Racing Autobiography's

Hi, Paul.

How's the shoulder?

the one that surprised me was Julian Wilson's - fun read, insightful. He is far from the stuffy character I had imagined. Highly recommended.
Another real eye-opener was Ian Balding's, for very different reason: the man (tho undoubtedly brave), takes for granted the privilege and favour he was born into. It floods every sentence and he is obviously blissfully unaware how patent (and sickening) it is.
worth reading just to get a handle on the ingrained attitudes of his ilk.

Cheers, Bingo will have a look for Julian Wilson's. I don't know much at all about him tbh.

Blackwater, what?

The problem I have with racing 'auto'biographies is that the standard line seems to be:

- I never stopped a horse in my life

- I was never asked to stop a horse

- I've even heard of a horse being stopped

Meanwhile, the rest of us are watching it happen daily.

Maybe, one day, a jockey will actually tell the truth, warts and all. Until then, I've zero interest in reading any of this self-serving ballsh1t.

OK VR.
Curley's also worth a go - tho again his self-image clashes head on with my view of him.

Blackwater, imo there are two truthful recent autobiographies.

Lord Oaksey and Richard Dunwoody. The second is almost too truthful and milord admits to pulling one for Ginger Dennistoun about 50 years ago.

I generally do not enjoy reading at all

Is the Dunwoody one a good read, wizard? (aswell as being truthful)

I didn't know that, Wiz.

Has anyone read Carberry's one?

I liked a bit in the book he talked about the jockeys discussing riding tactics before a race.

Duncan, I have never have enjoyed reading, but I suppose unless you find the right book....

Racing, like 99% of other sport autobiographies are piss poor.

If you want a book about racing you'd be muh better off with either A Long Time Gone or Go Down To Be Beaten by Chris Pitt imo.

Irishracing.com

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Enjoy reliving all these moments and much more for €25. Published by Daletta Press

I read the Timmy Murphy one when it came out. Fully expected it to be the usual ghost written rubbish saying next to nothing either new, or controversial. I thought the book was interesting, entertaining, and refreshingly honest. If he tells an honest story of his life in the book, then the guy is a much misunderstood character. Just my opinion.

Looks like this thread may be costing me a few bob!!! Cheers for the advice.

anyone read Gary Wiltshires? any views?

An old one but a good un is the Barry Brogan book, mind you it would probably put you off ever betting on hore racing again.

the barry brogan is the absolute best A/B by a hundred miles, but "born lucky"   john francome is second best, steve smith eccles was good, and if you want a horses auto, try "the grey horse"  the eset orchid story   , superb read.

gary wiltshires is a good read as is   steve palmers. the martin pipe was vey good as well.

Some good autobiography is here

Girlfriend got me AP McCoys for Xmas, as a flat racng fan I was not too bothered. Just started it recently and became hooked, I am about halfway through and Jim Bolger sounds exactly how I thought he is!
Will try the Carberry one. Problem I have is being 30, I only really have an interest in the biographies from my generation as I can relate to them and know/remember most of the horses or people discussed.
Canot wait for Fallon to get around to doing one! That should be pretty good!

chompy lands the nap

VikingRidge    -

Be careful when you get to the end of the nook -

It may spontaneously combust ...

- or has he already mentioned his setting a newspaper on fire aboard an aeroplane, yet?

That was funny, too ........................ But only to him.

a bit off kilter but clement frued book was a very good he loved his racing

Books by Jamie Reed

Give the Alex Bird one as wide a berth as possible, I wish I had.

On looker that was one of the bits which resulted in me double over laughing! Pure class...

One of the stories regarding 10 people in his Audi coming back from a party made me laugh quite a lot as well!

You wouldn't have thought it was, "pure class," ... if you had been sat on that aeroplane.

- and if he had, "10 people in his Audi coming back from a party" ...

then, whoever was driving, should have been banned for life.

one book i,m going to give a go is by patrick collins of the mail,he,s been going to some of the great sporting events and getting down and dirty with the fans in the cheap seats at events like cheltenham,wimbledon, test match etc,and apparently is abiding memorys are, how knowledgable the muck and nettles fans are about their chosen sports, anyone read it

Graham Bradleys book wayward lad is excellent, although its 11 years old or so,
i recently bought it off amazon and it was a great read! Just finished Paul Carberrys
thought it was rather splendid!   

VikingRidge 01 Feb 12 11:59 
Cheers, Bingo will have a look for Julian Wilson's. I don't know much at all about him tbh.

Blackwater, what?

He's an upper class twit

gary wiltshires is very very boring and a complete waste
of time

gary wiltshires is very very boring and a complete waste
of time

Dont forget the Veitch...hilarious load of ****'n'bull

The Coup - Ken Payne
Always Back Winners - Stewart Simpson
Against The Crowd - Alan Potts

SPIDER PIG     01 Feb 12 18:21 
gary wiltshires is very very boring and a complete waste
of time

Bit like himself then

not really autobiographies, those, facts

The first two( certainly The Coup) are the authors lifestyles - so sort of count as autobi's in my book.

good lad