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DAVID CARR |
Weblog: What do you mean the Wi-Fi doesn't work? The life of a Racing Post reporter
It's a Swede life, from Southwell to Carlisle
No escaping the Swedes at the moment. After Sven-Goran Eriksson at Southwell last night, it was 'Swede Dreamz' this evening.
They are "Now firmly established as one of the UK's leading, busiest and most authentic ABBA tribute bands" according to their website.
"With a client list of satisfied clients that reads like a who's who of the UK's top holiday parks, entertainment centres and hotel chains."
And rooves of racecourse bars, they can now add, after tonight's session on top of the 'General's Bar' at Carlisle.
Nor were they the most unlikely sight on '1970s night'. That was the four lasses from Silloth in West Cumbria who were plucked from the crowd to present the prize for the '70s Night Tonight Handicap'.
Chosen for their matching pink flowery ABBA suits, flares and curly perm wigs.
When MC Gordon Brown asked them to name their favourite 70s band they protested that they were too young to remember - but the evidence of one's eyes and the vehemence with which the last of the quartet declared 'Showaddywaddy!' suggested otherwise.
I made an effort myself, in a particularly garish brown and white flowery shirt.
Though the fact that it raised not a single eyebrow when I stopped for petrol at the Carlisle Morrisons before racing does not say a lot for the local fashion sense (unless they saw my press badge and simply assumed that all racing journalists look like something out of 'Abigail's Party' or 'The Sweeney').
The 1970s are a decade worth celebrating round here - remember Carlisle United playing in the first division? And being top of the table. Briefly.
Unlike Paul Hanagan, the champion jockey, who has set out to make all in the title race again in 2011 and strengthened his position with victories in the first and last races.
Better night for him than for the - unnamed - rider who was overheard admitting after one race: "That is definitely the worst ride I've given a horse this year."
They were probably relieved this was the last night meeting of the year on turf.
Only late finishes for me from now will be at Wolverhampton which may be all-weather but does at least provide decent hot food, unlike the couple of smallplates of sandwiches that is reckoned to constitute an evening meal at a place like this.
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