- This topic has 10 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 6 months ago by
.
- Posts
Is age and a desire for the so-called ‘good old days’ influencing my comparisons of today’s jumpers with the stars of yesteryear?
Three horses from the past stand-out in my memory as being head and shoulders above most that I’ve seen since. These are, Arkle, Mill House and Rondetto.
Does anyone else have fond memories of the above and where do they appear on your list of all-time favourites, please?
KenRondetto will not win the National because he pecks on landing..quote Daily Mirror.
Arkle’s picture is on the wall next to where I am writing this. Will never forget the 64 Gold Cup head to head between him and Mill House. Level weights, perfect ground, a bright sunny day. A race hyped to the heavens which delivered in spades.
Rondetto would have been a champion in any other era and what about Scotland’s great hero and their contemporary, Freddie who was second to Arkle in the 1965 Hennessey.
These were the horses that got a wee boy from Langholm hooked on National Hunt racing and am still hooked on the sport now 45 years later.
I had a picture of Mill House [and Team Spirit] next to my bed when I was a little girl, and it took about 40 years for me to forgive Arkle for beating him [which, of course, I have..]I think racing was more more part of everyones life in those days, and I suppose that, with households having just the one television we all used to watch the racing on a Saturday afternoon, whereas kids now just watch their own programmes in their rooms. [mind you, the wrestling was on after the racing and I never became addicted to that…]
[mind you, the wrestling was on after the racing and I never became addicted to that…]
That’s your memory playing tricks again. Mick McManus, Jackie Pallo and, latterly, Adrian Street and Kendo Nagasaki. The old Boston Crab – those were the days!
Oh I liked the wrestling at the time Nogbad, along with everyone else [particularly remember tag wrestling and the Cortez Brothers; think they were kind of cute and my teenage hormones were starting to kick in!]. A case in point as to how important it is for a sport to be on terrestrial tv so that everyone has access to it
I had a picture of Mill House [and Team Spirit] next to my bed when I was a little girl, and it took about 40 years for me to forgive Arkle for beating him [which, of course, I have..]
moehat
It didn’t take me quite so long to forgive Arkle, but I know the feeling. I was definitely in the Mill House camp at the time and it’s surprising how strong feelings can be around the age of 5!
Grainy Black and White TV picture, Peter O’Sullevan, Arkle, Mill House, Jay Trump wins the National……, marvellous!
Rob
"Grainy Black and White TV picture, Peter O’Sullevan, Arkle, Mill House, Jay Trump wins the National.."
………..jumpers for goalposts; those were the days.
Colin
I think sometimes, as the thread’s title suggests, that we imbue heroes of our youth with superhuman, or superequine, powers that they didn’t, in reality, possess.
No doubt younger forum members will be looking back at today’s champions in a few decades time, asserting that they don’t make ’em like that any more.
I remember Rondetto pretty well, but as a tip-top handicap chaser rather than a likely Gold Cup winner. We perhaps like to think of him as a fine example of a traditionally-bred Irish jumper, but he actually came from a fairly exotic female line, his 3rd dam being a daughter of the famous Tesio foundation mare, Bunworry. This is the family of champion sire Bozzetto, Botticelli and Braque.
I accidentally stumbled upon a football match on ITV yesterday, where some people were watching the game from the top of a slagheap.
It got me thinking about Aberfan and all those children and teachers, and what they may have done afterwards.
Nowadays if you mention a slagheap, people are probably thinking you are referring to . . insert girl pop group of your choice . . . tumbling about on the ground.
The one in Betteshanger, Deal is now a cycling circuit, for mountain-bikers, I think.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.