Eddie Fremantle: how to get an edge when you're at the races

Ever since I was first taken racing at the age of about eight I have been thrilled by the excitement of the jockeys' colours, the noise of the horses and the crowd, the bookmakers and the punters. It is certainly not quite as thrilling for me these days after 50 years going to the races, but it is still the place where it all happens.

It must have helped me become a racing fan that I picked winners that first day at a point-to-point, just from their names, but it also helped that my mother had been brought up with horses in Devon before the war and had worked at a stud and a livery yard. She knew what they were supposed to look like and seemed to have that intangible gift for picking a winner from the paddock.

We went to Royal Ascot in the early 1970s and were leaving after the fifth race via the gate by the old pre-parade ring, where the runners for the last race were stretching their legs. We had a look at them on the way out and, after that, Mother told me that Zab would win. When we saw the result later and that Zab had indeed won, I questioned her about how she 'knew'.