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DAVID CARR |
Weblog: What do you mean the Wi-Fi doesn't work? The life of a Racing Post reporter
Am I glad to see you, shame about the jam
At last the cavalry have arrived. Never have I been so pleased to see Jon Lees and Lee Mottershead.
Now, I know full well that I do not have a proper job and many an Alastair Down wannabe would happily swap places with me rather than sweep the streets, mine for coal or toil in a call centre.
But working on your own at a meeting like this, feeding Live Reporter, Talk of the Track, quotes for analysis, tributes for John Dunlop, ground and weather and all the rest can take its toll so having the team expand by 200 per cent is a godsend.
Though I am sorry to report that the reigning racing journalist of the year did not bring any of his home-made rhubarb and vanilla jam, whose praises photographer Ed Whitaker was singing.
Nor was he anywhere to be seen when Nick Luck and a Channel 4 cameraman pounced to film vox pops for 'The Morning Line', as a result of which early-risers tomorrow will get to see my rabbit-in-headlights response to the question "What does the Triple Crown mean to you and your readers?"
(I'd save you the hassle of getting out of bed and tell you how I answered but when presented with a camera I tend to say the first thing that comes into my head - and I can't for the life of me remember what it was).
The press room has been quite a hotbed for TV and radio this week, which probably explains the early-morning "Do not enter, broadcast in progress" signs on the door - I did and it wasn't, I'm glad to say.
Tomorow may be St Leger day but you are always looking ahead in this game and next year's 1,000 Guineas was the focus after today's May Hill Stakes as current favourite Certify maintained her unbeaten record. Just.
Though you might not be rushing to take the 12-1 ante-post had you heard trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni warn: "I am not sure whether she will be a good three-year-old or not because of her small size but time will tell."
Reading the racecard adverts induced a wistful sense of regret at 'the ones that got away'.
Not so much Joey Barton, who was wished 'all the best of luck on your move to Marseille' by agent Willie McKay, who sponsored the 4.05.
But the new Manchester racecourse, which never came to pass but looked mighty good in a mock-up picture on the advert for Frank Whittle architects who were involved in the planning application.
The pic may even have tipped punters with a long memories a winner - Towser Gosden used to dominate the November Handicap at the original Manchester and his son John won the Frank Whittle race with Dick Doughtywylie.
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