Anything on Robert Sidebottom guys? I remember many thought that he would be another great. Think he rode for Denys Smith and for some reason, may be wrong, I associate him with the famous Holliday colours, white, maroon hoop and cap.

FMUN - just checked the site out mate and no sign of him there.

http://www.brs.org.uk/jockey_training/Jockey_Coaches/

Jimmy Bleasdale a coach there though, another good jockey. Remember him riding for C Thornton and Guy Reed colours. Can`t remember if he started with Sam Hall or was Sam retired by then?

TambourineMan - According to one of my books K F (Ken?) Glover was apprenticed to Avril  Vasey (mentioned on here earlier) in 1961 and was a full jock in 1962 with a riding weight of 7st 1lb.

Reason for asking, is that I sent some books for free to a pro (no names mentioned) in Nm who did collect them a few years ago.

Themightymac, just looked at Linkedin and typed in Robert Sidebottom. It said that he was a senior teacher at the British riding school from 1990 until 2004 and is now a stipendiatry steward. That was all the info, hope it helps.

themightymac, Jimmy Bleasdale was an apprentice with Sam Hall from around 1975. By the way, Sam Hall didn't retire from training, he died suddenly whilst still holding a licence.

Didn`t realise that Paulbu. Thanks for the info. I wasn`t quite sure. He was a great trainer. Dakota was a favourite of mine. Did Sandy Barclay ever ride for Sam hall?

In the late 70's ther was a documentary on Guy Reed. Bleasdale was part of it - it was the time that his career was levelling out as there had originally been all sorts of stary predictions for his future. The programme featured Reed's breeding operation and little did we know at the time, this was the root of a long barren spell as he stuck religiously to his own stallion, the grey Warpath. Dakota ran a blinder in Pawneese's KG, think that year (76) or the folowing year was Sam Hall's last. Chris Thornton ( Hall's last assistant) then took over and in the first year they had a progressive animal called April, who may have started fav for the Cambridgeshire. Whether it was more Thornton or Warpath, the new regime did not produce much and Reed's fortunes improved when he began buying yearlings from the sales and using Barry Hills.

Here you go Mighty Mac - Well remembered.....

Scotland have not always played in the distinctive dark blue shirts we associate with the team. On at least nine occasions between 1881 and 1951 they played in the primrose and pink racing colours of racehorse owner Archibald Philip Primrose, Lord Rosebery. The 5th Earl Rosebery was a patron of the game and Hon. President of the SFA and of Hearts F.C. His colours were first worn in 1881, and then in 1900, 1901, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908 and 1909. They were revived in 1949, and last used in 1951 against France. Perhaps the most noteable occasion the Rosebery colours were worn was in 1900. Scotland defeated England 4-1. Lord Rosebery told the Scotland captain Jacky Robertson, "I have never seen my colours so well sported since Ladas won the Derby." Queen's Park's Robert S. McColl (who went on to set up a chain of sweet shops, earning the nickname 'Toffee Bob') scored a hat-trick.

Great thread guys. Guy Reed`s colours seem to have been around forever. V L, what year did Shotgun finish 4th in the Derby? Was it 81 behind Shergar? I remember Piggott getting the ride and it was strongly fancied. Pretty sure Sandy Barclay rode Dakota or was it Warpath?

Didn`t know that blackbarn about why Primrose. A friend of mine actually bought one of the Scotland football strips that was actually used. I think they only wore them for the one international match. Wonder if it`s worth anything?

themightymac, Barclay may have had the odd ride for Sam hall but I can't recall them being an item. Joe Sime, Walter Bentley, Dennis Buckle, Ernie Johnson, Jimmy Bleasdale all had retainers during my period of interest up to Sam's death in 77. Frankie Durr also rode a lot of winners for Sam in the north but he was never on a retainer. Durr was Sam's 'job' jockey.

mightymac - Re the Scotland shirt - if original could be worth a lot but as with all sporting memorabilia, proof/provenance is everything.

Reminds me of a story told to me by the auctioneer at a famous auction house that specialises in sporting stuff - "a lock of hair from Arkle's tail is worth a fiver, but the headed letter from Tom Dreaper's secretary at Kilsallaghan enclosing said lock of hair is worth about £3k.

If I remember correctly Jimmy Bleasedale was a top notch boxer in his day,not sure if it's been mentioned already?

Punchestown

There's been one or two jocks who have been useful boxers . Jimmy fortune was quite useful if memory serves correct.

Backed many a winner in the L Rosebery colours trained by J Jarvis and ridden by S Smith at my local track Musselburgh good days to remember

blackbarn - were the Rosebery colours not 'cerise and primrose', or have I got the 'cerise' from another owner.

There was a piece on the website of an Edinburgh eatery that I was reading the other day that claimed that Lord Rosebery's wife was largely responsible for starting the Edinburgh Fringe (perhaps it was her money, rather than her idea). The place has a statue of a horse outside it - I think the money came from his winnings with Blue Peter.

..and I think his other title was Lord Dalmeny? - and the family has a castle in Fife?

...and it was Ocean Swell, not Blue Peter.

Apart from that I was almost half right.

didn't chuck spares marry carson's first wife?

Chuck Spears was Carols Carson's partener they did not get married.

yes