Rod Almighty!

Unsurprisingly there was a sell-out for Rod Stewart's concert at Newbury on Sunday with a crowd of 15,000 people in attendance.  Even A P McCoy was there, although I can't imagine him singing and swaying along to I Am Sailing!  It proves that with the right kind of event supporting the racemeetings, the courses can pull in big crowds.  I firmly believe that racecourses should be looking to stage more events than just racing - some of the courses even have a golf course on the inside of the track, so surely they could utilise that more.  Having said that, I once heard a great excuse from a jockey trying to explain his disappointing performance to connections - he stood on a golf ball!  As far as excuses go that was a good one - I still remember one jockey telling MCP that the sun had reflected in the water jump and blinded him!  I won't tell you his name, although he had "RA" painted on his skullcap!

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Surely there has to be a rule brought in to stop horses that have bolted before the start competing in races?  There was one at Goodwood yesterday that bolted and ran about a mile and a half before he was finally caught.  He was still allowed to run and duly finished tailed off...stipendary steward Marcus Weedon said that other horses had done likewise and still run respectably - I do wonder how some of these people get their jobs!  I would have thought it was just common sense to withdraw a horse that had bolted before the start, but maybe I am just getting picky in my old age!

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How did England win the first Test match against Sri Lanka?  England were 50/1 to win after the morning's play was washed out and were still 33/1 when tea was taken with Sri Lanka on 33-2.  The 8/11 on offer with Ladbrokes for the second Test at Lords on Friday looks a decent bet - the only trouble is you have to wait five days to collect!