Jack Berry's New Book
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***Breaking News***
 

Following his hearing with the BHA yesterday, it has just been announced that Nicky Henderson has been handed a 3 month ban and a £50,000 fine imposed upon him.  The verdict comes following the Lambourn trainer being found guilty of administering a banned substance to Moonlit Path prior to a race at Huntingdon in February.  Henderson cannot run any of his horses between July 11th and October 10th.  3 Jul '09


Plenty Of Interest!
By Chester Barnes

I was watching racing on the television yesterday and I always take a keen interest in the claimers and sellers.  As I am sure you are aware, in the early days a lot of the runners from Pond House came from these type of races (including Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand).  I don't think you will ever see another Champion Hurdle winner come from a Leicester claimer!

Anyway, I did happen to notice one that should certainly be capable of holding his own in better company yesterday.  It was in the 3.00pm at Yarmouth over six furlongs.  The horse was called Vested Interest, and the George Baker gelding was clearly well fancied, having been backed from 12/1 into 11/2.  He duly bolted up by ten lengths under 5lbs apprentice Matthew Davies.  Davies looked a little shocked by the winning margin and sure enough he attracted plenty of interest at the subsequent auction - the winner eventually being knocked down for 17,500 guineas.  He certainly appears to be better than a seller so I will be keeping an eye out for this two year old next time he runs.

*****

We continue in great form on the Pipeline with five winners advised yesterday at odds of 5/2, 2/1, 6/5, 11/10 and Evens - I hope that you were on!  3rd Jul '09


Water, Water Nowhere!
By Chester Barnes

From the sublime to the ridiculous...racing at Worcester has only just recommenced following an enforced absence due to flood damage at the track.  How ironic then, that yesterday the meeting was abandoned as they did not have enough water - you just couldn't make it up!

All you can say is that it was a complete mess up - A P McCoy got it right again when he said, "It was probably the right decision on the basis of the welfare of the horse", but the decision should probably have been made a lot earlier.  Remember, AP lost his riding fees so he was out of pocket (by the way, did you know that he still has the first fiver that he ever earnt?) - I just wonder if Worcester will pay the expenses to all the owners who had to shell out to get their horses to the track?

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Followers of the Pipeline had a good day yesterday when they were steered in the direction of three winners from four selections at prices of 5/2, 2/1 and 7/4.  Listen in to the latest information on 0900 3900 900 from 8am (calls charged at 60p per minute at all times.  Helpline 01884 840715).  2nd Jul '09


The Irish Are Coming!
By Chester Barnes

It looks like St Patrick's Day up at Perth this afternoon!  No fewer than 26 of the 58 declared runners at the venue are Irish.  Apparently, some of the locals are starting to get a little upset about the number of Irish raiders, but with good prize money on offer, it is bound to attract plenty of attention.

One of the English owners, David McComb has decided not to run on the basis of regular Irish invasions - he asks what the Irish put back into British racing as they just take the prize money away.  It sounds a bit like cutting your nose off to spite your face to me, and remember, you don't hear this sort of thing when Aidan O'Brien wins countless Group One's over here on the flat.

Perhaps they could look at changing the entry fees so that the Irish runners have to pay more to run, but why should they?  Their presence makes the racing more competitive.  Take out the Irish runners today and that leaves you only 32 runners across the entire six race card and that would upset racegoers and bookies - it just goes to show that you will never please everybody!

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I see David, our resident photographer extraordinaire has been taking a few shots down the gallops that would impress local wildlife enthusiasts - here you can see a deer that strayed onto the gallops.  I don't know if David tried to throw a saddle over him, but I'm sure he would have been a good jumper!


A deer on the gallops at Pond House this morning


A Bed For The Night?  You'll Be Lucky!
By Chester Barnes

I see that staff accommodation at the racecourse is in the news again after some lads had to sleep on the floor at the course hostel.  I won't mention the course, but they hold the Northumberland Plate and have a pretty moderate football team!

I remember when I used to go racing twenty years ago or more, the accommodation back then was truly awful.  I even had to sleep in a railway carriage at Haydock where they only had one cabin with a lock on it.  Rod Millman had that cabin but forgot to lock it (I won't tell you what happened in the middle of the night!).  The hostel at Plumpton had no electricity and we had to shine the headlights of the lorry into our room to see what we were doing (the travelling head lad even pulled the gas oven over to his bed to keep him warm!).

In this day and age no-one should be made to sleep on the floor or share rooms with complete strangers.  It is this side of racing that the public are unaware of, and is generally overlooked by the powers that be.  It is about time that something is done to improve the stable lads conditions once and for all!  30th Jun '09


Glory Days!
By Chester Barnes

Fame And Glory was a really impressive winner of the Irish Derby at the Curragh yesterday afternoon, scoring easily by 5 lengths in the hands of Johnny Murtagh.  What I would like to know is how the O'Brien team could get is so wrong at Epsom?  You would have thought the Murtagh would have known which was the best of his three year old's.

Admirable horse though he is, I don't think that Sea The Stars would beat Fame And Glory in a strongly run twelve furlong race.  If I was John Oxx I think that I would avoid Fame And Glory in the future, although it would be excellent for racing if they were to meet again.  Racing is all about opinions and now you have heard mine.

*****

I have to agree that there appear to be some peculiar disparities when the Stewards' are handing out their punishments and Richard Hughes seems to be the latest victim of a strange ruling.  The six days he picked up aboard Saturn Girl last week seems harsh and John Francome sums it up beautifully when he says "from the experience I have had with the Stewards over the years, I think when that door is closed they reach a lot of their verdicts by picking straws!"  It's a shame that Francome isn't still riding - racing could do with a few more personalities like him.  29th Jun '09