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26 Feb 21
08:03
Joined:
Date Joined:
01 Mar 07
Only 22 runners in the last 5 years and 5330 days since his last winner!
Hopefully he has another income source.
Hopefully he has another income source.
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We need a Top Ten W Turners in the West Country today:
1 WG Turner (actually known as George Turner, trained Plaza Toro to make all in what felt like every 3m 2f hurdle run at Newton Abbot during the 1980s)
2 WGM Turner (Bill Turner, rules the Somerset/Dorset border with a rod of iron; winner of six Brocklesburys and a fight in the Epsom weighing room with David Elsworth)
3 W de Best-Turner (wizard of Wiltshire; refuses on principle to run his horses in races they can win, except that when they can win, they always do, and at huge prices - e.g., Beltane in the last at Brighton in August 2001, £7,500 to £300 on the rails with Ladbrokes here, oi, oi!)
1 WG Turner (actually known as George Turner, trained Plaza Toro to make all in what felt like every 3m 2f hurdle run at Newton Abbot during the 1980s)
2 WGM Turner (Bill Turner, rules the Somerset/Dorset border with a rod of iron; winner of six Brocklesburys and a fight in the Epsom weighing room with David Elsworth)
3 W de Best-Turner (wizard of Wiltshire; refuses on principle to run his horses in races they can win, except that when they can win, they always do, and at huge prices - e.g., Beltane in the last at Brighton in August 2001, £7,500 to £300 on the rails with Ladbrokes here, oi, oi!)
Here's a slightly better one albeit not from our shores:
William H. Turner Jr. (born February 29, 1940) is an American Thoroughbred flat racing trainer who is best known for winning the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1977 with Seattle Slew, and is the world's oldest living Triple Crown-winning trainer.
William H. Turner Jr. (born February 29, 1940) is an American Thoroughbred flat racing trainer who is best known for winning the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1977 with Seattle Slew, and is the world's oldest living Triple Crown-winning trainer.
One for the notebook! Showed up well for a long way over 1/2 mile further than ever tried, 1st run for 2 years, stable quiet(as ever), next time at 1 mile he may beat more than beat him for a change. Maybe not a total lost cause at 11yo.
He's actually got one with a tone of ability at the moment - Calgary Tiger.
It's definitely got a little race in it at somewhere like Fakenham (tight, left-handed). The trouble is he runs it in a Grade 2 at Wincanton. And before that in a hot novices' hurdle at Newbury, where it led and faded into fourth. Which lumbered it with a mark of 105.
Back in his annus mirabilis (2001, one winner), when Beltane won at Brighton at 20/1, a couple of months after Royal Tarragon got placed at Doncaster at 50s, they were both running off 37, and he stuck a claimer on to take off even more weight. He knew what he was doing.
For a few years, after I landed that coup with Beltane at Brighton, I was convinced he was a Norman Babbage/Bernard Scriven-style genius, landing monster touches at huge prices, thanks to everyone writing him off as clueless.
Twenty years and just the one winner later, I'm starting to have my doubts.
It's definitely got a little race in it at somewhere like Fakenham (tight, left-handed). The trouble is he runs it in a Grade 2 at Wincanton. And before that in a hot novices' hurdle at Newbury, where it led and faded into fourth. Which lumbered it with a mark of 105.
Back in his annus mirabilis (2001, one winner), when Beltane won at Brighton at 20/1, a couple of months after Royal Tarragon got placed at Doncaster at 50s, they were both running off 37, and he stuck a claimer on to take off even more weight. He knew what he was doing.
For a few years, after I landed that coup with Beltane at Brighton, I was convinced he was a Norman Babbage/Bernard Scriven-style genius, landing monster touches at huge prices, thanks to everyone writing him off as clueless.
Twenty years and just the one winner later, I'm starting to have my doubts.
I have a vague memory of reading that he'd worked for John Gosden at some point, so definitely no dodgy carrots there.
You can also buy his autograph for £4.99, if you want (de Best-Turner's not Gosden's).
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAND-SIGNED-6-x-4-WHITE-CARD-WILLIAM-DE-BEST-TURNER-HORSE-RACING-TRAINER-/224328093579
You can also buy his autograph for £4.99, if you want (de Best-Turner's not Gosden's).
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAND-SIGNED-6-x-4-WHITE-CARD-WILLIAM-DE-BEST-TURNER-HORSE-RACING-TRAINER-/224328093579
Ryan Moore needs to add Smiler as his middle name and wipe the floor with this upstart.
Calgary Tiger ran against Goshen,Saturday.
Is that the one.Nicked 5th place prize money.
Is that the one.Nicked 5th place prize money.
Yes. Picked up £1,114. Beaten 96 lengths, but it's doubtful the handicapper will drop it for getting stuffed by Goshen.
The problem was its previous outing, where it tried to make all against a Henderson 30/100 shot at Newbury. Faded into fourth at 200/1. I wonder whether de Best-Turner was on each way that day.
Whatever, it's buggered its handicap mark.
It actually looks the real deal physically too.
The problem was its previous outing, where it tried to make all against a Henderson 30/100 shot at Newbury. Faded into fourth at 200/1. I wonder whether de Best-Turner was on each way that day.
Whatever, it's buggered its handicap mark.
It actually looks the real deal physically too.
before the race I looked at his form.
There was 6th Plc prize money.I was
willing him to get round,the PU nicked
him 5th.
There was 6th Plc prize money.I was
willing him to get round,the PU nicked
him 5th.
Swiftynifty keeping an eye out for that one
Last winner was Peak Seasons (nominative determinism?). Trained him as a 2 and 3yo. Ran 15 times for him - only finished in the 3 twice - the only occasions he went off single figures - 2nd as a 2yo in a Thirsk maiden, then in his last outing for him won a Yarmouth seller as a 3yo in 2006. Michael Chapman bought it out of that seller and subsequently ran it 152 times (winning 7, including 2 in 2 days, and was still entered up as a 16yo).
Here's a piece written by Graham Dench in the RP after Chicago Socks' 'effort' at Windsor in 2019 - his racecourse debut (and farewell), as a 9yo...
CHICAGO SOCKS, the nine-year-old who barely raised a gallop on his belated debut at Windsor on Monday evening, is heading for a new career in dressage and will not be asked to race again.
Trainer William de Best-Turner said before the 1m31/2f novice that he would be happy if Chicago Socks got out of the stalls and passed the winning post. He did, but only after showing reluctance both before and during the race.
The son of Catcher In The Rye showed no interest in racing and was estimated by the Racing Post racereader to have been beaten around half a mile - too far for the judge to measure it by conventional means and even further than the 223 lengths shown in the result.
De Best-Turner, who was fined for a vaccination irregularity, had to find a replacement jockey for Raul da Silva and was asked to explain why Chicago Socks was shown on the racecard as a colt when he is in fact a gelding, admitted: "It wasn't a very good day."
However, he reported Chicago Socks, who was eventually ridden by Finley Marsh, to be none the worse for his exertions - or lack of them - and outlined a way forward.
After starting in racing 50 years ago as an apprentice in Newmarket, De Best-Turner trains only part-time and has had just three winners from around 350 runners since 1999. He said: "He's fine, but he's going to go and be a dressage horse now. He has no spark about him and he's not a racehorse.
"The only reason I ran him was to see if I could get any spark as he doesn't want to go unless he's surrounded by other horses. I was hoping other horses would carry him along, but unfortunately that didn't work.
"He's huge. He's not fat, he's just a very big horse. I gave him every chance and that's it now. I know someone who will have him as a dressage and show horse."
While Chicago Socks might be finished in racing the story is not over. De Best-Turner has his fouryear-old half-brother Calgary Tiger, who he believes is a racehorse, even though he was beaten upwards of 58 lengths at odds ranging from 66-1 to 250-1 in three bumpers last season.
The trainer, who has six horses in training, said: "Calgary Tiger is a completely different horse to his half-brother - one's a racehorse and one's not - and he'll be going over hurdles this season. He has been out three times and improved with every run, but he needed to strengthen up so we put him away. He's a nice horse."
RPR view: Within seconds of him leaving the stalls you could see Chicago Socks had no ability. He was detached immediately and earned an RPR of zero - and only got that because we don't give negative numbers. Horses rated in the 20s and 30s are generally speaking not even competitive racehorses in Britain. Then there's Chicago Socks.
Here's a piece written by Graham Dench in the RP after Chicago Socks' 'effort' at Windsor in 2019 - his racecourse debut (and farewell), as a 9yo...
CHICAGO SOCKS, the nine-year-old who barely raised a gallop on his belated debut at Windsor on Monday evening, is heading for a new career in dressage and will not be asked to race again.
Trainer William de Best-Turner said before the 1m31/2f novice that he would be happy if Chicago Socks got out of the stalls and passed the winning post. He did, but only after showing reluctance both before and during the race.
The son of Catcher In The Rye showed no interest in racing and was estimated by the Racing Post racereader to have been beaten around half a mile - too far for the judge to measure it by conventional means and even further than the 223 lengths shown in the result.
De Best-Turner, who was fined for a vaccination irregularity, had to find a replacement jockey for Raul da Silva and was asked to explain why Chicago Socks was shown on the racecard as a colt when he is in fact a gelding, admitted: "It wasn't a very good day."
However, he reported Chicago Socks, who was eventually ridden by Finley Marsh, to be none the worse for his exertions - or lack of them - and outlined a way forward.
After starting in racing 50 years ago as an apprentice in Newmarket, De Best-Turner trains only part-time and has had just three winners from around 350 runners since 1999. He said: "He's fine, but he's going to go and be a dressage horse now. He has no spark about him and he's not a racehorse.
"The only reason I ran him was to see if I could get any spark as he doesn't want to go unless he's surrounded by other horses. I was hoping other horses would carry him along, but unfortunately that didn't work.
"He's huge. He's not fat, he's just a very big horse. I gave him every chance and that's it now. I know someone who will have him as a dressage and show horse."
While Chicago Socks might be finished in racing the story is not over. De Best-Turner has his fouryear-old half-brother Calgary Tiger, who he believes is a racehorse, even though he was beaten upwards of 58 lengths at odds ranging from 66-1 to 250-1 in three bumpers last season.
The trainer, who has six horses in training, said: "Calgary Tiger is a completely different horse to his half-brother - one's a racehorse and one's not - and he'll be going over hurdles this season. He has been out three times and improved with every run, but he needed to strengthen up so we put him away. He's a nice horse."
RPR view: Within seconds of him leaving the stalls you could see Chicago Socks had no ability. He was detached immediately and earned an RPR of zero - and only got that because we don't give negative numbers. Horses rated in the 20s and 30s are generally speaking not even competitive racehorses in Britain. Then there's Chicago Socks.
screaming, wow, you certainly have an eye for a horse, I hope you were on. Unfortunately I didn't put it in any tracker and my memory doesn't last 2 years 
I shall keep looking!
I shall keep looking!
Midnight Midge delivers another boost to the Calgary Tiger form, after Triple trade's excellent second at Chepstow on Saturday.
In the old days de Best Turner would have been able to run Calgary Tiger in the Grand Annual or the Mildmay of Flete from two stone out of the weights, and we could all have enjoyed a New Halen-style 100/1 winner.
In the old days de Best Turner would have been able to run Calgary Tiger in the Grand Annual or the Mildmay of Flete from two stone out of the weights, and we could all have enjoyed a New Halen-style 100/1 winner.
screaming from beneaththewaves
screaming from beneaththewaves01 Mar 23 15:55Joined: 30 Jan 05 | Topic/replies: 14,497 | Blogger: screaming from beneaththewaves's blog
Midnight Midge delivers another boost to the Calgary Tiger form, after Triple trade's excellent second at Chepstow on Saturday.
In the old days de Best Turner would have been able to run Calgary Tiger in the Grand Annual or the Mildmay of Flete from two stone out of the weights, and we could all have enjoyed a New Halen-style 100/1 winner.
Instead of which they have to be content with a 4 runner event at Newbury tomorrow.
screaming from beneaththewaves01 Mar 23 15:55Joined: 30 Jan 05 | Topic/replies: 14,497 | Blogger: screaming from beneaththewaves's blog
Midnight Midge delivers another boost to the Calgary Tiger form, after Triple trade's excellent second at Chepstow on Saturday.
In the old days de Best Turner would have been able to run Calgary Tiger in the Grand Annual or the Mildmay of Flete from two stone out of the weights, and we could all have enjoyed a New Halen-style 100/1 winner.
Instead of which they have to be content with a 4 runner event at Newbury tomorrow.
Only raised 4 lb!
Got 20 lb in hand of Gallic Geordie on a line through Mongol Emperor. And will be better suited by going left-handed on the evidence of it novice hurdles at Newbury.
Got 20 lb in hand of Gallic Geordie on a line through Mongol Emperor. And will be better suited by going left-handed on the evidence of it novice hurdles at Newbury.
I think that this will be the first time in 20-plus years of training that W de Best-Turner will have had a horse start at a single-figure price.
I've managed to get a bit on at 9/4 which seems a very fair price
Well done, pp. Serves me right for burning through all my bookmaker accounts. Never mind. Who needs bookmakers when you've got Betfair, eh?
Back (Bet For)
Odds
Stake
Profit
Calgary Tiger
3.3
£3.49
£8.03
Calgary Tiger
3.35
£12.84
£30.17
Back (Bet For)
Odds
Stake
Profit
Calgary Tiger
3.3
£3.49
£8.03
Calgary Tiger
3.35
£12.84
£30.17
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