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DAVID CARR |
Weblog: What do you mean the Wi-Fi doesn't work? The life of a Racing Post reporter
Fine time was had by some at Wolverhampton
This is the way to spend a Saturday evening. Standing out on the balcony to enjoy the weather in my shorts, the sun beating down and reflecting brightly on three jugs of Pimm's on the side.
Unfortunately the balcony was outside the press room at Wolverhampton racecourse.
I had to change into proper trousers well before the start of racing.
And there was nothing remotely alcoholic in those jugs requisitioned from the bar. Only iced water - just the thing in this weather, though. And an eight-race all-weather card is hard enough work when you are sober.
Rather less self denial along the general public if the drunken renditions of 'Angels' and 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' outside our window were any guide. Not to mention the frequent, bizarre chants of 'Green Army' - wonder if a handful of Plymouth Argyle fans had taken the scenic route back from their game at Crawley?
They'd probably not have looked out of place sartorially in a healthy crowd who'd dug out the summer clothes for an unexpected last fling.
I have never seen so many flip-flops on a racecourse and I was in a very small minority in wearing a tie but the fact that everyone was casually attired did not cause the sky to fall in, whatever the traditionalists might tell you.
It was worth Kieren Fallon's while coming here after Ascot rather than going home early to pack his overnight bag for Longchamp - another winner put him just nine behind Paul Hanagan in the championship race, which is nothing with more than a month of the season to go.
But Ryan Clark probably wishes he hadn't bothered after being banned for six days for weighing in 2lb heavy in a division of the claimer - and getting another day for his use of the whip just to rub it in.
Though he was in good company on the naughty step as John Gosden was fined for the late withdrawal of a runner - it was due to go in a race which had been divided so that the prize money was less than the Horseman's Group's beloved 'tariff' and they had clearly only just noticed.
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