Slaughter or a Killing? Alastair Down

The legendary writer and columnist penned this many moons ago, my brother and I quote this every year as we arrive at Cheltenham on a Monday afternoon. I hope Big Al doesn't mind me changing the number for modern times the rest is as it was written in the Racing Post Tuesday AM.

It's brilliant. Hope you like it...

SLAUGHTER OR A KILLING

That sound you can hear
is the beating of muffled drums,
which means it is time for we
condemned punters to climb the scaffold.

And just remember that the Cheltenham Festival
is not instant execution - there are 28 races,
or trapdoors, to catch us all out over 4 days.

Therefore it us no use having losing tenner's
on even-money shots on the Tuesday and
only having a pound on 20-1 chance by Friday!

Always have in mind that the horses have it easy.
They are only in action for one race a meeting.
The punters have got to find the stamina for 28!


Alastair Down, Cheltenham Festival, 1997.


Rather excited now!