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DAVID CARR |
Weblog: What do you mean the Wi-Fi doesn't work? The life of a Racing Post reporter
Who needs Longchamp when Wolverhampton beckons?
Arc week. Thrills aplenty. The start of October is an exciting time for a racing journalist.
Like so many others, I've spent the past few days getting ready. Packing my bag. Planning my trip. Booking my hotel.
Okay, I was preparing to go to Wolverhampton rather than Longchamp but the excitement is just the same.
If not more so.
We have three days' racing, not two. Under floodlights, rather then grey autumnal skies. And while the build-up to the Arc has been dominated by news of big-name defectors, we never had any stars to lose in the first place.
No wrestling with Eurostar or the ferry to get here either. Just a (long) hop down the M6, enlivened by the sight of lorry bearing an official-looking plate stating: "This vehicle is restricted to 56mph. Except on Fridays."
Today's Racing Post ran a 'Parisian Treats' piece - 'our guide to making the most of your weekend'.
We can't repeat the same feature so look out in this week next year for a 'Wolverhampton delights - how to enjoy the Black Country' splash. Lee Mottershead, Julian Muscat and Peter Thomas extolling the virtues of balti pie and Banks's Best bitter.
Plenty appeared keen to join in the fun, judged by how full the car park was ages before racing.
Though it turned out that was due to this afternoon's bookmakers' trade fair.
Suppliers to the betting industry hawking their wares, including the intriguing 'fog cannon', the latest thing to deter raiders.
Press a button and it fills your house/shop/casino with smoke which makes it impossible to see - or steal - anything.
Harmless in itself, though the salesman told me, not without a trace of wistful envy, that they are allowed to put pepper spray in the gas in Argentina.
Hardly top-drawer action on the track, though there were thoughts of the Prix de l'Abbaye after Galatian's game success in a 6f handicap.
Not that the winner is about to develop into a Group 1 sprinter. Rather, it might be an omen for his half-brother Tangerine Trees who will bid to repeat last year's success in the impenetrable 5f dash at Longchamp on Sunday.
Intriguing apparent insight into the surprisingly erudite language used in the weighing-room later on.
The stewards enquired into the performance of Ishetoo and reported that the rider (Robbie Fitzpatrick) added: "Having missed the break he felt it prudent not to hurry the gelding in the early stages."
I suspect that was not a verbatim report.
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