Not so much the game I saw – a race meeting actually at Cartmel, which proved an interesting afternoon’s entertainment.
I have to admit that we were on a freebie – a meal in the marquee with the sponsors and tips on likely winners from Tony Dobbin.
Whether we could remember Tony’s recommendations I’m not actually sure but it hadn’t been going well. However our fortunes did change after we decided to rely on pure chance and luck!
At the parade ring we said the first stable lass who comes past leading a horse we will pick.
She duly went past, number was noted, name allocated and bookie sought. A seemingly unlikely winner was priced at 20/1 but we had a bit of each way and went off to find a good vantage point.
Remarkably that horse came in first, quite comfortably actually, and we celebrated for the first time that afternoon.
Soon after that I met Emlyn Hughes! Well met is taking it a bit too far. I was actually next to him in a packed gent’s toilets – emptying our bladders in adjacent stalls.
Hardly the time for introductions and handshakes but I did manage an “Hello Emlyn” and received a courteous reply.
Our policy of following “the first stable lass” routine had ceased to be effective and by the time of the last race I decided to ask for Tony McCoy’s autograph.
Suitably armed with pen and racecard I approached him as he entered the parade ring. He was very affable and pleasant but I don’t know what he thought when I handed him the pen to sign with – and it flatly refused to write.
He did say “Next time” and off he went. I considered that a bad omen so ignored his mount in the last – and of course he went and won.
Eventful but thoroughly enjoyable Cartmel always has a special place in my memory bank.
