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DAVID CARR |
Weblog: What do you mean the Wi-Fi doesn't work? The life of a Racing Post reporter
Television doesn't win every time
The written press may be yesterday's news but we can still manage the odd (very) minor victory over the invading forces of the electronic media.
Such as this morning's committee meeting of the Horserace Writers' & Photographers Association, held in the ground floor pressroom canteen.
Which has always - by tradition rather than by payment - been the site of a productionmeeting for the large cast involved in Channel 4 racing.
But there was nowhere else available so we took a leaf out of the German tourist handbook, turned up early - possession being nine-tenths of the law - and proceeded.
When our friends from television arrived to find their spot taken, they were forced to retreat elsewhere - many apologies if their programme today appeared to lack preparation as a result but we have got to meet somewhere.
Allhush-hush stuff, of course, though I can reveal that discussion lurched onto the controversial, hotly-debated subject of how to determine the journalist of the year (controversial and hotly debated as many a Joe HWPA-member reckons the best system is theone that maximises the chance of the award going to Joe HWPA-member himself).
More extra-curricular entertainment before racing with the public draw for Saturday's Betfred Ebor.
Except that this was not a draw a lathe Ayr Gold Cup in which trainers had a minute to determine their own stall. They just had to watch in silence to see what they were given - in a 1m6f race for which the draw is far from crucial.
Not thrilling theatre and all we really learnt is that in an alternate universe MC Nick Luck could have been a highly effective bingo caller - rarely has a random draw been conducted with such an accomplished patter.
Mind you, commentator Stewart Machin may also be on Gala Bingo's wanted list after a crowd-pleasing session behind the mike.
Tickling punters' fancies with ''Of all the racecourses in all the world' as Bogart went clear in the final furlong, not to mention describing how Navajo Chief 'scalped' his rivals.
Ladies day today. Lots of haute couture. Such as on the well-to-do owner's wife seen in the parade ring in chic suit, expensively exotic hat - and laddered tights.
Blue Bunting was the star on the track, the Yorkshire Oaks her third Group 1 win.
Though her rider Frankie Dettori's day ended less well when he was dumped on the ground before the finale.
He was fine - lucky escape though, exactly 30 years to the day that Willie Carson fractured his skull in a frightening fall from Silken Knot in the Yorkshire Oaks.
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