A legend of the turf for whom personal tragedy led to his raising millions of pounds to transform thousands of lives in ZambiaThe turf and its betting rings have been an irresistible attraction to many colourful and controversial characters over the last three centuries and Barney Curley, who died on Sunday at the age of 81, deserves to be remembered as perhaps the greatest gambler of them all.The Yellow Sam coup in 1975, when Curley arranged for an accomplice to occupy the only phone at Bellewstown racecourse to prevent off-course bookies sending money to the track to shorten Yellow Sam’s odds, secured his legendary status among punters almost half a century ago. Related: Barney Curley, betting mastermind and charity pioneer,...
Aidan O’Brien’s runner has proven form in heavy conditions with the Curragh set to be very testing after heavy rainThe track at the Curragh was unraceable yesterday after torrential rain and if the course passes the planned inspection on Saturday morning the going will be as tough as it gets in Ireland for the 2,000 Guineas.This will be a completely different test to the one on fast ground when Poetic Flare and Lucky Vega were first and third in the English Guineas at Newmarket this month and the winner has to be opposed, turning up here quickly after a disappointing attempt to follow up in the French equivalent last weekend. Related: Talking Horses: tracks on alert as racecourses open their...
Will those once-a-year racegoers who make up the bulk of the sport’s attendance keep up the racegoing habit?It was odd to look around the bleak emptiness of the York racecourse on the final day of the Dante meeting on Friday and remember that on John Smith’s Cup day at the track in less than two months’ time, the grandstands could – in theory, at least – be full to bursting point for a card that reliably attracts 40,000 racegoers if the sun is out. The following month, it could welcome around 85,000 more to the four-day Ebor Festival.After 14 months with no paying spectators at British tracks, apart from a couple of “trial” days last summer and a handful of...
The selection’s winning time at Pontefract was strong and odds of around 10-1 could prove to be very generousThe Lockinge Stakes is the Group One feature of the Newbury card but the London Gold Cup is the race most punters will want to crack and King Frankel (3.00) – a son of the brilliant Lockinge winner in 2012 – could be the answer.Mark Johnston’s colt must have set a real puzzle for the handicapper, having won a three-runner maiden by a remarkable 32 lengths at Pontefract on 28 April. Despite the small field, though, his winning time was strong and suggests that an opening mark of 82 – and odds of around 10-1 could prove to be very generous. Related:...
Opposition against Act to impose uniform national standards for anti-doping and medication rules could melt away Shortly before the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland last November, Bob Baffert issued a statement addressing a recent spate of drug positives for horses in his barn, and promising to improve his record.“I want to have a positive influence on the sport of horse racing,” Baffert said. “Horses have been my life and I owe everything to them and the tremendous sport in which I have been so fortunate to be involved. We can always do better, and that is my goal. Given what has transpired this year, I intend to do everything possible to ensure I receive no further medication complaints.” Related: Bolshoi Ballet...