This week’s roundup also includes shock football qualifying results, full-length Wimbledon classics and April Fool’s gold 1) These days it is better known for darts but 99 years ago, horses raced around the Alexandra Palace’s Frying Pan (more footage here). Here are more gone-but-not-forgotten racecourses, starting with Northolt Park in Middlesex and Gatwick racecourse, which held the Grand National during the first world war. Here’s a 1946 race report from Castle Irwell in Manchester; and one from Lincoln, “the centre of the racing world” in 1950. Finally, planes replace horses at Ensbury Park in Bournemouth.2) This is lovely. Remembering Rocky: Ian Wright and Bukayo Saka on David Rocastle’s legacy, 20 years since the Arsenal legend’s death.20 years have passed, but...
George Floyd’s death has accelerated golf’s diversity drive but Augusta has a troubled past and white faces still dominateLee Elder’s appearance next Thursday morning as an honorary starter for the 85th edition of the Masters will – metaphorically of course – see rose petals thrown at the feet of those in high office at Augusta National. Perhaps it is churlish not to commend organisations for doing the right thing but the extent to which Augusta endorsed discrimination for so long means modern-day praise is always over the top. Augusta sat in a time warp for a significant enough period for it not to be forgotten.In 1975, Elder became the first African American to compete in the Masters. It took until...
Plus: collectors’ items from Portugal and Spain, Hagler takes on hair rock, and Danica Patrick’s historic IndyCar moment1) This week Frank Worthington died, leaving us with a glorious rabbit hole to delve into. His masterpiece came for Bolton against Ipswich in April 1979, leaving four defenders in his wake and departing the frame with one of the all-time great quickfire swivels. Here’s Frank on a horse, picking out some niche Raul de Souza vinyl and scoring a series of stormers during his lengthy spell at Leicester. He scored two England goals, including another piece of quick thinking against Argentina in 1974. And here’s some latter-day Frank, in action for Guiseley in 1990. Good morning, #BWFC fans. On this day in...
This week’s roundup also features France v Wales classics, rabona goals and March Madness1) Sabine Schmitz, the “Queen of the Nürnburgring”, has died at the age of 51. Schmitz is the only woman to win the German track’s 24 Hours race, in 1996 and again in 1997 – you can see some highlights here and a tribute from the track (in German) here. Schmitz went on to join the Top Gear team, memorably racing round her favourite circuit in a Transit van and a Volkswagen Golf GTI, and also putting some vintage vehicles to the test on Fifth Gear. Here she is doing what she did best: tearing through the field with jaw-dropping precision in this exceptional on-board video."There has...
He may be obsessed with algorithms and employ a muscle specialist but brash American could just be his sport’s saviourThe second best moment in golf right now is the moment right before Bryson DeChambeau lines up a big drive. There’s the initial flurry of excitement as he unsheathes the big dog from his bag. A little sumo-bounce of the hips, the sense of an immense and gathering power. A couple of taps on the ground. And then the coil, the swing, the devastating crack of metal, which is – needless to say – the best part of all. Then lots of American men holler like caged animals, and DeChambeau howls something unintelligible before bounding down the fairway after the ball.DeChambeau...