TOON, I am not sure whether Frankel would be eligible for Sports Personality Of The Year. In 1977, Red Rum appeared on the TV show after his third National win but I expect he probably opened a few betting shops and supermarkets as well! They could give Sir Henry Cecil a lifetime achievement award, although I do not think that is something that the public gets to vote on. If it were possible to nominate Frankel, it would be a bit of a struggle getting the public vote as his visibility outside of racing probably does not extend much beyond the following day’s back pages. Chippy, my train back to Waterloo took an hour-and-a-half; with the driver apologising at every station for the fact that he had been instructed to wait for five or six minutes. Plenty of folks ended up standing almost all the way as Clapham Junction was the only place that any significant number alighted.
QM - sounds like we were on the same train! I love the way that the transport providers in this country never factor into acount the various sporting and other cultural events taking place when they undertake engineering works. I stood all the way to Waterloo which was nice. I don't usually drink that much at racing anyway but on Saturday never had one at all as I was more bothered with going to the pre parade ring and getting a decent position on course but by the time i got back to Waterloo I was gagging for one! I think Henry should get the life time achievement award - would be evry fitting. Incidentally, am i the only one who goes racing and looks at the famous people associated with the sport that you bump into and think "I wonder if he's posting on not 606?" I still think King Shergar is Michael stoute double bluffing to see what people really think of him........
Istabraq Being an old sod has it's benefits at times. I saw Sea Bird and was mesmorised. I regarded him as the best there had ever been until I saw Shergar win the Derby. I also saw the great Bigadier Gerard, but I never saw Ribot, or Hyperion or other great horses from before MY time. In my very humble opinion Frankel is the best miler that I have ever seen and I look forward to seing him continue his winning ways next season. Comparing horses across the generations is a fascinating, but ultimately fruitless task, but it does keep forums like this interesting
Desert Orchid was 3rd in 1989 before the BBC changed the criteria before voting closed. The BBC rules at the time didn't state that you couldn't vote for a horse and they were forced to announce that votes for Dessie will not register, but I remember them saying at the time that he was in 3rd spot - and this was before e-mail, text and any of the other current ways of registering your vote without getting off your a##e.
Chippy, I generally try to avoid the ‘famous’ people at the races. It was most nauseating on Saturday when they insisted on interviewing that pair of talentless Geordie tossers that ITV pay millions to front their dross. I was surprised that they did not get in a bunch of X-Factor losers for the after-racing ‘entertainment’. Sounds like you and I were both kept pretty fit going up and down all the stairs to get from the pre-parade ring to the course to the winners’ enclosure.
I dont think Chippy was suggesting it was Ascot locals in the bars Shergar. I also live around Ascot way and as you say you can go out any time you want except big race days and you would never see a spot of trouble. Sadly any big sporting event attracts a certain amount of the brain dead whose only form of entertainment is themselves, sadly unable to even see another human being. I go to Ascot races each season but never for the Royal week, i would have liked to go and see Frankel at the weekend but knew it would be more hassle than it's worth.
QM - agree on the X factor types but really meant the racing people - likes of Michael Stoute, Alistair Down, John parrott (I know he almost counts in the former category but he is part of the racing team unfortunately) etc. I was worn out by the time the last race finished Blue sky - cheers - I certainly wasn't suggesting it was the Ascot locals .
