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Thanks Simon. I always look forward to these dropping into my Podcasts feed. I particularly enjoyed the recent episode with Chris Pitt, especially his story of chronicling the career of little-known jockey John Hudson.
It got me thinking of something very similar I did back in the early 90s. For two or three seasons I closely followed the Middleham-based trainer Don Enrico Incisa. There was no rationale, it was just that he fascinated me. Much like Hudson, he was an unheralded, journeyman trainer but those type of people are right in my wheelhouse. On a writing pad I’d note all his entries, runners and information such as jockey, going, distance, course and odds. In my own little way in the valleys of south Wales I became a bit of an expert on his string.
Although his most successful horse was probably McGillyCuddy Reeks, my favourite was Filicaia. On the never-to-be-forgotten day of 18 June 1992, Filicaia was entered in a 6F contest at Ripon. I was convinced that conditions were perfect yet she was the joint outsider of the field at 12/1. I told a few friends and family and lo and behold she bolted up. She never won another race but I’ll never forget the day and the buzz of signposting a nice winner.
The Don was arguably ahead of his time in that he almost exclusively employed female jockeys. Clare Balding was on board Filicaia that day, although Kim Tinkler was the stable jockey.
Thanks for triggering some happy memories, Simon!
ps – finding a picture of the Don isn’t that easy but I have tracked one down, which is the one I use for my account icon on this forum
Thanks everyone for the replies, have really enjoyed reading them. Ironically I first found this forum in the immediate aftermath of the Gordon Elliott sitting-on-the-horse scandal in 2021, and have been a daily visitor to it ever since. So it’s thanks to Google, I guess, which is not a sentence I’ve ever written before.
Thanks Cork All Star. I’d forgotten about the Waterford and Tramore sign. Agreed, that’s a nice touch and an important nod to history.
Leopardstown is as I thought although I hadn’t realised it had less racedays over the jumps than Bellewstown! Obviously as a dual-purpose track it will have plenty of flat action during the summer too.
On Leopardstown, is it the Irish equivalent of Cheltenham in that it only hosts big/important meetings? That’s the case from what I’ve seen, although I may be wrong on that.
Thanks both. Also to Kendicate, any racecourse-related reply that includes the phrase “one of the gaffest” is guaranteed to get my attention!
I’m annoyed at myself for omitting Clonmel. I’d written my list down first to ensure I didn’t miss any – with Clonmel in the middle tier, as suggested – but still forgot to add it above.
Great stuff on Kilbeggan, Sligo and Bellewstown. I was watching a video on YouTube the other night of Jerry Hannon’s best commentaries – guaranteed to divide a few on here! – and noticed one of the track’s finishing lines was at the end of a bend. It was a right-handed track so must have been Kilbeggan.
Tramore seems one of the most underwhelming tracks. Despite being very undulating it just feels low key and dull. The infrastructure also looks dated and that wall as they go up and away from the stands does nothing for the aesthetics.
I’ve only ever visited two of the tracks, Fairyhouse and Cork, with the latter some 20 miles north in Mallow! Agreed on it being quite flat and featureless…to continue the theme, maybe the Irish Ffos Las (and I say that as a proud Welshman!).
Thanks for the reply and happy to be corrected. As my natural inclination is to be attracted by the lesser lights of life, which are the gaffest of the gaff tracks?
I’ve enjoyed reading up on Bellewstown. It is classed as a village on Wikipedia and until recently, only raced over one weekend a year. It now hosts nine race days every year, but hurdle-only and no chases. A touch of the Irish Cartmel about it and I’m guessing this would be one?
Also Roscommon, Ballinrobe, Killarney, Sligo, Wexford and Kilbeggan too?
That’s good to know. For all its flaws, I still rely on ITV Racing on a weekly basis during the jumps season (with NH the focus of the below comments).
So they’ve added the opening day of Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting (25 Oct), Haldon Gold Cup day (8 Nov) and Peterborough Chase day/Kelso’s Borders National meet (8 Dec) to their portfolio. Also Scottish Cheltenham Trials Day at Musselburgh (4 Feb) and some secondary jumps meetings to back up their coverage of the Lingfield Winter Million in January. A total of 111 days of racing on terrestrial television over the year (30%) is impressive
Great stuff, thanks. I probably wouldn’t have considered Aintree/Liverpool (much like Musselburgh used to be called Edinburgh), but I knew of the other three and kicking myself now.
Thanks. I have a growing interest in Irish racing and a week-long trip there one day is definitely on my bucket list. However, when I saw the reference to the big five, I thought I was missing something obvious, hence my trepidation in posing the question.
Popping my head above the parapet here and apologies for the ignorance, but what is the big five? Punchestown, Leopardstown and the Curragh immediately come to mind. Naas also…..plus one other?
My username probably gives the game away however, my bigger gripe with ITV Racing’s coverage of the Welsh National is that it’s reduced to second billing behind Kempton’s card. If the same is true as with previous years, the programme will come from Kempton, with Luke Harvey the roving reporter in Wales. This doesn’t exactly promote the race. I understand the logistics of the broadcast operation being at Kempton for Boxing Day, but to me at least – and as I say, maybe I’m biased – it feels like they can’t be arsed driving 2hrs or so down the M4 to bring the show live from Chepstow racecourse itself.
For me at least, Ian, I’m out most Saturday afternoons (rugby and football season tickets!) so enjoy catching up with the racing in the evening, hence I do still watch ITV Racing, albeit fast-forward between races, where necessary
Agree with the argument that ITV have increased the overall coverage since the C4 days. It just feels to me that compared to some of the days they show – the Haldon Cup being a good example – yesterday was arguably an even better one to broadcast.
I fully agree Ian. As I think I’ve said previously, he fascinates me. I’d actually go out of my way to listen to him commentate, interview etc. It may well be my age (50) and it being related to watching the “halcyon” days of C4 Racing in the 80s, but even though I’m fairly sure that politically we’d all be miles apart, watching him, McCririck, Francome, Down etc evokes great memories. The fact Thommo retains as much enthusiasm as ever – even on a Monday evening at Chelmsford – into his 70s is absolutely to his credit. To me at least, his character and personality are infectious.
