Winx v Enable? If the wonder women met it would be the match of our days
On the Saturday just gone in 1973 BBC Grandstand managed to include five races from Haydock within the space of 90 minutes. This was made possible by the second contest being followed only 15 minutes later by the third. It was one of those rarities in racing, a pre-arranged match. There is now good reason for considering another.
On a day when BBC1 viewers also got to enjoy Bruce Forsyth hosting The Generation Game and It's Lulu, which in that particular episode helpfully featured Lulu, Haydock's Brooke Bond Tea Cup Ladies' Stakes (the final ladies' race of the season) and the Crown Decorators' Apprentice Championship Handicap were followed at 1.55pm by "A Match" over a mile and 40 yards.
Explaining what was set to take place, the Radio Times promised: "A brotherly duel between horses from the stables of two of racing's leading trainers. Ian Balding, trainer of Derby winner Mill Reef, saddles Morris Dancer, winner of over £30,000 in stakes. Toby Balding, trainer of Grand National winner Highland Wedding, saddles Scaramander."
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