Down Memory Lane. Part 14. The Unbeatable Arc Favourite And The Stayer Mocked By Pari Mutuel.

The 1969 Arc De Triomphe was considered a formality by the bookmakers.

The Duke of Devonshire’s high class five year old mare, Park Top, to be ridden by Lester Piggott, was touted at odds of 8/11.

She had a chequered early career- as a late foal, she never ran as a two year old and was lightly raced at three and four, winning the Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot; a Brighton handicap in successive years; and a Group Three at Longchamp.

As a five year old, however, she really came into her own, winning the Coronation Cup, Hardwicke Stakes, and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

All of her wins were characterised by a devastating late burst, and racing’s tipsters would not hear of defeat at Longchamp.

As I sat at home glued to the TV, I noticed that one of her Arc opponents was another late developer, the Irish four year old, Levmoss, ridden by Bill Williamson.

I remembered that he had beaten Park Top the year before at Newbury over 1mile 5 furlongs in what is now the Geoffrey Freer Stakes, usually a good trial for the St Leger and won previously by top horses like Charlottown, High Hat, and Sagacity.

Prior to the Arc, he’d won both the Prix Du Cadran at Longchamp followed by a facile success in the Ascot Gold Cup- the top two staying races in Europe.

Now many viewers won’t remember but, in 1969, TV betting on that Arc De Triomphe showed both English odds and Pari Mutuel odds- and bookies accepted bets for either option.

English betting showed Park Top at 8/11 and Levmoss at 33/1.

On the Pari Mutuel, Levmoss fluctuated at around 50/1, and this hard up student, yours truly, put £2.00 each way on the French option.

To say that I became excited is an understatement.

In the race itself, Levmoss was always prominent, revelling in the fast gallop.


Park Top lay well back, as was her style.

Around that first bend into the false straight, Levmoss surged into the lead and made for the line.

As they entered the last furlong, Levmoss was three lengths clear as Park Top began her late thrust.

She finished like a train but the line came too soon- Levmoss was home.

Lester Piggott blamed himself for her defeat and the tipsters cried how unlucky she was.

Meanwhile, this young student whooped with joy when he saw the Pari Mutuel return of 52/1.

My personal view of the race- and I still feel this way- is that no horse can do it at both ends of the contest.

Levmoss maintained a fierce and unrelenting gallop for the last three furlongs and Park Top couldn’t quite get to him.

It was a lesson richly endorsed about twenty years later when I backed another fast finisher with a tremendous late kick, Mtoto. Tony Bin did to him what Levmoss did to Park Top, albeit Mtoto was checked in his late run- so easy to happen in a packed Longchamp field.

I’m very curious how another top stayer, Stradivarius, will be ridden in this Sunday’s big race.

Can he run the finish out of Enable, Love, and Company?

The relatively small field may not help him.

The rain softened turf may.

 

HI, Oddy. No, I’d finished my three year course the week before- and gone home, having decided to stuff teaching as a career (couldn’t stand the bitchiness of the teachers).
I bought myself a new suit with my winnings and blew the rest on what you suggested- my local Massey’s Burnley Brewery beer. Happy days- when the world was normal! I trust you are well. Are you still in the land of the Tiergarten?

 

We have to plod on, don’t we, Oddy?
I keep going, thanks, mainly owing to a special wife/friend.
I had another surgical cock-up when the surgeon damaged my obturator nerve, removing prostate cancer robotically. But for 24 hour ice packs for the pain, I’d have said goodbye. I console myself that billions are far worse off than me.
Was your accident on a push or motor bike?
I’ve forgotten. What do you do in Berlin- apart from ‘masking up?’
Yes, this pesky virus is driving us all crazy but, being retired, I accept we oldies are better off than young pups.
Why on earth they never shut all borders early on and isolated all immigrants/returning citizens is beyond me.
They obviously only wanted to control the virus, not suppress it.
Governments neglected their prime duty- to protect life. The price will be millions dead at the end of it all.
Rant over. Look after yourself and family.
Kind regards...and keep smiling

 

Tam, lovely post and I enjoyed reading that. Out of interest what was the ground like on the two occasions you mention?

Given all the talk of very soft ground, I am confused about the big race this year, I wonder if we will get a massive upset.

 

Hi Nass. I hope you’re well. I may be wrong about the going being soft when Levmoss won. I’ve just looked up the Arc results and the time was fast, so maybe It was good ground. I do remember it being a fast gallop, though.
When Tony Bin won, it was good fast ground, I think.

 

All good with me (I think)

interesting, I was thinking that actually bad ground would be against Strad because it will mean that they go slower and he might not be able to build up a distance they others can’t close.

 

Yeah, I see your logic. I suppose that, if it’s soft, a horse has to get the trip, but it’s more important whether a horse relishes adverse conditions.
I think Stradivarius will act on any going but, on any ground on Sunday, it seems logical to ride him prominently and then go for home early, as Levmoss did. If he’s collared late on, then at least he’s not hampered when the tap is turned on.
Forgetting the going, both fillies have a lot going for them, so it should be a fascinating race to watch.

 

I think if they go slower Nass, Straddy will press on and make them go faster or get too far behind. It's the only way he could win if they go no pace; or he might just go for it 6 out. I think there is a mud lover in the field but I've forgotten which one it is

 

I think the three female runners all have lots going for them! Do you think Strad would appreciate really soft ground? I’m not sure he would.

two that interest me on the form book are Raabihah and In Swoop. I need to watch some of their races now to see whether I think they’ll go on the ground.

 

yes, I like In Swoop. It sounds like a new name for multipurpose bird seed

 

Nice write up and memories Tam. The similarities with this year are many: no outstanding 3yo colt and an older filly being the most obvious. There are others, such as both Levmoss and Stradivarius being by proven top class milers. Strange that Le Levanstall sired two Gold Cup winners yet was best over 8f. I had forgotten Levmoss won the Oxfordshire Stakes as a 3yo.
I was never a Park Top fan though she probably should have won the Eclipse too (Lester rode Wolver Hollow to give Cecil his first big win and Lewis was blamed for Park Top's defeat). Weary Willy was a pretty good jockey though and he certainly knew where the winning post was for the Arc. Great ride and good win. Whoever rides Stradivarius will have to choose his time to go very carefully.

 

I didn't like to say Oddy whilst you were deciding what to do but I believe you have made the right decision

 

Yeah I get 10 grand a month for doing **** all and that is too good to justthrow away.....
Seems like you need a works study specialist to pay you a visit.

 

Your wife sounds like one of the great women of history, Tam. I've long admired Diane de Poitiers, but Mrs T. comes across even better. Give her a round of applause from me.

 

Diane de Poitiers.... she must be some high class French floosie wandering about in your reverie. Louis Quatorze’s property by any chance?
Thanks for your kind comment, Rainer. Yes, stick to Mrs T. No nightmares.

 

Sounds a no brainer to me Oddy. Surprised you took so long to think about it. No wonder your pension scheme is crap. You can buy your own pension on that salary

When I took voluntary redundancy (6 months after reluctantly agreeing to let me go) I was 55 and got a really good pension, payable immediately without reduction. I'd done 38 years service so I could only earn another 2 years if if I had stayed on to age 60. 3 months after leaving I received a phone call asking if I would go back for 6 months to get their main project back on track. At the end of the 6 months they offered me an additional £100 per day to stay on, which I did .................. for 3 years, earning between £10k and £12k a month depending on hours. That, being on top of my pension, we had to do some creative accounting

Those days are long gone