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The horse that got me hooked on racing for life has died at the magnificent age of 33. Thanks for the memories, old fella.<br>
Dandy bids farewell
Hallo Dandy, winner of the 1984 Grand National, was put down on Monday aged 33.
The gelding had spent the last 13 years at Carrie Humble’s Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre in Lancashire and Humble and her staff were at Hallo Dandy’s side when he was put down on the advice of vets.
"I never thought I’d even see a Grand National winner, never mind look after one for 13 years. To have had Dan for so long and for him to still be enjoying his days was a rare privilege," said Humble.
He added: "Dandy was an example of a dying breed. Theses days I see so few steeplechasers with enough bone for the job. As bone and stamina are traded for speed, and temperament takes a back seat, the old-style chasers are fast disappearing.
"In my world, Dan led the pack and always will. I will never know another horse like him."
Hallo Dandy was trained by Gordon Richards at Greystoke in Cumbria and Neale Doughty was aboard when he registered his famous success at Aintree.
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A great old horse who fell on hard times & was rescued by the TRC. He spent many.many happy years there. I visited him several times & he always looked a picture. I’ll miss him.
Very sad to hear of the demise of Hallo Dandy, albeit at a spectacular, Grim Reaper-denying age of thirty-three.
Was a youth working for Stanley’s at the time and was offered the opinion that HD was ‘something close to a certainty’ for the following year after his fourth in 1983. This view came courtesy of a guy called Sam Willock, my bet-settling coach (no calculators etc in them days) who had a shock of white hair and dressed like Toad (of Toad Hall).
Being naive, I acted on this ‘information’ ante-post from about nine months out, going in at 40-1 downwards.
Always wondered what happened to Sam. What a life since. I should send him the bill.
Mike<br>
Mike, a Google search for Sam Willock throws up a link to The Independent Betting Arbitration Service (IBAS)….
"Began his career as a branch manager before moving on to various senior managerial positions within the retail sector of the industry, including customer service and operational development. Has actively participated in various industry committees. A new and valued recruit, he is a former Head of Trading with a leading bookmaking company, and with 40 years’ experience in the industry, will no doubt bring a wealth of knowledge to the Panel.<br>back"
Cheers Mounty.
Good to see him still in the business although he was no spring chicken back in ’83!!
To be honest that sounds just the job for him as I remember. He tended to be a pretty even-handed ‘panic-free zone’.
I’ll take my next 5p e/w Lucky Flag dispute straight to the top then!
Mike
First horse I remember. My Grandad asked me to select a horse for him in the National. This one reminded me of the comic so I picked him.
Sadly, my method of selection has not moved on since.
The first winning bet of my life, the 1984 grand national. I was only a nipper and my dad let us have a pound on a horse each. Our budgie was called Dandy so I think my brother and I both selected Hallo Dandy. I can still see him crossing over to the stands rail and getting up 22 years on ! Great stuff !
Just wish I had stuck with coincidence bets rather than getting engrossed in all this form nonsense !
Was a youth working for Stanley’s at the time and was offered the opinion that HD was ‘something close to a certainty’ for the following year after his fourth in 1983. This view came courtesy of a guy called Sam Willock, my bet-settling coach (no calculators etc in them days) who had a shock of white hair and dressed like Toad (of Toad Hall.
My thanks go to Bet Large for the above, bringing back memories of Sam Willock. When I joined Ladbrokes in 1977 Sam was the senior manager of the Liverpool district, ie second in command of about twenty odd shops. He was as nice a person as you could ever meet, far too nice for Ladbrokes-which is probably why he moved on.<br>Surprised about the lack of calculators though, Ladbrokes had had them for some time, even in 1977.
I was six when my parents put a pound each-way on him to win the 1985 national on my behalf, down to the similarities with my name and the fact that he had won the year before. They stuck a quid each-way on a different horse for my four year old sister.
I went absolutely buck mad when Hallo Dandy fell, and flew into a fit of rage. My sisters’ horse ran into a place (was it Corbiere??) and there were tears aplenty as I accused my folks of "picking a good horse for her and a crap one for me on purpose"!
It was the very first bet I ever had, and was deadly serious even then!!! :biggrin:
(Edited by dandan at 12:01 pm on Jan. 11, 2007)<br>
(Edited by dandan at 12:02 pm on Jan. 11, 2007)
A grand old horse and it’s so sad to read about the appalling condition he was in when rescued from the Earl of Onslow’s field. Was Onslow ever prosecuted for animal cruelty? Somehow I think not……….
Ihave very happy memories of Hallo Dandy when, like many others on here, his 4th placed effort in the 1983 Grand National alerted me to hos chance the following year when I won what amounted to a few weekends with free nights out.
Sad to see him depart but glad he enjoyed a long and, for the most part, well cared for retirement. Well done to Carrie Humble and her team for taking care of him so well.
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