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DAVID CARR |
Weblog: What do you mean the Wi-Fi doesn't work? The life of a Racing Post reporter
Ithoughtitwasagoodnight at Hamilton
Kilts and kitchen appliances - that's the odd mix on Braveheart night.
The first of the year's 'super six' meetings at Hamilton commemorates Scottish icon William Wallace with a £40,000 Listed handicap, kilted pipers and battle re-enactments.
And racing's own Braveheart Mark Johnston got in on the act, halting a run of three English-trainedwinners to strike with Copperwood.
Then landing the feature event itself with Ithoughtitwasover (though commentator Tony Ennis did his best to evoke England's 1966 triumph by coming over all Kenneth Wolstenholme in the closing stages,calling: "Ithoughtitwasover - I think it is').
I know technically Johnston, who then added a third winner for good measure, is an English trainer himself, as he is based in Middleham but he is on the board here and the phrase 'you can take the man out of Scotland but you can't take Scotland out of the man' very much applies.
The kitchen appliances were courtesy of Electrolux, who supported the selling handicap and brought along what the racecard hailed as 'a fantastic display unit' - though I think it is fair to say that their offering was less popular with racegoers than the Scottish Cup, which is sponsored by Braveheart backers William Hill.
Punters - and Ithoughtitwasover - were photographed with the cup, which is reckoned to be the world's oldest national sports trophy. The first competition kicked off in 1873 - the very year that Hamilton's local legend David Livingstone died.
Heroes were cut from a rather differentcloth then, as anyone who set off in good time from Perth this morning to visit the David Livingstone Centre would testify.
It's just down the road from here at his birthplace in Blantyre and contains numerous relics of his life and expeditions, as well as the world's most enthusiastic guide - who cannot resist talking you through all the great man's travails in Africa.
When young, Livingstone and his family used to walk to Hamilton for Sunday services. Though I suspect he never went racing, given the 19th century church's rather sceptical views on gambling.
Whereas nowadays nobody bats an eyelid when the sports pages of the Post suggest that the 100 per cent wholesome Michael Owen will want to stay close to the north west due to his racing commitments. So that Stoke City have been made favourites to sign him.
Perhaps all the footballers with horses at Tom Dascombe's yard will end up at the Britannia Stadium. It's handy for Uttoxeter.
Could it be Wayne Rooney next?
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