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Yep, it’s a great shame so many of our long established heritage races seem to have been desecrated by the endless onslaught of commercialism at large. Take last weekend’s Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock, for instance. Back in the day, I’m pretty sure it was known as the Otley Hurdle – presumably named after the quaint West Yorkshire town. Now that name is nowhere to be found in the re-branded race title.
Luckily, we still have the likes of the Fighting Fifth and the Kingwell Hurdles at Newcastle and Wincanton respectively. These long-standing race names seem to have, so far, escaped total obliteration where the sponsors have kept faith to the races’ heritage. But God knows what has happened to the likes of the Gainsborough Chase, for instance, which used to be run at Sandown in early February. Admittedly it was just a little graded (conditions) race but one that gave Gold Cup hopefuls an opportunity to be seen stretching their legs in the middle of the week. For that reason the name of the race sticks in my mind.
These days, however, we have whole meetings bearing races of a certain brand name, and quite often that brand relates to a certain branch of the betting fraternity. The saturation is such that this is now almost a daily occurrence and yes, BH is quite right with his original post – and I concur with most of the rant! I for one have become somewhat numb by it all and sometimes say to myself, “What?…..Oh God, no! Not another lot of them races, yet again!…..How boring…..How utterly boring…..” Instantly forgettable, yes indeed. Although I must emphasise, this is in no way any disrespect for the participants at all whatsoever, of course.
As regards the ‘Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup’, I definitely recall that the tabloid I used simply referred to it as the ‘Tote Gold Cup’, with ‘Cheltenham’ dropped, being obviously understood. Perhaps somebody thought it a bit of a mouthful or tongue twister eh?! I must admit though, that Tote Gold Cup sounds simpler and is easier on the tongue than Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup! I may be wrong, but I guess the way a race title sounds phonetically must have a bearing on its existence or retention. Now that’s another debate, for another day……
A great old favourite of mine was the northern ‘chaser Titus Oates who, like The Dikler, also sported a white blaze but the most memorable characteristic of the horse was that he always seemed to race with his head bowed very low, almost touching the ground, in fact. A very game and consistent ‘chaser, Titus Oates won several big chases between 1969 and 1971. He once fought out a great finish with The Dikler in the Coventry Pattern Chase at Kempton (now the Racing Post Chase). TO won by a neck and, if I remember correctly, he was giving the younger TD a bit of weight as well. Sadly, I never saw any pictures of that race, as I don’t think it was televised, or I must have missed it somehow. Being a fast ground specialist, Titus Oates was unlucky, in my view, to have encountered unsuitable ground on the occasion he contested the Cheltenham Gold Cup; and he would surely have won the 1970 renewal of the King George but for the race being abandoned due to frozen ground.
Yeah absolutely, one of the greats in an era of greats. A little bit before my time, really, but I remember in the late 1960’s Terry Biddlecombe was one of several jump jockeys my gambling uncle used to like following, along with Josh Gifford, Jeff King and David Mould. My earliest memory of Terry is when he rode a horse called Domacorn, I think, against probably The Laird with Jeff King up, among others. No other details of the race, I’m afraid, being too immature at the time – me, that is.
As for Coral Diver, I have vague recollection of him winning a big handicap on the flat, either the Great Met or the City and Suburban at Epsom, most probably the former – both were major races in those days. Though not necessarily with big Terry on board, I dare say.
RIP
Absolutely agree with you, grey dolphin, re. both Cue Card and A. J. Martin.
I think Tony Martin is a very capable trainer who can be relied upon to fire in winners on a regular basis, and winners at a working man’s price at that (the kind I like, by the way!). To my mind, Flemenstar being the highest classed ‘chaser Martin has ever had, I’m sure all eyes will be on the progress of this good horse in the coming months. It will also impact on public perception of the trainer with new talent in his yard.
I say cometh the hour, cometh the animal, cometh the man!
Yes, Yeats! It certainly was the Valdoe Stakes.
Very well done, you. Glad to have gotten everybody’s brain cells working.
Well done indeed.Being a very young punter at the time, I seem to remember thinking it rather curious that there should be a good class 10-furlong race on a mundane Monday, especially straight after the excitement of the St. Leger.
So, over to you then Yeats.
Cheers
Jim
Sorry I forgot, but here’s the link:
Hi Adrian, the clue is that the Select Stakes was the same race as the one I had in mind but I’m going back to the mid-1970’s now and the race was run under its original name then. As for whether the race was definitely run on the Monday after the St. Leger, in some years at least, well maybe I am suffering a memory lapse but am fairly sure it was, at least during the mid-1970’s anyway. But I do know that since it became the Select Stakes the race has been run on a different day, later in the week.
Hope this helps! GL
Please excuse any delay in my response as I’m in the middle of a bit of DIY work and can only access my computer during break times.
Jim
I don’t know how to say this, Yeats, but you are half right.
Of course it’s dead easy to find the answer I’m looking for now, but the first person to post it will have to post a new teaser!
I’ll be on the move shortly but will take a look at this thread again this evening, hopefully.
Good luck.
Jim
Unlike all you guys, I’m no expert at all and couldn’t answer any of the questions posed here in a million years. But I thought it might be topical and timely to pose this extremely easy little teaser, if just to bump-start this thread.
Name the Group 3 event that used to take place at Goodwood on the Monday immediately after the St. Leger festival. (If memory serves me).
No cheating now! But I’m pretty sure lots of you know the answer.
Jim
“Would horse racing exist without gambling?” Sure it could. It already does exist now, doesn’t it? Like out there in Dubai? Correct me if I am wrong but I believe betting is not allowed in Dubai, and yet they can stage some great racing there especially during the Dubai Carnival which culminates in the fabulous Dubai World Cup night. The racing is high class, well supported and always competitive. So even without gambling, Dubai’s racing not only survives but is in a positively healthy state.
Now whether racing would exist without gambling in Great Britain is a different matter. I’d say not a chance, as already pointed out by fellow posters above, British racing needs gamblers, or should I say losing gamblers, in order to survive. The difference between Dubai and British racing is that, unlike the Middle East, in Britain we don’t have vast reserves of oil to fall back on! I might be talking a load of rubbish and totally wrong but that is my perception and humble opinion.
Well the Aga Khan seems to have forgiven Christophe Soumillon for his misdemeanours a few years ago. How long before the Aga sends some of his horses to Johnny Murtagh too, I wonder?!
Can’t argue with the fact that Tony Martin has his string in terrific form of late and, in my very humble opinion, he is just about the second best jumps trainer in Ireland. But agreed – that Peter Casey should be told one way or the other, before rumours spread. Just a matter of courtesy.
Pardon my ignorance, but what is the connection between US race-tracks and New Zealand racing?
Yeah, great racing in HK. In fact, a great place to visit, HK is, full stop. Or, as our friends across the water might say, period. Must try get there for the international races come December.
I am a northerner and have never been anywhere near the south coast (except for transit via Gatwick airport!) but I have been a fan of racing (TV racing, that is!) since I was barely out of my nappies. I must say I don’t recall any feature race run over ten furlongs at the Brighton Festival though. What I recall is that the festival took place over three days mid-week in August, from Tuesday to Thursday (just like the Cheltenham Festival then). There was one feature race on each day, with the Brighton Mile on the first day followed by the Brighton Cup (1m 4f) on the Wednesday and the Brighton Sprint (6f) on the final day. These races, which carried comparatively good prize money, were invariably well contested and interesting betting medium, all be it nothing like top class. I would put them on a par with the feature races at Carlisle’s main summer meeting at the time, namely the Carlisle Bell, Cumberland Plate and Cumbrian Sprint.
Well done indeed.
