SHARPE MIND: September Firsts

In this week’s SHARPE MIND blog, where sports betting PR legend GRAHAM SHARPE aims to bring you a rundown of Sensational, Hard to believe, Amusing, Remarkable, Pertinent & Entertaining events which have happened over the years in the worlds of racing and betting during each specific week of the year, he digs out some of the golden moments from the week between 6 September and 12 September.

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SEPT 6…VERSATILE VIRAGO……Having already won the 1000 Guineas over a mile, Virago won the Warwick Cup today in 1854 – run over three miles.

SEPT 6……ABOUT TIME, TOO…….Jockey Dale Gibson sighed with relief today in 1990 as he partnered 9/1 Takenhall to win at York – breaking his run of 102 consecutive losers.

SEPT 7…OFF THE FLOREY……..21 year old student, James Florey, was warned off by the Jockey Club for five years today in 1994 – as a result of running on to the track during Royal Ascot race and bringing down one of the runners.

SEPT 7….OLYMPIC GLORY……..Garage proprietor, bus driver, and post-mistress, before becoming an official trainer, Louise Dingwall gained her first victory since the Jockey Club reluctantly permitted women trainers, today in 1967, with a 33/1 shot, Olympic Boy at Folkestone.

SEPT 8…BOMBING AROUND DANGEROUSLY…….’That place wanted bombing. It still amazes me how horses used to race round there, ridiculous, really. It wants to stay closed. It was dangerous, it wasn’t good for horse or rider, they were always falling over.’ Willie Carson on Alexandra Park racecourse, which closed today in 1970, when in 1999 plans to reopen appeared. It had, though, been John McCririck’s favourite course.

SEPT 8…….ONE IN A MILLION……Meld’s St Leger victory, today in 1955 made Captain Boyd Rochfort the first trainer to clock up total prize money in winnings of over £1 million.

SEPT 9 ………AT NEITHER SIXES OR SEVENS…….For the first time, today in 1992, a race was run over six and a half furlongs at Doncaster – the EBF Fillies’ Nursery Handicap was won by Steve Cauthen on Michael Stoute’s 7/1 Falsoola.

SEPT 9………JOCKEY HAT TRICK…….Mr Lamego’s Driver won a possibly unique three-heat race, the Give and Take Plate at Maidenhead today in 1754, unexpectedly being ridden by three different jockeys. Thomas Brett fell off during the first heat, so was replaced by David Newcomb, who rode so badly in the next he was replaced by Thomas Arnold who somehow conjured victory from the jaws of defeat in the third.

SEPT 10…MALCOLM’S SINKING FEELING…..Jump jockey Malcolm Batters announced his retirement today in 1981, revealing that he was to become a deep-sea diver.

SEPT 10……GO,GO,GO,GO,GO,GO,GO,GIRLS…..Female jockeys rode seven winners in a row at Delaware Park, USA today in 1993.

SEPT 11…HARD-HEADED RIDER……..Robby Albarado was born today in 1973. Aged 12 he was riding at bush tracks in his native Louisiana. He suffered skull fractures in both 1998 and 1999, repaired with titanium., but went on to ride over 5000 winners.

SEPT 11…….HULL OF A COURSE……Hull racecourse opened and closed its gates for the last time today in 1909 with a final fixture on the flat.

SEPT 12…Owner Lord Arlington thought so little of his filly Throstle that he offered to give her away. The prospective recipient failed to turn up to collect her, so today in 1894 she was allowed to contest the St Leger, despite being a 50/1 no-hoper. She won.

SEPT 12………DANCING TO TRIPLE GLORY…….Partnered by Lester Piggott and trained by Vincent O’Brien, Nijinsky danced all over his rivals to win the St Leger and complete the Triple Crown, today in 1970.

AND FINALLY……..SEPT 6/7……..OBJECTION OVER-RULED…In a distant echo of current day problems,today and tomorrow in 1832 a race meeting went ahead at Wigton in the Lake District, despite the local Board of Health objecting – ‘on account of the danger of drawing together a great crowd of vagrants as usually attend places of amusement, at a time when Cholera is raging.’