SHARPE MIND: That’s Grand, Dan…

In this week’s SHARPE MIND blog sports betting PR legend GRAHAM SHARPE brings us 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. This week he digs out some of the golden moments from between 21 November and 27 November

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🗓️ NOV 21, 1967……..ARCHIE WAS A ONE-OFF….At this time, Britain’s only full-time horse-dentist was Archibald Humble – and sadly he passed away today at the age of 74. He had been the go-to tooth man for the Queen’s horses with Noel Murless, as well as serving Ryan Price and John Oxley – he reckoned to travel 40,000 miles a year from his practice in Scotland.

🗓️ NOV 21, 1990……….RECORD WINNING ODDS..….To say Equinoctial was an unfancied winner of the 10 runner Grant’s Whisky Novice Hurdle at Kelso was an under-statement. The horse, trained by N Miller and ridden by A Heywood, went off at a British record starting price of 250/1 – on-course bookie Alex Farquhar – aka ‘Macbet’ did lay a £1 each-way wager at 300/1.

🗓️ NOV 22, 1910………..FRISKY OWNER…..…She was wearing trainers when she went up to collect the trophy after her Mr Frisk won the 1990 Grand National, but American owner, Lois Duffey, born on this date in 1910, did have a decent excuse – she’d fractured her ankle. She died, aged 96 in 2007.

🗓️ NOV 22, 2004…….JIM’S AIRY JOY…Jim Lawless won a bet struck a year earlier, when finishing 7th of 14 on Airgusta at Southwell – he’d wagered that he would learn to ride, and take part in a race. Helped by jockey Gee Armytage he managed to land the bet, declaring ‘This is not a one-off. It took far too much work.’ Jim didn’t reveal how much he’d won.

🗓️ NOV 23, 1989……………EMERGENCY DELAY……Racing was delayed by 55 minutes at Haydock, when one of two ambulance crews refused to work during an ongoing national ambulance dispute. Another crew was eventually located.

🗓️ NOV 23, 2021….THAT’S GRAND, DAN…….Another day, another landmark. Having sent out the 1000th winner of his career worldwide the week before, at Ascot, Dan Skelton reached four figures in Britain alone when Greatest Star took the novice hurdle at Southwell on Nov 23, 2021. The trainer was presented with a bottle of champagne to mark his achievement after the 2-1 shot won by a length and three-quarters under Harry Skelton.

🗓️ NOV 24, 1950…..QUEEN MUM OFF THE MARK…..The Queen Mother enjoyed her first win with a horse running in her own name when Peter Cazalet-trained Manicou, ridden by Tony Grantham won the Wimbledon Chase at Kempton. On the same date, but in 1989 the Racing Post reported that the Queen Mother’s favourite chaser, Special Cargo, supposedly a gelding, had got a mare, On The Hill, pregnant and speculated that he was really a ‘rig’, a horse in which one testicle had not descended.

🗓️ NOV 24, 2021…..ELSY’S FAREWELL….…After 1,633 domestic wins, trainer David Elsworth, had his farewell runner in his 82nd year, as Tropical Talent finished fourth at Kempton on November 24. He started unofficially as assistant to Ricky Vallance between 1971 and 1974, and then continued in his own name from 1979, with the likes of Desert Orchid over jumps and Persian Punch (whose ashes are in a box at Elsworth’s home) on the flat earning him legendary status.

🗓️ NOV 25, 1988……….CASHING IN………….Cash Asmussen became the first jockey to ride 200 winners in a French season when winning on Forest Angel at Maisons-Laffitte.

🗓️ NOV 25, 2021…….MOORE OF THE SAME……Trainer Gary Moore scored his 1000th winner over jumps in Britain and Ireland on Thursday, Nov 25, 2021, when Movethechains won at Lingfield. “I probably should have trained more than 1,000 winners by now, I’ve been doing it long enough,” Moore said. He had retired from the saddle in the early 1990s after riding more than 200 winners, and started training in 1993.

🗓️ NOV 26…1998…….ROBE RACE CHAOS……Jockey Warren Marston saw four loose horses running towards him as he rode 6/1 chance The Robe to a 12 length victory in a Taunton hurdles race. They avoided any accidents, but the 11 runner race had already seen leader Ivory Charm swerving left and unseating her jockey at the third, with three other horses being hampered and unseating their riders, leaving four still going, three of which were brought down. Of the eleven runners, three were hampered, three brought down, four unseated riders.

🗓️ NOV 26, 2018……………..BARONESS CLOCKED OFF…………………..… Baroness Trumpington, a Conservative politician who died on November 26, 2018 aged 96, had been ‘to my absolute joy’ a steward at Folkestone Racecourse. However, she recalled that ‘I didn’t cover myself in glory at my first meet. When the senior steward told me to go to the first fence I knew I wouldn’t make it, so I hid behind a fence. Before the next race, I went to the Starter’s car and said ‘I am Lady Trumpington, would you please give me a lift?’ He said, ‘Certainly not, you’re far too heavy, you’ll ruin the going.’ She must have done okay eventually, though, as she was presented with a clock on her retirement from the role, ‘one of my most treasured possessions.’

🗓️ NOV 26, 1927…..IT’S ALL OVER NOW…….The last race of the flat season, called the Final Plate, and run at Manchester, was won, appropriately enough, by 5/2 joint favourite, All Over.

🗓️ NOV 27, 1949……CLASSIC ACTOR AND TRAINER………..An owner, trainer and renowned actor, Tom Walls died on this date, aged 66. In the 20s he had starred in popular musical comedy farces both on the London stage, and in films. In 1927 he established a stable at his home in Ewell, Surrey with up to twenty-five horses at any one time and sent out around 150 winners, amongst them – April The Fifth with which he won the 1932 Derby.

🗓️ AND FINALLY……..CASSIDY WAS A RACING HIT……..NOV 21, 2017…..Seventies pop and rock star, David Cassidy died on this date in 2017, aged 67 – born on April 12, 1950. He was a huge supporter of horse racing. In celebration of his life the annual ‘David Cassidy: A Triple Crown Life Event’ was instigated. Hosted by the David Cassidy Memorial Legacy Group , the fundraiser promotes racing and supports thoroughbred aftercare organizations, including the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, and The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

It includes the ‘David Cassidy Remember Me Award.’ Featured among the award categories are Thoroughbred Aftercare Awards, Compassionate Trainers and Owners Awards, while the programme also includes a concert.

Cassidy had a love for Thoroughbred racing, becoming involved as a breeder/owner-seller and, most of all, a fan. He bought his first yearling in 1974 and won numerous races over 35 years.He was a regular at his favourite course, Saratoga. His highest profile victory was the 2008 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, with homebred Sweet Vendetta. His biggest UK hit was ‘Dreams Are Nuthin’ More Than Wishes’ – number one in the UK in October, 1973.

GRAHAM SHARPE

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