The Anonymous Widower

Only The Irish!

I love Ireland and the Irish.  My father always claimed that there was an Irish ancestor in our blood, but I’ve never found them, amongst a real mixture, of which any London mongrel would be proud.

In July 1990, our horse, Vague Shot, travelled to Ireland to run in the McGrath Stakes in the Irish Derby meeting at the Curragh. He was second and that paid the expenses of the trip. The Derby though was unusual that year in that Hamdam Al Maktoum’s filly, Salsabil, was attempting to defeat the colts. I remember that I flew myself, C and a friend, Gillian, over in my Cessna 340A to the main Dublin Airport.

I think we had lunch at the Regans close to the course andTadey and Moira came with us to the races in the afternoon. I remember that Tadey helped saddle Vague Shot and the horse duly delivered. I also remember C and Moira having a bet on Belmez in the Derby at outrageous each-way odds. When Salsabil won, they couldn’t find the ticket as their selection had been third, but Moira talked the Tote into paying out anyway.

So we had had a good day on the hospitality, racing and betting fronts.

We then left to go back to the airport in our hire car. Normally, this was an easy journey of about an hour, but as we approached the airport, the traffic had slowed to a crawl and people were parking on the roadside and running towards the airport. In the end we did the same and after half-an-hour we had dumped the keys with the car hire company and had walked to the general aviation terminal.

I asked what was going on only to be told, that the Irish team were returning from the 1990 World Cup and that Dublin had also given Nelson Mandela the freedom of the city. Only the Irish would organise three major events on the same day. But I think they had a great party!

There were people running about all over the airport hoping to greet the footballers on their return, so taxiing the aircraft was difficult and in some ways a bit dangerous for the trespassers.  In the end however, we scraped out of the airport almost in the dark and delivered Gillian to Stansted. The terminal was all locked up, so what about security? Finally, we arrived at Ipswich and went home for supper.

July 14, 2010 Posted by | Sport, Transport/Travel | , , , , | 1 Comment

Free As A Lark – Lingfield July 14th

C’s last big purchase for the stud, was a mare by Saddler’s Wells called Regal Magic. She was carrying, a foal by Oratorio. That foal is now called Free As A Lark and she runs today at Lingfield in the 15:30.

The comment in the Racing Post by her name is “Shown ability but more needed to make it third time lucky”.  That’s probably true! It might just have been her race at Yarmouth.

There are various things to take into account.

  • She will need some rain and hopefully, it rained at Lingfield last night.
  • She will be coming downhill, round a bend and hasn’t done that before.
  • There are a couple of very well-bred horses in the race, who are trained by the top rank.
  • There are some dodgy horses in the race, who could win or do nothing at all.

So here’s hoping. If you have SKY, you can watch it on At The Races.  That’s the free channel.  Why do we have two racing channels, one of which has to be paid for?

July 14, 2010 Posted by | Sport | | 2 Comments

I Remember Jarlath Regan

I use one of Tadey Regan’s phrases, “The Struggle Continues” all over the place as a catchphrase and e-mail signature for example, as it sums up my life so well. For Tadey, it summed up his life in trying to be a success in that most difficult of professions, as a racehorse trainer.  C and I had horses with him for several years and although we never had a winner, we had a great time.

But for Tadey, there was little justice in his chosen profession, as he continually struggled.

Jarlath is the youngest of Tadey and his lovely wife, Moira’s four children. I remember them telling C and myself about how after a big meeting at the Curragh, the kids would climb the fence and collect all the discarded Tote tickets.  They’d then bring them home and look for any winning ones that had been unintentionally discarded.  Needless to say, sometimes they struck lucky.

So perhaps Tadey and Moira have got one of their biggest rewards, as Jarlath Regan appears to be making a success of being a comedian according to this article.

Perhaps, this from a review might sum up Jarlath.  It certainly fits my memories and C would approve if she were still here.

 But then, you can see how the thought might never have entered his head, as Regan is a very laid-back chap, insisting that he’s never been in a fight and will avoid confrontation at every turn. He can’t even bring himself to shout at his dad when he phones up every single day with the same question about working the TV remote control.

July 11, 2010 Posted by | Sport, World | , | Leave a comment

Clive Delights Us All

Clive Brittain  is one of my favourite people in horse racing and today on the last day of Royal Ascot, he produced Zaidan to win the Chesham Stakes at 7-1.  I did not back the horse, but I picked it out from the Racing Post and told friends, who did put some money on.

So why did it stand out?  That is difficult to say, but the horse had won its last race, it had a good jockey in Seb Sanders and it just looked like another time when Clive had got it right, just as he did here.

I was so pleased to see the 75-year-old Clive dancing with joy. Clive to me sums up, what you can achieve from humble circumstances with hard work and a bit of well-applied thinking.

Long may he win, as every time he does, it makes me feel better.

June 19, 2010 Posted by | Sport | | Leave a comment

Brett Doyle

Just watching the racing on TV from Happy Valley. Brett, who had some of his first winners on our horses, is riding.

June 2, 2010 Posted by | Sport | | 2 Comments

Free As A Lark

She runs in the 6:45 at Yarmouth tomorrow. Here’s hoping!

May 31, 2010 Posted by | Sport | | 2 Comments

Physiotherapy

This is one of the highlights of the day. Especially, as the department looks over the green of Happy Valley racecourse.

May 28, 2010 Posted by | Health, Sport | , | 6 Comments

Dr, Fong:doctor or racehorse

My doctor is called Dr. Fong. This causes mirth amongst my horse racing frirnds, as iy was aldo used fot a successful racehorse and lster stallion.

May 20, 2010 Posted by | Health, Sport | | 3 Comments

Free as a Lark – Nottingham May 8th

She ran well after she rather missed the break out of the stalls.  But then horses often do that on their first run.

At the end she was running on and finished a creditable seventh, especially as a horse virtually stopped in front of her and she had to start her run all over again.

Free as a Lark - Jack Mitchell in the Saddle

The trainer and jockey were both pleased.

May 8, 2010 Posted by | Sport | | Leave a comment

Free as a Lark

My horse runs at 3:30 at Nottingham today.  She is 33-1 and is only having a first run. 

She’ll probably be very green, so no bets unless you’re stupid.

May 7, 2010 Posted by | Sport | | Leave a comment

« Previous Entries     Next Entries »