Sports lover with a special grá for Horse Racing... wants to visit every major racetrack in the world...and not forgetting real music .. long live The Jam
New syndicate launching soon with @OLBG
Jukebox Jury mare, BOOMBOX
Purchased at @GoffsUK for 110k, we are looking forward to her joining the team next season as an exciting National Hunt prospect.
Shares avalible from 1%. Register your interest or find out more here
https://t.co/p8ScudITTy
I was standing on Ascot Heath for the Clarence House Chase in January when a tired Il Etait Temps and Paul Townend fell right in front of me at the second last. When horses fall I always look for them to get back on their feet quickly and I am always looking for them to continue with the herd and to check that they are sound. Il Etait Temps did not get up quickly. In fact he stayed down for a considerable amount of time. His jockey, Mr Townend stayed with him. The dreaded screens went up and they stayed up for a good 10 minutes. The horse ambulance arrived and the Ascot veterinary team were heavily present. Paul Townend remained with his horse showing considerable care. The longer the situation went on the more I feared the worse for the horse. I thought back to the Cyrname incident at Ascot which gave me some reassurance but I’d begun to give up hope.
Paul Townend eventually emerged from behind the screen and I shouted to him asking if his horse was alright. He gave me the thumbs up and he got into a car to take him back to the weighing room. Seconds later the screens came down and Il Etait Temps walked soundly into the horse ambulance. Such a relieve. This horse went on to be a fantastic winner of this year’s Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival a couple of months later.
I cannot possibly believe that Paul Townend would knowingly ride out a horse that he knew was injured. It beggars belief to think that anyone would believe that. That day at Ascot his prime concern was for the welfare and wellbeing of his horse and I find it inconceivable that that behaviour would not be a constant in his character and be the same for every horse that he rides.
Look at those fences in the 1973 Grand National.
Crisp out in front ridden by Richard Pitman just gets caught by Red Rum under Brian Fletcher.
A different race back then!
Who enjoyed this absolute classic from 2004 with Amberleigh House & Graham Lee winning the Grand National
Give us your memories of it?
Did you back or get beat?
Robert Duvall, about as iconic of an actor as his generation produced, has passed away at age 95. To be in the Godfather movies, and Apocalypse Now alone sets him in elite status, & that doesn’t even cover his other iconic roles.
Always remembered, never forgotten.
RIP, legend