A plea for help

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NassauBoard

NassauBoard

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2011
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Hello,

Firstly, let me give you some context to the plea.

The outlaws gave us a frame photograph of the Epsom Derby from 1980.

My wifes family is from South Africa, and her grandfather was a respected Horse Racing photographer in his later days, and he was fortunate enough to come over to the UK to photograph the Epsom Derby in 1980. He was fortunate enough to get a pass to take his photographs next to the finish and the image we have is the one he took of Henbit passing the winning line under the youthful looking Willie Carson.

Anyway, as many of you know, I am fortunate enough to be too young to have seen the race or to have followed racing at the time, and I want to piece together a bit of background information for my wife about the race and the figures (both equine and jockeys) in the photograph.

Does anyone have any info about Henbit or the Epsom Derby of 1980?

Cheers in advance, and I will post a photo in the next couple of days.

Nass
 
Henbit was and an American bred and purchased colt owned by a lucky owner called Mrs Arpad Plesch. All her horses had botanical names.
Henbit was trained by Dick Hern and as far as I remember he was the only horse he trained for her. He was a promising but not outstanding 2yo with his best effort being a 4th in the Dewhurst.
As a 3yo he blossomed and won the Sandown Classic Trial and followed that up with the Chester Vase.
He was injured in the Derby and did not run again as a 3yo. He had a couple of trys as a 4yo but could not recapture his form
From memory the field was led by Hello Gorgeous who gave up the lead about 2f out and I think a driving finish Henbit just held on from Master Willie trained by Henry Candy and ridden by Waldron.
Probably a brave but not distinguished winner. It was a shame he couldn't prove how good he was.
 
Here's the video of the race finish Nass - might be of use:

[video=youtube;8xltfEwCVMs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xltfEwCVMs[/video]
 
I know this wasn't put up for my benefit but I did enjoy reading up on Henbit. I remember the name though I wasn't really that interested in racing when he was in his pomp. The stud he ended up in I've passed loads of times while out on my bike. There's certainly worse places for a retired racehorse to end up than rural Shropshire. Although it would appear his passing was sudden he'd had a decent retirement and his last act was getting his leg over.
 
Chaninbar said:
They're very good Oddy, so I'm told. However the vague post was just fat finger malfunction!
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Thought so mate, it just read so funny <laugh>

Are you a cyclist then? You talked about passing Henbit's stud on your bike? I try and take mine to work most days, about 17 miles one way. Keeps the beer gut to managable proportions <ok>
 
Yeah, I've dabbled with triathlon since I became too old and useless for team sports. Fantastic cycling around Shropshire, something for everyone, flat or hilly
 
Chaninbar said:
Yeah, I've dabbled with triathlon since I became too old and useless for team sports. Fantastic cycling around Shropshire, something for everyone, flat or hilly
Click to expand...

Nice - Berlin is flat as a pancake unfortunately. Would like to try one of those mini-triathlons for a laugh, no way could I do a pukka one though. Well, I'd need to lose about 3 stone first <laugh>
 
OddDog said:
Nice - Berlin is flat as a pancake unfortunately. Would like to try one of those mini-triathlons for a laugh, no way could I do a pukka one though. Well, I'd need to lose about 3 stone first <laugh>
Click to expand...

Go for it, I started out with the mini events and just carried on from there. Believe me, if I can do it anyone can. Negatives would be the amount of tri-bores out there (all the gear no idea). Positives: lovely lycra clad ladies.
 
Like the idea of the lycra-clad ladies ;)

A good mate of mine here in Berlin (also an ex-pat, from Ipswich) does the bloody Iron Man in 10hrs 15mins <yikes>. We sometimes cycle to work together and he keeps telling me to slow down <laugh>

Yeah, I might give it a go this year, something to aim at <ok>
 
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