I was in this Cheltenham pub at the weekend after racing, great racing and atmosphere. On one the walls were the obligatory racehorse photos and I noticed two that were next to each other. Arkle was one and Kauto Star was the other. It got me to wondering as to which of these fine beasts was the greater.
The fact that they were together was surely symbolic. 6 lengths in front was Denman...........pre heart condition obviously
As we're on the subject, here's a small piece, supposedly from the Arkle's groom Johnny Lumley. I REMEMBER the overwhelming tension. It started to build from the moment I arrived at Arkle's box at 8am. From then on every minute to the race dragged like an hour. After months - it really was months - of banter between the Irish and British, this was crunch time. Pat Taaffe had convinced me we'd win. I'd had on a month's wages, about pounds 40, at 15-8. But this wasn't a money thing. It was about pride. In the Railway Hotel the night before, a chap of about 16st insisted that even if he rode Mill House they'd beat Arkle. It was a bitter day with flurries of snow and I was shaking, possibly due more to nerves than the cold, as I prepared Arkle for the race. I fussed over him. He had to look at his best. As I led him up in the paddock, Pat again insisted we'd win. The course had a different configuration then, and the best place for the groom to watch was down at the final fence. Mill House made the running, tracked by Arkle. Three fences out I saw Willie Robinson go for his whip. My confidence soared. From that point our horse was always travelling the better. As I led him in, the Irish went crazy with joy. Hats were flying in the air and people didn't bother about catching them. I was walking across a carpet of trilbies. That night I went back to the Railway Hotel - is it there still? - to celebrate. Unfortunately, most of the British who'd been staying there had made their way home. I didn't bother going to bed that night.
