TALKING dogs & horses
Wednesday February 10 2010
FORGIVE me some self-indulgence this week. Every day the Racing Post prints a list of birthdays of racing personalities, and on Sunday I was eager to see who else was born on 7th February.
No, I wasn't expecting my name to appear. For the last 22 years my reader(s) has lived in north Louth, and since September the net has been cast a little wider following the advent of this column to the extent that these words reach as far south as Malahide, no less.
However, that's still not enough to merit a mention in the Post, or the Irish Racing Post as it's now known.
Normally, I couldn't care less with whom I shared a birthday, but when you reach 40…. well, it sets the mind thinking.
Thinking it was 1985 since I started taking my betting and racing seriously.
Theatrical from the Dermot Weld stable was my fancy for the Irish Derby, and I invested £1 each-way.
The runners were behind the stalls when Michael Kinane's mount, in the famous green-and-white colours of Bert Firestone, started to get upset. Not a good sign, even to my inexperienced eyes.
Theatrical finished second to Law Society, and I was convinced his antics cost him the race.
There have been countless bets since then. Unfortunately most of them for considerably more than £2, but I blame that on inflation and the introduction of the euro.
Yes, it's been an expensive hobby following the horses and dogs. And before anyone says otherwise, let me point out that the old and new Dundalk tracks were the only ones where I gained free entry as a result of the job.
No special metal badge and fat expense account here.
Anyway, a love of racing has brought me to plenty of tracks – Dundalk, Navan, Fairyhouse, Bellewstown, Phoenix Park, Leopardstown, The Curragh, Naas, Punchestown and Sligo.
In England I've won and lost in Cheltenham, Ascot, Newbury, Lingfield, Goodwood, Sandown and both New markets.
Further afield there have been trips to Longchamp, Belmont and Flemington. I had to bring the wife to the last one, home of the Melbourne Cup. Well, we were on honeymoon.
Worth a punt...
Manyriverstocross,
Newbury (Saturday)
As far as the longtails are concerned there are fond memories of Dunmore, Dungannon and Navan; sadly, all no longer with us; as well as jaunts to Shelbourne, Harold's Cross, Thurles, Newbridge, Mullingar, Clonmel and Wimbledon.
Since I appear to be in a lists mode, here, according to the Post, are the birthday boys and girl of last Sunday:
David Pipe, Tony Ives, Mike Maker, Alex Pantall, Danny Brereton, Mickey Flynn, John Enright, Gustav Schickedanz, Phil Needham, Bruce Levine, Kevin O'Sullivan, Ann Harden, Joe Byrne, Ashley Bealby, Paul O'Loughlin, Jason Brautigam, Chris Cook, Mark Johnson, Richard Hoiles, Tom Stayt.
Yes, I don't know the half of them either.
Apologies for all the rambling, I am 40 after all. Feck, this isn't the start of a mid-life crisis, is it, is it?
- Francis CARROLL
