Annual - Anybody remember Be Hopeful? - thread

Signing-in.

Me too

Knew  salmon spray  was a 1.01.

BE HOPEFUL was a racehorse trained by Peter Walwyn - which won 27 races, and often at Bath.

Last ran as a 14-year-old, in 1973 - winning on the fourth of 8 outings, at Brighton, in the Friend-James Handicap.

No one going to mention it's record in the Craven H'cap at Epsom...?

btw I hadn't heard of the horse, just found that on previous thread about him

Windsor House Stables -  Before Peter Walwyn went to Seven Barrows - 5 years later

Peter Walwyn, who had been holding the licence and assisting his cousin Helen Johnson Houghton, as women were not then allowed to train, bought Windsor House for �12,000 pounds. It then had 30 boxes, 11 acres and two cottages as well as the main house.

One of his first horses was Golden Wedding, who won 8 races and was one of the first runners abroad when 2nd in the Prix Perth at St Cloud. Be Hopeful started his long winning career here and went on to win 27 races.

remember Be Tuneful trained by Jeremy Hindley

was it owned by Peter O'Sullevan?

You thinking of Be Friendly, swifty!

aah right

Cork Langer     30 Sep 13 16:07 

No one going to mention it's record in the Craven H'cap at Epsom...?
------------

I will check it out later..... and hopefully - it's record, here, at Bath

Ran in the race 11 years in a row? - from ages 4 thru 14?

The race was usually the last race on the card on the Wednesday - Derby Day. He often carried top weight in it. One of his regular rivals in the race was the 3-years-younger Ciribiribin of Guy Harwood's. Another was Happy Victorious of Doug Smith's.

It was Peter O'Sullevan who was largely instrumental in getting Haydock to put on their big sprint in November. His Be Friendly won it in its inaugural year, as a 2yo. He came back the following year and won it again as a 3yo. He was favourite to do the hat-trick the next year, but the race was fogged off.

Good stuff - ged - as you have added a ? Question Mark - I will still, therefore, have a look.

That's what I remember Cork langer coming up with. Though I've just been checking myself, and he didn't run in it in '73, so perhaps it was just the 10 consec years?

He won it as a 6yo and as an 8yo, and was 2nd at ages 4 and 9. I can't find the card for '72, so don't know how he got on as a 13yo. Joe Mercer won the race on him, as did 5lb claimer Colin Williams. One year he had a 10lb penalty, and claimer G Turner up, and was unplaced.

I seem to remember Vernons Day in November being staged in a twilight sort of light when most fans had switched to jumping mode. Always seemed murky and damp. A typical day like this was when Jack Jarvis's Absalom won in 1978.I got Starkey to sign my racecard as he went out to ride Vaigly Great in the race. I don't like change but moving the race forward was a good idea that subsequently proved a correct one - especially with the introduction of the Breeders Cup along with that HK meeting in December.

Well it is Lancashire, so murky and damp sounds about right! I was there that day too, and backed Vaigly Great. I think it was the nearest I came to a winner on the card. I remember as being 3rd, battling with Sanedki, but neither able to hold the grey (who was trained by Ryan Jarvis, I think. Jack must have given up about 10 years before).

Sir jack did indeed give up in 1968. Rather emphatically as he died.

Yeah, just checked that. Before my time - my first race meeting was January 1976 - often wish I'd been born ten years earlier as I missed out on arguably the best few years in the history of the sport (particularly the flat)  - though I was fortunate enough to see the likes of Night Nurse, Monksfield, Sea Pigeon, Birds Nest in the flesh on many occasions.

ged - well done with the Craven Handicap  Results.

Just checked the 1972 and 1973 races.

BE HOPEFUL did NOT run in the 1972 race - which was won by Capistrano, from Happy Victorious.

Neither did he run in 1973 - when Happy Victorious beat Galiano and Princely Son.

Duncan Keith rode him for a few seasons, did Lester ever win on him at Lewes, seem to remember seeing it in an old form book once.

Apologies to Sir JJ. I note Wiki seems to have his date of death wrong - they have it as June 20, 1968, whereas the Glasgow Herald had an obit on Dec 20 of that year saying he died the previous day (ie Dec 19).

Young Jack rode the (in)famous Hackler's Pride to win the Cambridgeshire in 1902, at age 14, weighing 6 stone.

onlooker - thanks - I must have misremembered Cork langer's info - just the 9 consec years then!

BE HOPEFUL's Final season was - as has been posted earlier - in 1973, as a 14-year-old - He also died that year.

He ran 8 times in 1973 - Winning Once - on his fourth outing...

-  at Brighton, on July 4th, in the Friend-James Memorial Handicap, 1 mile - Firm

Carrying 8st 4lb, and ridden by Frank Morby - he beat 15/8 fav Tempest Boy by a head, with the aforementioned Princely Son, a further head behind - 7 ran

'Good headway over a furlong out, strong run to get up last strides'.

What a game win! - and what an emotional moment that must have been ...
- especially for those who backed him at the 8/1.

I note that the Winning Owner - G P Williams - was also his Breeder ... so another emotional aspect, there, too.

Be Hopeful's final race - was on August 27th, Bank Holiday Monday at Chepstow - in the Caerwent Apprentices Handicap.  He finished 6th.

Ah - he did run at the Derby meeting in '73, as a 14yo, but in a different race. Probably the same was true in '72, but I can't find a card.

Only just looked back in, ged the race he ran in 72 & 73 was the Abbots Hill Handicap on the Saturday ridden by then 5lb claimer Michael Kettle and Pat Eddery respectively, connections probably decided the 7f of the Craven was a bit sharp for him in his latter days, the AA was run over 8.5f

Good thought - and good shout - ged.

1973 - Be Hopeful ran in the One Mile - Abbott's Hill Handicap - on the Saturday (Oaks day)

He finished 6th - beaten a length and a half in total - ridden by Pat, at 8st 5lb.

Likewise - the year before, 1972 - same race, same day - finished 5th of 6 - ridden by Michael Kettle at 7st 5lb, claiming only 2 lbs of his 5 lb allowance.5.

Be Hopeful/G P Williams - Scarlet, Black Sleeves and Gold Cap for those who only ever saw him in black and white.

Be Hopeful mentioned on the Yamadori thread. broke a leg on the gallops as a 14 year old leaving Peter Walwyn distraught. what a horse and what a trainer.

The late Frank Morby talking of the old boy - Be hopeful buried me twice in the paddock then went out and we won I didn't ride him I went with him he was an old b. St but what a character I cried when we had to put him down he broke his leg leading the yearlings up the all weather its the only time I saw my boss Peter Walwyn cry that horse was the most loved horse in the yard jimmy lindley Joe mercer lester piggot all.rode him winner s but my guess is they all went with him he was a fantastic animal Alan Bailey who still trains looked after him he is the one to tell you what a character he was I just adored this horse he could throw me off any time he wanted.