Forum Replies Created
- Posts
I just posted 2 mins ago in another thread, about how my friend, who was also a trainer, died in a car crash. Then I saw this.
I know how his friends and family must feel God Bless them and I hope he pulls though.
‘their’ not ‘there’
Soz
‘Sorry’ not ‘Soz’.
Great story by the way. Wish i could give a story like it but sadly can’t
But enjoyed reading yours! Do you still work in the business?I never worked in the business as such. I started riding out basically for fun many years ago. I used to get up at 5.30am and ride out 3 lots before going off to work for the day. I was lucky enough to ride out at Harry Bells, Ken Olivers, Mick Lamberts, Gordon’s and Jonjo’s. I aklso did get chance to ride Sea Pigeon when we met Pat Muldons son at Pat Rohans yard. I rode him on the road round Malton for about 15 mins (Thought I was king of the castle)
I had a couple of horses in Training with Tony Charlton who was unfortuantely killed in a car accident. I knew Jonjo a little at that time and it was he who stopped at the scene of the accident and found Tony dead.
I moved my remaining horse to Jonjos and got to know the wee man quite well. We shared a lot of laughs, one in particular that would probably get me banned if I told the story on here……he was so quick witted and had a fatastic sense of humour but Tony who I had known since he was an apprentice at Harry Bells was my best friend in the world and my heart was no longer in it. Tony never used to tell me anything
But I used to scare the bookies by just walking past them:lol: After I sold my horse I left racing ownership for good.The fact I got out of racing had nothing to do with Jonjo. I had huge respect for the man and anyone who ever doubts his love of horses should know this about him. I met him one day in a village outside Malton he had gone miles out his way just to visit Sea Pigeon at Polly Tearny’s small yard in Apple le street. Sea Pigeon was well retired by that time but to Jonjo he was still the love of his life..there’s not many like Jonjo in a bag of coal
Here’s a little cracker about Jonjo I just have to tell. I was in his house at Skelton before he moved yard. My wife and I were having breakfast with him and I was playing with his little dog "Skip" he was shooting about the kitchen like rocket. All of a sudden the dog stopped in it’s tracks, keeled over and died. Jonjo jumped up like a shot and rapped his mouth round the dogs mouth and gave it the kiss of life. He brought him back to life. I was gobsmacked and thinking f*** me I’ve killed his dog. I was also gobsmacked about how quickly he reacted. I couldn’t believe it when he brought the dog back to life. Unfortunately Skip had another heart attack the next day and died.
on the subject of Gordon Richards can anyone tell me where he trained before he was at Greystoke – we were told that it was somewhere near Crastor in Northumberland…..
He started of with winner at Bogside called Playlord who I am pretty sure won the Scottsh National. Playlord was trained by Gordon at Beadnell Village which near Bamburgh. I have no idea where Crastor is.
I don’t often get carried away when it comes to so called top class horses but this Kauto Star is something way out of the ordinary. He is being trained properly that’s for sure.
He was beaten first time out but that has absolutely no reflection on his ability.
It’s hard to ignore he tends to clout one now and again but don’t forget he’s a 7 year old and still relatively inexperienced. Personally I will be suprised if he falls again. There’s a huge difference between a novice chaser and seasoned one and basically he was still a novice, age wise, when winning last year.
I think we will see a different and much better and wiser Kauto Star this season. Come March I expect him to be odds on at Cheltenham and win very easily barring accidents.
Definately the best I have seen in years and to answer the question what is a fair price……whatever price you can get.
The longer-term sufferers of my ceaseless prattle will think I’ve gone soft if I don’t take the opportunity to nominate Richard Guest, so, um, Richard Guest
gc
Must have been privvy to some inside information on one of his many betting coups, to nominate him, Jeremy.
Its the equivalent to nominating Hitler for the Noble Peace prize.Doulbled up laughing when I read your comment (Sorry Jeremy) I backed Red Maurader in the National and was wishing someone else was riding him over the last 3 fences. Always reminded me of an accident waiting to happen.
I’m not a great fan of flat Jockeys but Frankie was definately one of the all time greats. Scobie, Pat Eddery and Ron Hutchison would be up there
But only one man can be called the greatest Lester.
The Jumps I much prefer and my type of Jocky is not just the one who gets most winners
I thought Richard Pitmans riding of Crisp in the National was diobolical..he was like a sack of potatoes on the run in.
Neil Doughty who would have put another jockey through the rails as quick as look at them. Definately one for the bad book. Ger Lyons is another for reasons I don’t want to mention.
On The good side the list is endless
North
David Goulding and the late PA Charlton could both put a horses to sleep like no other jockeys I ever saw……they both had great hands. Mark Dwyer, Jonjo, Phil Tulk and Big Ron Barry you couldn’t help but respect. I used to love watching Alan Brown who had the worst style imaginable but boy could he ride winners.
South
Scu was a complete animal but a great man to have on you side.
Francome was one of the best horseman ever but weak in a finish.
The old school Gifford, Biddlecome,Haine Rees and Nicholson were all excellent.
Mick Fitzgerald a class act, Steve Smtch Eccles came out of the same mould.
Every Irish Jockey that ever crossed the water
But McCoy has it all.
I’m an old godger but this kid is a machine. He steals races that he should never win.
It’s like he’s got this clock inside his head that says GO NOW and he just out thinks everyeone. He’s got a brilliant mind and works as hard as any jockey if not harder.
Best of all time Tony McCoy.
Paper never refuses ink mate and some of these colomnist wouldn’t know a good horse if it jumped up and bit them. You probably know more about good horses than they do.
I also read in too many rags that Best Mate was the best since Arkle.
He was the best around at the time but he is best described as the best of a bad lot. He wouldn’t have blown wind up Arkle’s backside.
In fact, I am struggling to try and think of 1 previous Gold Cup winner he would have beaten.
Anything to sell a newspaper
It’s interesting to read the (generally negative) views on ante-post betting.
I’ve done well out of it over the years. In fact, I’d say that all my most substantial wins have been ante-post. It doesn’t suit everybody and there are plenty of downs but I will always have a few such bets running at any given time.
Absolutely nothing wrong with having a few bob on and if luck is with you, you can land it big.
I think AP punters for Cheltenham should wait until just before The King George though and not only bet their fancies over Xmas but bet them at Cheltenham too. Half your stakes and if you have a good Xmas you will have stolen the odds. e.g. Kauto wins the King George what price for the Gold Cup…….you will be lucky if he is 11/10
I think picking 2 or even 3 horses in each race at Cheletenham for small stakes at good odds and crossing them over in trebles or even accumalators can bring huge rewards, whereas single selections are very likely to fail. Unless you have backed Kauto Star like me
I have read everyones post on here and some of the names bring back great momories.
Peter mentioned Border Incident who I loved to bits.
I am getting on a bit, but would not give up the horses I have seen for anything. They include Arkle, Mill House, What A Myth, Pendil, Killiney, Persian war, Istabraq, Captain Christy, Salmon Spray, Gay Trip, Bula, Sea Pigeon, Dessie of course, Royal Epic(backed him at 50/1) and a lessor known animal called Tepylon who finished 2nd to Corporal Clinger when he was all wrong at Haydock and went on to beat Destiny Bay at Nottingham before geting badly injured during the off season
We all have our favourites in racing but people use the term GREAT very loosely. Unless you actually saw Arkle run you could not begin to imagine how good he really was.
If you can imagine having to give Desert Orchid 16 lbs over 3 miles and being told you have to win by 24 lengths, an do it in a record time, then you will realize what your favorite horse would have to do to be regarded in my book as good as “Himselfâ€how many years did Rondetto run in the National? I had a newspaper cutting that said that he would not get round Aintree because he ‘tends to pitch on landing’ -and was his best placing at the age of 13?? At the same time there was a horse called Out and About who was a front runner….
I am not 100% sure but I remember he fell and nearly brought down Jay Trump in this mid sixties. He was then a 9 or 10 year old. I don’t think he ran in Anglo’s national. He was definitely involved in the mellee at the 23rd in Foinavon’s year and Pulled up the year after when Red Alligator won. He finished 3rd to Highland Wedding and I think that was about that. He had a low weight that year but early days he was severely punished having won the Hennessy and finishing in front of Mill House when Arkle broke the Sandown course record.
I can remember Out and About well and Loving Record and Tant Pis, both greys and the crossbelts of Nevil Crump’s Arcturus. It’s funny how some of the less talanted animals stick in your mind
I use to love the Schweppes Gold Trophy then they changed the name.
Ryan Price winning it with Hill House and Elan. Persian War beating Major Rose are still fresh in my memory.
Those were historic racing events and the changing of the name takes something away from that.
Arkle"s famous victory over Rondetto and Mill House in the Gallagher Gold Cup. That day he smashed 17 seconds off the Sandown track record with a huge weight on his back.
We don’t have a Gallagher Gold Cup now we got some other name and again it’s like something has been stripped away, from what was a monumental achievment by Arkle.
All in the mind I suppose.
Wonder if the person who writes Tommo’s scripts has written a book. I enjoy a good fairy story now and then.
Like all these famous faces he is taking advatage of his position.
Who needs people like him these days to find winners?
The best tool around is your own eyes.
If I was still betting like I used to I would be watching every recording of every race I could find.
You will soon find a few horses that were unlucky losers or having a quiet run that are well worth watching out for and it costs you nothing.
I think it may be LITTLE Bay that you’re thinking of FoF, if it is, wash your mouth out.
He was one of the most talented chasers around, and who can blame him if some days he just couldn’t be bothered to go past the riff-raff around him!!!
Colin
Well spotted Colin thanks for correcting me.
Love your riff-raff comment.
I am glad he thought the others were a decent enough lot that day to pass them.
I had a huge bet on him. I was with my very good friend, the late Tony Charlton, who told me I was mad putting my cash on that "old rougue"….I told him I never. I put my money on Jonjo sorting that "Old Rogue out" and he certainly did that day.
I don’t want to fall out with anyone but the times I have heard punters talk about stopping horses is tiresome to say the least.
Unfortunately the punter is the last concern of a good sensible trainer who knows his craft. That’s a fact of life I learned to live with a long time agoand lenny Lungo certainly knows his job better than most.
There is no way, if a horse is short of work, which this fellow no doubt was, are they going to knock 10 bells out of him, if all it’s going to do is sour the horse.
There is about a 99% probabilty they haven’t stopped this horse. What they have done is given him a quiet run. There is a very big difference and a steward with half a clue knows this.
Lenny Lungo is certainly not in bed with some big gambling syndicate. No one is paying him to stop a horse like this one. There is no way on this earth Lenny Lungo is stupid enough to risk his licence for a few hundred quid backhander from some course bookmaker. Nor is their some big massive gamble planned. He is a totally exposed animal and not the type you would lay out for a touch. If there was you wouldn’t have seen him anywhere within 60 lengths of the winner.
They know this horse better than anyone and they also know if he is ready to have a chance of winning or not.
Had they put him into the race as was suggested, all that would have happened is he would have finished in about exactly the same place only he would have blown up 3 out and been totally knackered after it.
These are the sort of things you should be looking for in races. That little something that tells you a horse is better than his last form implies.
Since racing began punters have moaned about horses being stopped. About 1 time out of 50 they might be right.
The trick is not stopping horses it’s having one that’s good enuogh to stop and there isn’t many of them going about. It happens a lot less than most people think.
what makes me laugh are the so called pro backers who roll out the old chestnut about having to sell their information because they’ve had all their betting accounts closed….YEH RIGHT. think the worst ones are the ones that arrive by unsolicited mail that offer "odds to" service. its so easy to get a client list, split them off into groups, pick a tricky 7/8 runner race and give them different horses to back in the same race. the winners are then split off on another little race and so on, then you are left with a few ‘clients’ who’ve had several winners on the trot who are willing to pay whatever is asked for the next bet.
Never thought off that..think I’ll start me a tipping service
April Seventh
Early Spring
Bruslee
Derring Rose
Kilvulgan
Birds Nest
Tree Tangle
Summerville
Beacon Light
Cuckolder
Hill Of SlaneAnyone spot the link……….
How could you possibly miss Rondetto (my email address)
Like you I am a huge fan. One of my best days ever was when I went to Cheltenham and never had a losing bet. Summerville topped it off when Andy got off Cuckolder to ride him in the Cathcart if memory serves me well. Saddest day was when he broke down with the Gold Cup at his mercy.
But enjoyed reading yours! Do you still work in the business?
But I used to scare the bookies by just walking past them:lol: After I sold my horse I left racing ownership for good.
