York Spring Meeting 2007
York is one of my favourite race courses. This years three day meeting looks as though it could hold clues to this years Derby and Oaks. On Wednesday Passage of Time, who is favourite for the Oaks, makes her reappearance in the Musidora. Lets hope she can put Henry Cecil back on the big stage. Also on Wednesday the sprinters reappear. Les Arcs and Amadeus Wolf renew rivalry. Amadeus Wolf was a length behind Les Arcs in the Newmarket July Cup last season. Kevin Ryan thinks he is a stronger and better horse this season so perhaps he can go and win on Wednesday. On Thursday Authorized with Frankie Dettori in the saddle makes his seasonal debut in the Dante Stakes. It will be interesting to see if Strategic Prince and Adagio take part after their disappointing runs in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas. On Friday Sergant Cecil and Percussionist oppose each other again in the Yorkshire Cup. Sergant Cecil ran a nice race in the John Porter at Newbury on his reappearance. Because of his Group 1 success he has to give Percussionist 5lbs this year. At the time of writing Rod Millman the trainer is not sure if Frankie Dettori will be available to ride Sergant Cecil. For all the runners and riders go to sportinglife.com/racing and download a race card.
York always brings back happy memories of the early 1960′s when I was single and liked to have a “good” bet. I use to read the Sporting Life each day and keep in touch with all the form. The 1963 Ebor Handicap was one race where I put my money where my mouth was. I thought Partholon had all the right credentials for the race. I took my transistor radio to work with me so I could listen to the race and plugged the earpiece in my right ear so it was on my blind side should anybody look through the office door. Partholon must have taken up the running about three furlongs out and as he got to the 2 furlong pole was joined by Arctic Vale and Lester Piggott. I would imagine at this point I started to shout and bang the desk. Folks from adjoining offices appeared thinking I was having some kind of fit. I had blown my cover and everybody now knew I liked horse racing. Partholon won by a short head and from the winnings I was able to put a deposit on the house my parents were renting and buy it for them. I now had a mortgage ! I read later that year that the late Phill Bull had come up with same solution to the race. His winnings were 100 times more than mine!
For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".