When Halloween once ruled Boxing Day - and how racing has missed a trick by not pushing out the boat for young fans
Dan Hill remembers a top-class chaser - and a trainer who enjoyed major success on both the Flat and over jumps
Given the activities set to take place on Friday, I hope you don't mind my indulging in a bit of related trivia: has Halloween ever fallen on Boxing Day?
The answer is no, but you may be surprised that Good Friday once fell on Boxing Day. How is that possible? Well, Good Friday was the name of a horse, and he fell in a chase at Wolverhampton in 1899. Halloween had a far better record on that particular day, and now seems an apt time to remember the horse and his trainer.
Trained by Bill Wightman, Halloween won two King George VI Chases in 1952 and 1954 under Fred Winter, but the Gold Cup eluded him, although only just. He twice finished second, in 1953 and 1955, and twice third, in 1954 and 1956. According to racing historian John Randall, he is the only horse to be placed in four Gold Cups without winning it.
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