trying to sell.
This year’s race incidentally was a procession, won by the best horse in the world, Frankel, who is trained by Sir Henry Cecil.
I used to think that Brigadier Gerard was the best horse, I’ve seen either in real life or on television. He now must be rated the best horse, I’ve only seen in black and white. I can still hear Peter O’Sullevan calling out “Here comes the Brigadier!” on the television commentary. Some years ago, I had the pleasure of talking to Joe Mercer, who rode Brigadier Gerard in his races, at a time when I think Xaar was being touted as the greatest. Joe still thought in his heart then that Brigadier was the best. If he still favours the Brigadier, it will be because of this incident.
The Sunday prior to the Brigadier’s third race of the season (at Royal Ascot) Mercer flew to France in a small plane with three others. Soon after take-off the plane crashed and luckily Mercer was thrown clear. He rushed back to the plane and pulled out the trainer Bill Marshall. He could not get the pilot out of the wreckage and gave up trying just before the plane went exploded. Unsurprisingly Mercer was shaken up and there was talk that he would not take the ride on the Brigadier on the first day of Royal Ascot. After taking a day off Mercer declared himself fit to ride on the Tuesday of Royal Ascot and he lined up on Brigadier Gerard for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. As it was the Brigadier gave one of his most stunning displays beating a field which included the future Irish Derby winner, Steel Pulse, effortlessly. Unlike other runs Mercer reported that the horse did not pull as much as usual. However Mercer felt unwell after the race and did not ride again at the meeting or for the next week.
Joe Mercer was reported at the time to have said something like, the horse did it all himself. There’s a video of it here on YouTube.
A Note For Those On The Other side of the World
The BBC is streaming their coverage of Royal Ascot on the web.
It’s a long way for all those pixels to go.
The Queen on Industrial Language
They have just told this story on BBC Radio 5 Live. Apparently, after seeing some of her horses on the gallops, the lads came back in , in a bad mood using all forms of industrial language, not realising the Queen was there. The trainer apologised for the behaviour and the Queen replied. “Don’t forget, I’ve been married to a sailor for most of my life!”
Harringay Can’t Go To The Dogs Anymore!
A s child, I used to go here to the Harringay Arena to see the ice shows. There was also a dog and speedway track called Harringay Stadium. Now all that remains is the name, in that of the large retail park.
Where’s the Dog Track?
With the recent loss of Walthamstow dog track to developers and the abandoning of horse racing at Alexandra Palace, life has lost some excitement in that area of North London.
My great-uncle Charlie, who introduced me to cider lived somewhere locally. He had been some sort of minor official in the colonies.
An Appropriate Punishment for Mr. Brooks
There has been a straw poll of horses in Lambourn about what would be an appropriate punishment for Mr. Brooks, if he should be found guilty.
Ninety percent said he should be gelded. The rest said neigh.
I’m Now on Lasix
Or a generic form of furosemide, which is the drug known as Lasix. As it helps stop racehorses from nose-bleeding, I wonder if it will affect my nose-bleeds. But then I haven’t had any in the last week or so.
Lasix is banned for racehorses in the UK, but it is allowed freely in a lot of states in the US.
Let’s hope it helps me go a bit faster and further.
Horse Racing Leaves the BBC
A sad day!
I enjoy my horse-racing, especially as my late wife and I bred and owned race-horses for nearly thirty years.
I shall still go occasionally, but I doubt I’ll watch it on the television any more. The reason is adverts. I find them so annoying.
That’s why I must be one of the few people, who has never seen any of Downton Abbey.
I did enjoy the Cheltenham Festival though on Radio 5.
Millions of us are paying for the very silly move to Salford.
The Luck of the Irish
Only the Irish would strike oil a few days before St. Patrick’s Day as is reported here.
Then they win the Gold Cup at Cheltenham today.
So what will happen tomorrow in the rugby. It’s obvious.
Even this van had the flag out.
The Irish Are Flying The Flag
I don’t wish the Irish bad luck tomorrow. But I do hope England win!
The Anonymous Widower 