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DAVID CARR |
Weblog: What do you mean the Wi-Fi doesn't work? The life of a Racing Post reporter
Tennis? What tennis?
Harry Hill day at Ayr. A day when the track was left wondering "What are the chances of that?"
You can just imagine the conversation in the office: "Wonderful. A Sunday afternoon meeting in high summer - our only Sunday meeting of the year. Schools are out. We should be packed."
"It's not a great card."
"It's a Sunday afternoon. It's a family day. As long as there are horses they'll not be bothered."
"It has been very wet."
"Not here. We've dodged the worst of the rain and there was never the slightest hint of an inspection to put people off."
"The British Grand Prix is on."
"Not everyone round here wants to watch that."
"Wimbledon is on."
"Not everyone round here wants to watch that."
"A British man has got to the final for the first time in 74 years."
"Not everyone round here wants to watch that."
"He's Scottish."
"Not ev......... oh, bugger."
You can't say they didn't try. Fire engines, a tank, a zoo and Dora The Explorer all did their best to enliven 'Armed forces family day' and the turnout was certainly better than might have been expected given the historic, once-in-a-lifetime counter-attraction.
They judged the audience right as there were plenty of children and young families in the crowd.
Non-racing folk, as could be seen by the fact that they were prepared to bet on the two pony races even though the only bookmaker offering odds was robbing them blind. You don't often see two odds-on shots in a field of nine. Or four even-money chances.
Would have appalled legendary gambler Robert Sangster, whose grandson Ollie Sangster won the second on a pony showing just 1-4 at the off.
A more reasonable 11-4 was returned about each of Paul Mulrennan's winners Tazaamum and Balti's Sister, after which the jockey saw his wife Adele finish third in an amateur riders' race.
Paul was quick to remind me that he and Adele are the only husband and wife ever to be involved in a photo-finish together - and very quick to remind me that he came out on top.
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