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DAVID CARR |
Weblog: What do you mean the Wi-Fi doesn't work? The life of a Racing Post reporter
So long and thank you from afar
How fitting. As Frankel bade farewell today, I was back at the track where I was working when his story really took off.
To be honest, I don't recall a great deal of interest from afar at Wolverhampton a couple of years ago when the Dewhurst was won by the greatest horse of our lifetimes (as he has been dubbed by a number of unduly pessimistic commentators. Surely it is not that unreasonable to hope for one as good in the next few decades? Or do they know something about long we have got to live?)
Nor was Hexham exactly agog for the 2,000 Guineas the following spring, at least until he romped to victory in such extraordinary style from the front.
But that spectacular display has made him compulsive viewing ever since and you could hear a betting slip drop in the press room here - everybody made sure they were present a good hour and three-quarters before the first to see it - as he made it 14 from 14 down at Ascot.
Nothing of quite his quality in tonight's all-weather programme. Okay.... nothing remotely in his league. Top-rated horse in action officially was Julius Geezer, whose BHA mark of 82 means that he would be getting 68lb from Frankel in a handicap.
But Luke Morris' double-shift on his 24th birthday paid off with a double (and a two-day whip ban) while Anthony Honeyball landed his first Flat win with Blue Zealot (who should more fittingly have scored in the week of the Conservative Party conference).
And commentator Darren Owen was able to put all those years of compulsory Welsh lessons to good use when Ty Gwr scored, revealing that the winner is pronounced Tee Gore and that his name means house husband (he's the male offspring of a dam called House Maiden).
Trouble with witty names is that if you come across a good one everyone grabs it and uses it for themselves.
Take the group playing after racing tonight. A 'live soul and Tamla Motown party band', inspired by the likes of Otis Redding and Martha Reeves. Calling themselves Soul'd Out.
Clever, eh?
But internet research revealed that the same name is also used by a nine-piece function band in the south, by one of West Michigan's hottest funk/soul bands and by a Japanese hip-hop band.
It's to be hoped the advance publicity didn't lure anyone to Wolverhampton under false pretences - it would be rather galling to travel the 6,000-odd miles to Dunstall Park full of anticipation only to find that 'Diggy-Mo', 'Bro.Hi' and 'Shinnosuke' are back home in Tokyo.
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