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Just replied to a couple of posts in the Racing Thread, about various on course racing memories..... Got me thinking about some of the great times I've had over the years at the races and not just based on whether I backed a winner or not... Thought it miight be good to have a thread to share a few stories

Similar threads probably been done in the past, but I love hearing about other peoples tales of coups landed ....Or narrowly missed and how the celebrations went down afterwards :)

Couple that stand out for me...

QE11 Day when Rakti won.... Was there on a jolly with a pal, and our GF's at the time (who happened to be sisters!) ...Winner was backed off the boards, we were all on big dont think I've ever celebrated so hard... Got a wicked picture somewhere of the 4 of us with Champagne and Cigars on the go in the bar after, incredible day and long night. 

Non gambling one (for me anyway) was when Like a Butterfly won the Supreme at Chelts... Was my first Cheltenham, and the year after foot and mouth so the antiicipation and build up was even more than normal.. The world was on the fav in the opener and had been punted hard all winter - I was stood next a couple of irish guys in stands, who had arrived that morning and lumped their whole weeks money on LAB ... Going home after one race if it got beat - So much heart :) ... I remember the on course commentator calling out Like a Butterfly 'coming up on the outside' as they rounded the turn and the Roof literally lifted off in the stands!  Never heard anything like it - Great memory!  ......In case you were wondering I was on adamant approach at 33's which crashed out alongside the winner at the last ;)

Nice idea for a thread.


The Good

Cheltenham November meeting a couple of years ago. Good ole' Swing Bill is in the last race of the day for David Pipe - an amateur rider's handicap. Pipe also has the jolly in the race - Alderluck....

Now the more observant have, over time, noticed that Swing Bill is rather handy fresh. Looking back at the previous years' form he is just always on the premises. First run in corresponding campaigns below:

2010 - 1st
2011 - 1st

Goes at Cheltenham and yet he's 25/1 in places in the morning which is, frankly, preposterous.

My friend Toby and I take prices in the morning over the Racing Post and a fry up at a ghastly greasy spoon we go to which is bang near the chute down to Paddington Station and the platform that leads to racing Mecca.

All aboard the 2hr+ train ride that culminates in winding through some lovely countryside - the first reminder that you are properly out of the rat race for the day.

Wander from the station, call in at a proper local's pub, couple of pints of Guinness and skip the ham roll as "eating is cheating until you've backed a winner".

Cracking afternoon at what must be my favourite place in the world as excitement builds for the last race. It's practically dark of course and the ring is increasingly deserted. In we go again at the last book that is 16/1 as cash money >>> electronic and there's not even really a sweat - hoses home.

Into the satchel he goes, and digs out our winning in Scottish £50 notes - I mean really. Petty from him as they're a bugger to spend, but by this point we are in such fine spirits we find it all hilarious. Couple of swift celebratory pints, train ride to Paddington, tube down to Wimbledon dogs and we back four of the last five winners there.

Strong day.



The Bad

Earlier this year I bought a small share in a chaser called Asian Prince in training with Alastair Lidderdale. AP had only run over fences the once, running creditably and jumping really neatly in hot company (Smad Place, Le Reve, Le Bec) at Huntingdon before completely emptying two out. Something struck me about the speed with which he had emptied, so when Alastair and Kev told me he had had a wind op, I was in for a share. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Off we go down to Fontwell on a grey and wet Tuesday. Me, Toby (see above) and a friend Robin twice our age and former seriously high up in the RAF/MoD. What a trio we must have looked.

Couple of bitters and a fish pie at The Fox Goes Free (up there with my favourite pubs) before driving on to the course. The money is already down at 7/1-8/1, and Timeform like him too which buoys spirits. I've had the biggest bet I've had on a horse, and naturally go in again at the track (see above!)

This time there is no fairy tale. He hates the ground which is much softer than expected, and is pulled up about half way through the race. He comes back safe and sound, which is more than can be said for my bank account.

Would I change any of the above? Not on your nelly.

Of course he dots up at Huntingdon next time out at 7/1. I've only had a token bet as Yard wasn't too keen - marv. What's more I'm down in Devon on hols so only watch it in a local Indy. I've let Hels have a fiver on him though to coax her out of the antiques shop so I can watch the race. We now have another nice crystal bowl, which somehow seems fitting.

Excited about a summer jumping campaign AP does a tendon about 10 days after and has been out since (6mths or so). Got to love horse racing.


The Ugly

Wednesday of the Festival, and somehow I'm there with Hels (normally a pursuit with a couple of racing chums, can't remember what led to this set of circumstances). She's obviously already got her eye on some rather spenny furs so we could do with a winner or two...

I'm on Rock on a Ruby for the Neptune at, effectively, 25/1 (ew) having got on for someone earlier in the year when (a) I had an account with Stan James (!) and (b) SJ were doing a price boost each day in the run up to the Festival.

Helen and I are stood about half a furlong out, so where the run in has really started to get into a horse if any doubts over stamina. RoR runs a belter of a race, and over the last I fancy we might be in.

Helen's excitement reaches fever pitch as he and First Lieutenant come past us, RoR still a neck or so in front. She's mentally already wearing that hat with the little fox's head poking off the front of it.

I, however, know that our goose is cooked. As Helen screams with the rest of the crowd, I can see exactly what is about to happen. 1.05 RoR traded, probably about 50-60yds before they came past us. By the time they reached our spot I wouldn't have backed him with stolen money. Funny old game.

Of course Helen thought second place in such a valiant battle was quite an achievement. Whilst it didn't feel it at the time, I rather suppose it was. Hels still wears the consolation fur band we bought that day - don't think I will forget that one in a hurry.

NB. RoR of course went on to win the Champion the next year. Had I backed him? Nope, couldn't have him. Had my mate who I got the bet on for in the Neptune? Yep, including a fiver at 1000 on Betfair. What a life.

Great write up. I usually don't open or insta-close racing threads, but I enjoyed every word of that one.

Moorman's book nomination plz Tighty.

Great post, Great stories.....Wish I'd put more effort into mine now !!!!

Bump.

This thread shouldn't go with stories untold...

My interest in horseracing was always viewed as degeneracy by all my mates (quite the same as poker is I guess), always listening to the garbage  from horseracing views based on the grand national. Their bets on football were way  bigger but because football was more mainstream, it was different obv. Hadnt seen a uni mate who had returned to london after completing his degree for a fair while and arranged to go down. He had went all out but it was rather disappointing timing in july; so no live football. Mate rings me a couple of weeks before to say hes got a real treat, that we are going to see that world champion horse at ascot. He meant the derby winner, workforce.

Was delighted to say the least as it was lined up with the best matched race of the season, easy derby winner, cape blanco the irish derby winner, aga khan horse cant remember its name but it was highly rated and harbinger who had won the hardwick at royal ascot previously.

The hardwick had been a total scoop for me with harbinger for the win and basheeba a huge price antipost e/w. Despite workforce being one of the most impressive derby winners Id ever seen I was taken with harbinger, and put a large amount on him from the winnings on the king george straight away at 3/1, I couldnt see him getting beat with that turn of foot anywhere and couldnt believe he would start anything other then under 2/1 in an all but match race with workforce. But then the field lined up made it the race of the season for me.

In the weeks before harbinger remained steady at 5/2 I think and the bet was already big for me and tbh was just excited to see the race, as it was one of those where you knew you had to see a special horse to come out on top.

Turned up for the racing with a stunning hangover, first few races are a blur but we had made a pretty decent profit between us. Got to the king george betting and couldnt believe harbinger was opening 7/2 in places. Thought fuck it, Im too bladdered to see any more racing anyway and cleared pockets on it. Ten minutes later hes 4s. Log in on the laptop and hes bigger on betfair. In total disbelief and thinking stoute knows hes not right (workforce and harbinger both stoute) but seen the horse and he looks great, bought everything on betfair, and emptied all accounts onto him at 9/2.

My mate looked ill, like he'd taken me to a crack den. I was wondering should I put more on, he cant be 9/2, its ridiculous.

Race was surreal, usually got butterflies with a fiver on but felt nothing, price was stupid, hes never that much of a dog. When they come round the final bend he was angled out and although Im biased what happened next was the greatest individual performance Ive ever seen. He destroyed in a matter of a change of strides and then went away from them like they were not moving. My mates jumping all over me, but the money just seemed irrelevant when you are in the presence of a horse who had just done that. Thats the last thing I remember other then dont buy drinks at ascot.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo7pEsp2WKc
Of the horses behind, workforce would go on to win the arc, cape blanco would win the irish champion stakes smashing rip van winkle before dominating in the US. Harbinger would never reace again.

2001 QEII Day.  Was working for a firm called Betabet at the time as Trading Director and we tried very hard to give sharp punters a bet and then backed them back.  As such every day we sent someone to every race meeting we could.  I had planned to go to Ascot that day anyway so volunteered to move a bit and had my own punting operation going at the time with a long time partner.  First few races passed relatively without excitement.  Had spoken to my friend and we had decided that Summoner which was a decent horse but probably strictly speaking the pacemaker might just get a totally uncontested lead and had half a chance at 66/1 and planned on having a small bet on it.  I walked around the ring nicking 1000/15 here and there when I saw it when I got a call.  We were moving for a guy called Russell Clarke at the time and the call was to try and get a bit on for him too and at that I decided to have a proper bet.  We took all of the 66/1 and then a fair bit of 50/1 before it went 33/1.  All told we ended up with about a monkey to win about 28k between the three of us.  The horse led as expected and with about a furlong and a half to go I realised they might actually not catch it and by the furlong pole the whole of the ring and stand had gone quiet except for me stood in the middle of Tatts shouting "aiaiaiaiaiaiai" and throwing my paper in the air.  Went to collect and realised I didn't have enough room in my pockets for the money so had to go and buy another racing post (the other one was all over the ring by then) and put some in there and fold it over so was actually quite relieved when the firm rang going into the last and asked me to have a bit on a 12-1 shot.  Had a grand ew for them and 300 quid ew for myself and was semi hoping the horse lost but when it was backed into 9/2 I knew it was very live and of course it won going away.  By this point I had to walk out of the racecourse actually holding some of it in my hands.  Lived in New Cross at the time so decided that it might not be the smartest thig in the world to get the train back to New Cross holding a couple of grand in readies in my hand so ended up getting a cab home from Ascot!!!!  Great day.