Weekend Jottings!

Another uncertain start to the day with Plumpton inspecting again this morning at 7.00am to see if their Sussex National meeting can go ahead.  I suppose it is only right that they should give their biggest fixture every opportunity of going ahead, but I hope they do not let it drag on to the point where horses, jockeys and connections start arriving at the track.  There should be no problems with the all-weather at Southwell unless we experience floods of biblical proportions!

Talking of floods, it reminds me of a great tale from the late John Hughes who was clerk of the course at many of the tracks years ago.  When asked about the prevailing going at Chepstow years ago he replied, "The course is in perfect condtion, but unfortunately it is under three feet of water!"  Just my kind of humour.

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I didn't realise that you had to be sixteen or older to own a racehorse.  I always just assumed that if you had enough money to buy a racehorse and pay the training fees then you could own a horse from any age.  Having said that, how many children do you know that have saved enough pocket money to keep a horse in training?!

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As usual A P McCoy is imperious on his own at the top of the jockeys' table with 162 winners, some 70-odd ahead of his nearest rival despite missing the best part of a month at the start of the season.  What is more, he has achieved these winners at a strike rate of 26%, which is pretty much consistent with the remainder of his twenty yeareer.  I cannot think of another sportsman who has shown a similar level of extraordinary excellence over such a period of time.  There is a tight battle for second with Jason Maguire, Richard Johnson and Noel Fehily all around the 90 winner mark.  Fehily is doing particularly well with a strike rate of 24%...it just goes to show what riding for a couple of in-form stables can do for you.

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I will be glued to the television again this afternoon when my beloved West Ham take on Nottingham Forest this afternoon.  The kick-off is at 12 noon and will be shown on ITV...I just hoping I'm not crying at the end of the day!