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DAVID CARR |
Weblog: What do you mean the Wi-Fi doesn't work? The life of a Racing Post reporter
Star quality on a day to remember at Haydock
What a day to be at Haydock - one of those occasions that makes the job worthwhile and makes up for those dull afternoons at Leicester or Nottingham.
You could tell something special was in the air from the moment that he came into the parade ring.
He being Kauto Star of course. Clapped as he stepped into the paddock and all the way round.
When he wasn't being cheered by the crowds ten deep. Applause again in the parade, again when they set off for the Betfair Chase and again when they passed the winning-post at halfway.
"What are they going to do if he wins?" someone had asked as we were fighting our way through the masses to get back to the stand.
Go berserk would have been the correct answer.
Mild delirium broke out, ecstatic cheering around the winner's enclosure - 'Bring on Frankel!' was one cry, while three rounds of 'hip hip hoorays' did their best to spook the placed horses.
Though not Kauto Star himself, calm as ever and wondering what all the fuss was about.
Unlike his understandably emotional trainer Paul Nichols - you could also hear the tears in his voice as he declared it 'my proudest moment ever'.
A real 'never seen anything like it moment' - even for Haydock MD Dickon White, who'd done eight years at Aintree where emotions run plenty high enough.
Loads here to see it as it was the biggest jumps crowd at the track for more than five years.
Plenty of bigwigs in attendance and it was good to see that no matter how important you are the rules are still the rules.
Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse had come up for the day and wanted to use the toilet before walking the track so nipped into the bar. Or tried to.
"You can't come in here sir. Not wearing those," said the man on the door, pointing to his wellies. Not exactly sure why - wonder if they have had trouble in the past with parties of belligerent agricultural workers.
Still growing strong: David Carr
PICTURE: David CarrImpressed by my Racing Post Movember team-mate Sam Waley-Cohen's distinguished-looking moustache - though he was worried how it would appear to equine eyes and joked in the morning: "I hope Long Run will recognise me!"
I was told that mine gave me the look of Ron Mael, the frightening one out of 1970s pop group Sparks.
If you look him up on Google you'll see that was no sort of compliment so please take pity on what I am having to put myself through and go to http://mobro.co/davidcarr to make a donation to a very worthwhile cause.
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