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11 Sep 18
11:26
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Date Joined:
10 Dec 08
Looking at the collection of "legends" amassed for this years running surely the race needs a new title. How about Leger Has Beens and Never Weres..........
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The day 'Trevor' was not so clever
By Marcus Armytage12:01AM GMT 16 Dec 2003
Last week a vacancy cropped up for one of the sporting world's most coveted, albeit unofficial, titles. On Thursday, Flat jockey Gary Bardwell, known to his mates in the weighing room as 'Trevor', to the racing public as 'The Angry Ant', and to racing historians as the last man to win the apprentice championship twice outright, hung up his boots, aged 35.
Well, that's a bit of lie actually. At 4ft 10in, you wouldn't be able to reach the peg on which to hang them either so, technically, Gary's not so much hung up his boots, he's put them on the bottom shelf and ridden off into retirement, vacating the title he was once given on a television show, Probably (like the beer advert) 'The World's Smallest Sportsman'.
An old-fashioned lightweight, who could do 7st 10lb after Christmas lunch, rarely a year passed without Gary winning a decent handicap on something that thought it was loose. His victories included a Royal Hunt Cup, an Ayr Gold Cup, a Bunbury Cup, and a brace of Chester Cups. The best horse he ever sat on was the mighty Persian Punch, whom he rode as a three-year-old to finish third in the Goodwood Cup. That was when the expression 'pea on a drum' was first coined.
In racing, as in life, size, or lack of it, can have its advantages. He could, for example, walk under a horse should he so wish. His car looked like it was being driven by the invisible man and, with a bit more finesse, he might have got away with half-price public transport.
However, the day he and Neil Gwilliams, who wouldn't be a whole lot bigger, arrived at Peterborough Station on their way to Edinburgh and thought they'd try it on, he left his brain at home. With Gary just able to poke his nose above the counter the ticketman willingly issued him with two halves, pointed him in the direction of the counter selling comics and warned him about accepting sweets from old men.
But, in a scene reminiscent of The Great Escape when the English escapees fall for the old one and reply in English to a German officer who wishes them 'good morning,' they were rumbled when Gary attempted to pay for the tickets with a credit card, the minimum age for which is 18.
Retired at 35, far too early, only 50 now!
By Marcus Armytage12:01AM GMT 16 Dec 2003
Last week a vacancy cropped up for one of the sporting world's most coveted, albeit unofficial, titles. On Thursday, Flat jockey Gary Bardwell, known to his mates in the weighing room as 'Trevor', to the racing public as 'The Angry Ant', and to racing historians as the last man to win the apprentice championship twice outright, hung up his boots, aged 35.
Well, that's a bit of lie actually. At 4ft 10in, you wouldn't be able to reach the peg on which to hang them either so, technically, Gary's not so much hung up his boots, he's put them on the bottom shelf and ridden off into retirement, vacating the title he was once given on a television show, Probably (like the beer advert) 'The World's Smallest Sportsman'.
An old-fashioned lightweight, who could do 7st 10lb after Christmas lunch, rarely a year passed without Gary winning a decent handicap on something that thought it was loose. His victories included a Royal Hunt Cup, an Ayr Gold Cup, a Bunbury Cup, and a brace of Chester Cups. The best horse he ever sat on was the mighty Persian Punch, whom he rode as a three-year-old to finish third in the Goodwood Cup. That was when the expression 'pea on a drum' was first coined.
In racing, as in life, size, or lack of it, can have its advantages. He could, for example, walk under a horse should he so wish. His car looked like it was being driven by the invisible man and, with a bit more finesse, he might have got away with half-price public transport.
However, the day he and Neil Gwilliams, who wouldn't be a whole lot bigger, arrived at Peterborough Station on their way to Edinburgh and thought they'd try it on, he left his brain at home. With Gary just able to poke his nose above the counter the ticketman willingly issued him with two halves, pointed him in the direction of the counter selling comics and warned him about accepting sweets from old men.
But, in a scene reminiscent of The Great Escape when the English escapees fall for the old one and reply in English to a German officer who wishes them 'good morning,' they were rumbled when Gary attempted to pay for the tickets with a credit card, the minimum age for which is 18.
Retired at 35, far too early, only 50 now!
Amy must have been on a starvation diet for the past Month to do 11-2 surely.
Anyone betting on it? If so, WTD seems the one to be on given he was the newest retiree, and least resembling The Michelin Man/Woman, I think.
I have had a small bet on Andrew Thorntons mount Detachment.
Love Amy's quote in the RP
Amy Ryan, rider: "Hopefully he's got a good chance." Good to see her punditry time on RUK isn't being wasted.
Amy Ryan, rider: "Hopefully he's got a good chance." Good to see her punditry time on RUK isn't being wasted.
Not necessarily the weight which I accept is important it's about whether there is still some movement in the saddle. Hope Donnie have got a few bath chairs and resuscitation at the finish that mile will take some getting in this ground today. First day of the Leger festival is a joke.
It's a bit daft wondering more about the riders fitness than the hosses, fav would look a fair price with proper jocks. I've a notebook runner in the race and will no doubt be tempted, despite knowing better.
Gay Kelleway, rider and trainer of Lady Alavesa
I’m one of the oldest riding this year but I feel the best I have in a long time. Katie Margarson, George Margarson’s daughter, is a personal trainer and has been putting me through my paces. My horse isn't the easiest of rides – I do like a challenge – but I think she’s going there in really good shape. It’s just whether, as a three-year-old filly, the weights are too much against her.
I’m one of the oldest riding this year but I feel the best I have in a long time. Katie Margarson, George Margarson’s daughter, is a personal trainer and has been putting me through my paces. My horse isn't the easiest of rides – I do like a challenge – but I think she’s going there in really good shape. It’s just whether, as a three-year-old filly, the weights are too much against her.
like me Delta think shes putting up a smokescreen been bits and pieces for it.
what a heart-warming race:
bastiman - very lucky to get away with a fine for doping horses
karl burke - banned for passing on info
tony culhane - banned for corruption
gay kelleway - made a memorable appearance on Panorama
timmy murphy - jailed for groping a stewardess
gary moore - happy to train for a Warlord
any more?
bastiman - very lucky to get away with a fine for doping horses
karl burke - banned for passing on info
tony culhane - banned for corruption
gay kelleway - made a memorable appearance on Panorama
timmy murphy - jailed for groping a stewardess
gary moore - happy to train for a Warlord
any more?
Ted"can't find a gap"Durcan
The worlds only blind jockey
The worlds only blind jockey
Allowing Culhane to take part really does show a lack of respect for the public.
Would take a chance on Gibbo leading all the way if forced to have a guess, a back to lay might possibly be fruitful, negative being some of the less fit riders might just let their mounts stride out from the off and get Gibbo's mount at it early on, definitely a minor or no punt race
I'm involved. A bitter pill to swallow if it loses but it will do me good.
"Big drifter Tony Culhane's mount"...just like the old days!
placebo effect, owned,trained and ridden by ollie pears for me.
WD winners, should off stayed in the closet here 
Sep 12, 2018 -- 3:37PM, The Chicken wrote:
"Big drifter Tony Culhane's mount"...just like the old days!
As was the Kelleway 'effort'.
theres only one best tonic 12 Sep 18 12:11
Ted"can't find a gap"Durcan
The worlds only blind jockey
Ted"can't find a gap"Durcan
The worlds only blind jockey
have to wait another year before i can lay harvey again, it'll need to be fkn well in for him to be ever winning that ...
hulk23 12 Sep 18 15:48
have to wait another year before i can lay harvey again,
That's what all of his ex's use to say the day after his birthday.
have to wait another year before i can lay harvey again,
That's what all of his ex's use to say the day after his birthday.
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