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International Archive

British Racing Revives

“It’s something to warm the heart at the advent of winter. Bago and Grey Swallow may yet join them. Perhaps the true litmus of racing’s gains is to consider instead what it is about to lose. Refuse To Bend and Sulamani will depart to stud, almost certainly to be joined by Haafhd. Otherwise it will be ‘as you were’ in 2005, with the three-year-old crop thrown in for good measure. Racing has never had it so good. A sport that withered on two decades of inflated bloodstock values has contrived a stunning recovery.” (Times)

Posted in International on October 12, 2004

Well-Laid Plans Go Awry

“By the off Pedrillo was the 7-2 favourite. The plan was laid. All it needed was for everything to go to plan. It spectacularly didn’t. The race was won by the joint-longest-priced horse in the Cambridgeshire’s history as Spanish Don came home at 100-1. ‘I suppose it’s my popularity that made him 100-1,’ said winning trainer David Elsworth. ‘Even the muppets in the Racing Post said you couldn’t leave him out. It was a surprise he was 100-1. It wasn’t a surprise he won. I had a few quid on, but I’m a mug punter, aren’t I?'” (Guardian)

Posted in International on October 3, 2004

French Trainers

Gathered with journalists to talk about this Sunday’s Arc and a few other things: “Of course the main topic of conversation is the big race here this weekend. But that did not stop these horsemen from ranting about who will go to the Breeders’ Cup, the foolish behavior of the Italian Racing Authority in a laughable suspension of Gary Stevens, and the terrible statistics of outside post positions on the turf at Lone Star.” (ESPN)
Related: “Arc features 12 Group 1 winners” (Daily Racing Form); “Take your pick in wide-open Arc de Triomphe” (Blood-Horse)

Posted in International on October 2, 2004

Turf Serfs

“Ascot will be a millionaires’ playground today, but for stable staff it is just another underpaid and overworked day.” (The Guardian)

Posted in International on September 26, 2004