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SHARPE MIND

26 May, 2022

AUTHOR: Star Sports Content

SHARPE MIND: Hook, Line and Sinker

SHARPE MIND: Betting PR maestro and author GRAHAM SHARPE takes his regular dip into the racing, sporting and betting history books to find out what was making the headlines this week in years gone by. THIS WEEK: Includes a 19th century bookie who swallowed up punters hook, line and sinker PLUS the smallest every Jackpot dividend.

🗓️ MAY 23, 1984

FRANCS A LOT

John Francome became the winning-most jumps jockey as he passed Stan Mellor’s total by landing his 1035th winner on Rhythmic Pastures.

🗓️ MAY 23, 1985

R.I.P. MACER

Jump jockey Macer (the name came from his great-grandmother) Gifford, 40, died of motor neurone disease. Brother of Grand National winning Josh, Macer rode 230 winners, including 1968 Whitbread Gold Cup winner, Larbawn. He named his house ‘Winning Post.’

🗓️ MAY 24, 1882

REELING IN THE PUNTERS

19th century bookie, Big Bill Fisher, on Derby day, May 24, 1882, lived up to his surname by placing in front of his pitch an aquarium – with rods and tackle leaning against it – with live fish in it.

This attracted a big crowd of clients, many of whom lumped on 11/2 winner, Shotover. However, when they returned to collect their winnings, Fisher turned out to have been the one that got away – he’d fled the course, never to be reeled in and caught.

🗓️ MAY 24, 2009

KNOCK-OUT HAT TRICK

15-time French champion jump Jockey Christophe Pieux had to be literally carried into the paddock after winning his third Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil on Remember Rose, having broken a toe and severing a tendon after hitting a rail during the race. Trainer, Jean-Paul Gallorini called him ‘a Tyson among jockeys.’

🗓️ MAY 25, 1898

HOUSE TRIBUTE TO DERBY HERO

The Derby’s first 100/1 winner was Jeddah, trained by Richard Marsh, and ridden by Otto Madden. Owner James Larnach built Lanwades Hall, near Newmarket, with his prize money of £5450, plus the proceeds of his wagers, and his Derby winner was laid to rest in the grounds when he died.

🗓️ MAY 25, 1887

MERRY OLD GEORGE’S DERBY DEBUT WINNER

Not sure of the derivation of George Alexander Baird’s three year old Merry Hampton’S name (think rhyming slang!) but, first time out, the horse was a 100/9 winner of the Derby. Went on to finish runner up in the St Leger but aggravated a leg injury in his first start as a four year old and was retired.

🗓️ MAY 26, 1916

WINNING IN A FLASH

Professional gambler Alex Bird, who became legendary for his ability to solve photo-finishes before the racecourse judge, thus profiting from hefty wagers on the outcome, was born on this date in 1916. He died in 1991.

🗓️ MAY 26, 1994

DAMP DIVIDEND

Brighton’s meeting was abandoned after just one race, won by 13/2 I Should Coco, because of heavy rain – and the smallest ever Tote Jackpot dividend of 15.6/1 was declared.

🗓️ MAY 26, 1886

FRED’S DERBY NAP HAND

Great, but ultimately tragic, jockey Fred Archer won his fifth and final Derby, partnering 4/9 favourite Ormonde.

🗓️ MAY 27, 1846

SCOTT PAID BOOZE BILL

Jockey Bill Scott was literally pissed off in the 27 runner Derby as, reportedly under the influence of considerable quantities of alcohol, he and Sir Tatton Sykes missed the break and ended up losing by a neck to Pyrrhus The First in what was the first officially timed Derby, worth £5500 prize money to winning connections, and won in 2minutes 55 seconds.

🗓️ MAY 27, 1981

BILL DANCED TO VICTORY

US jockey maestro, Willie – Bill – Shoemaker, rode his 8000th winner, War Allied at Hollywood Park, eliciting a compliment from LA Times writer Jim Murray : ‘Most riders beat horses as if they were guards in slave labour camps, ‘Shoe’ treated them as if he were asking them to dance.’

🗓️ MAY 28, 1990

MARTIN’S MAGNIFICENT NINE

Martin Pipe sent out an amazing nine winners in one day, spread across six different meetings.

🗓️ MAY 28, 1994

TON-UP MARY WIDE AWAKE

Mary Reveley became the first female trainer to send out 100 winners in a jump season when 4/5 Stay Awake won at Cartmel.

🗓️ MAY 29, 1939

BY GEORGE!

George Owen rode a treble in front of 22,000 racegoers, as Cartmel staged its last meeting for seven years as the course was commissioned by the government. The next race meeting here was on June 10, 1946 – when, appropriately enough, George Owen, now a trainer, saddled the first three winners on a day when two 14 year old horses won.

🗓️ MAY 29, 2021

OISIN’S TEETHING TROUBLES

Oisin Murphy was forced to give up his final three rides at Yarmouth the day before, suffering from toothache but despite the pain rode a double on Haydock’s Saturday, May 29, 2021 card. He then revealed that he had not been able to secure a dental appointment. Jump jockey Paddy Brennan rode to his rescue by calling upon fellow rider (and 2022 Grand National winner) Sam Waley-Cohen, chief executive of Portman Dental, who had assisted with Paddy’s own molar misery, and who soon sorted treatment for the Murphy molars.

🗓️ MAY 29, 1895

SIR IN SIGHT

9/1 shot Sir Visto won the Derby, which became the first horserace to be filmed. The winner went on to add the St Leger to his tally.

🗓️ AND FINALLY, MAY 23, 2019

CHARLIE WAS TOM’S DARLING

Six year old horse, Charlie Brune,won for the second time in 26 hours. Shortly after, he found himself in a local pub, along with his trainer, Tom Shanahan, celebrating their two wins – in a Wexford hurdles race, backed from 33/1 to 10/1, and another at Tipperary the very next day.

His trainer had never saddled a winner in the previous thirty years, so was keen to enjoy the wins and the ‘few quid’ he won betting on them:

‘I was on my way home and I told Maggie Ryan in the Horse and Hound pub in Dualla that I was coming in for a few pints. I told her the horse was coming in with me. It was tricky getting him through the doors. We had some craic. It was mighty.’

No doubt Tom ordered doubles all round!

*Charle Brune won his two races at Wexford on May 22, at 10-1, and at Tipperary on May 23, at 9-4 favourite.

GRAHAM SHARPE