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Thank you Matron…I’ve read that many times..even contributed if I remember rightly. albeit under a different
username. :)
Replied to your PM Joe.
As a kid: ponies, horses, show jumping, eventers – and then delving further and further into the front pages of Horse and Hound each week. Switching on the TV on a Saturday afternoon, and realising that the TB racehorse was something else to what I was then riding.
For the flat – the surge that was Nijinsky in the Derby and the perfection that was Mill Reef in the Coventry Stakes, both in 1970. I was enthralled. Jumps? The one and only Titus Oates – at Cheltenham, Kempton, Sandown and Wetherby! Closely followed by the colossus that was The Dikler; the athleticism of Pendil; the imperious Crisp on the second circuit of the National, and the mercurial, brilliant, headstrong superstar that was Captain Christy. On which: as I look at Thistlecrack and see Denman 2007, I remember the Captain Christy that took apart the second circuit of the KG in a similar style but who didn’t stop charging, and ended up beating Bula (yes, Bula) by more than a fence and over 30 lengths … One of the best NH performances I’ve ever seen. Staggering. Happy Days!
As a kid: ponies, horses, show jumping, eventers – and then delving further and further into the front pages of Horse and Hound each week. Switching on the TV on a Saturday afternoon, and realising that the TB racehorse was something else to what I was then riding.
For the flat – the surge that was Nijinsky in the Derby and the perfection that was Mill Reef in the Coventry Stakes, both in 1970. I was enthralled. Jumps? The one and only Titus Oates – at Cheltenham, Kempton, Sandown and Wetherby! Closely followed by the colossus that was The Dikler; the athleticism of Pendil; the imperious Crisp on the second circuit of the National, and the mercurial, brilliant, headstrong superstar that was Captain Christy. On which: as I look at Thistlecrack and see Denman 2007, I remember the Captain Christy that took apart the second circuit of the KG in a similar style but who didn’t stop charging, and ended up beating Bula (yes, Bula) by more than a fence and over 30 lengths … One of the best NH performances I’ve ever seen. Staggering. Happy Days!
Such a shame there seems to be so little video of either Pendil and especially Captain Christy; a few snippets only. Would particularly love to see their clash in the King George, which the Captain won convincingly, tho Pendil was perhaps past his best at the time. Both put up some amazing weight-carrying performances
I have 2. The first was the 1991 GN. I was 10 and watched the race in the front room with the old man – picked out my horse and over the last couldn’t work out why the old man thought picking winners was tough. My horse was Garrison Savannah and you know what happened next…
Fast forward 25 years and through I guess having no friends and family in to racing, I’d never been racing bar the odd night out at Windsor with work. However, mate of a mate invited me to the Hennessy in December and I think I’m now hooked. Despite knowing nothing even I could see the class of Thistlecrack winning without having to get out of 2nd gear, and the excitement at Native River winning my first on course bet will be hard to follow.
Reading countless books on the history of the turf legends and the great names , both equine and human ; the exploits of Eclipse , Man O’War , Phar Lap and Ribot – watching grainy black and tv pictures of Sea Bird and Arkle and Foinavon . Attending the Ayr Gold Cup in 1967 , when Peter O’Sullevan’s great sprinter , Be Friendly , triumphed . Two years later , backing Highland Wedding , along with just about everyone else present at my sister’s wedding .
Marvelling at Nijinsky’s triple crown , enthralled by Brigadier Gerard beating Mill Reef in the ’71 2,000 Guineas and being saddened by Crisp’s glorious failure in the ’73 Grand National .
Happy days . How could I not fall in love with such a magnificent sport .
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
Earlier than my 5th birthday I was with my dad in a hardware shop where he was interested in what was playing on the radio.Just seemed a load of row to me but apparently he’d backed Anglo the 50-1 winner of the Grand National. Of course this meant nothing to me but neither did the 1966 World Cup. The seed may well have been sown then as I was very interested in subsequent Nationals and had an early success with Red Alligator. I remember being aware of Sir Ivor winning the Derby possibly because I had an uncle Ivor.
It was a few years before I became interested on a more general basis.I remember loving the BBC camera work on the Ascot jumps course in the early seventies where even on a grainy 19 inch television picture the sense of equine movement really did something for me. Only occasionally do you see anything comparable on modern coverage. The wonderful pictures from the hand held camera in the car moving alongside the horses in the fog at Thurles a year or two back seemed a little reminiscent of it
I clearly remember watching a race from Goodwood, must have been about 1958 and probably the Goodwood Cup or Goodwood stakes – a long race anyway, and being mesmerised by the patterns generated by the horses galloping along.
It was probably about a year later that I started to develop an interest in the sport, but I think a seed must have been sown then.
its a combination of factors but two things stand out
The mental challenge. You never feel you know enough. Only cricket compares. Blockhead “sports” such as formula one or darts will never appeal
Going racing. Very lucky to be very close to sandown and kempton (jumps member at both) with plenty of other tracks nearby. It’s a fine experience with a special atmosphere, most especially over the jumps.
This is a lovely thread. My earliest memory to have an impact was of Ayala winni ng the 1963 GN at 66/1 and my best friend and I having a shilling 5 pence on. As 11 year olds it was a fortune to us. My first on course memory was at my then local course York backing a horse called Yorkshireman ridden by dyed in the wool Yorkshireman Johnny Seagrave and of course winning at , I believe , 5/1 . As man of York myself this was all very special and I was hooked forever
There have been so many memories since that stand out particularly Sea Pigeon , Night Nurse and the pinnacle being at Cheltenham to witness Desert Orchid win the Gold Cup in 1989 in atrocious conditions at a course that didn’t suit him at all. What a spectacular and v brave horse . I am lucky to have visited every racecourse in Britain except Chelmsford but that first racecourse experience will stay with me always.
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