Boxing Day 1982 Michael Dickinson

An absolute legend and top bloke. love it when he gets interviewed when over here, always says something interesting and obviously puts a huge amount of thought into everything he does in life.

I have the trainers record book for that season somewhere in the house his stats for that season were unbelievable.

brownes gazette wont the novice hurdle at wetherby 1st race of the day at a decent price

Yes, I remember speaking to Robert that day, and was overwhelmed so much I had to bend down and tuck in my breeches. Michael and Monica arrived and each pulled me up and declared, 'Cutter, we did it! Harewood did it!' I must admit to loosening my movements somewhat.

Another point: when I was bent down, at the side of the track, I picked up a Kempton piece of dirt that was unceremoniously hanging off my expensive rural boots. I gave the small pebble to Michael, and I said to him, 'Like an acorn, Michael, let it grow, so our horses can run on dirt!' The rest is history. Tapeta

wayward lad was the love of my life in those days . i once got slapped across the face at an office party for telling a girl she walked like him . that was most unfair as it was obviously a compliment .

Dermot brownne and grayham Bradley two of his jockeys back then.

Clearly she didn’t think it as a compliment Windsor,

He was most people’s favourite chaser back then perhaps the best horse to run in a gold cup and not win one.

I had a few multiples on some of them that day.You got results from the minor meetings after racing read out over Extel.  I think the one that let me down for a touch was at Sedgefield. Anybody got the names? I think Rathgorman may have been one.

Whenever great Yorkshire trainers are mentioned in conversation, it is difficult not to bring up the name of Michael Dickinson who, prior to pulling off the miraculous “Famous Five” feat in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup, achieved a perhaps even more remarkable feat on Boxing Day 1982 by saddling twelve winners in one day.

Ever the meticulous planner, Michael had plotted this world record bid over dinner with his parents – Tony and Monica – in November of that year.

Dickinson had been inspired by Colin Hayes, an Australian Flat trainer who won 10 races on a single day in January 1982. He later told the Yorkshire Post, “I had 55 horses at Harewood and I picked out 28 that we thought we could get ready for Boxing Day. We had 21 runners and they were all in the first three, apart from Green Teddy, and he was later found to have a bad heart.”

The cavalry was duly dispatched to Wetherby, Sedgefield, Market Rasen, Wolverhampton and Kempton where the trainer and family were bidding to win a fifth successive renewal of the King George VI Chase.

By the time that race began at 2.15pm Delius (Wetherby), Brunton Park (Wolverhampton), W Six Times (Market Rasen), Prominent Artist (Wolverhampton), Marnik (Huntingdon) and Happy Voyage (Wetherby) had all scored victories.

Slieve Bracken then brought up the Dickinson seven-timer at Wolverhampton before John Francome produced one of the rides of his career on Wayward Lad in the Kempton feature. Londolizi then won at Sedgefield and Thornacre’s win at Huntington equalled the record before Fearless Imp (Market Rasen) and B Jaski (Sedgefield) brought up victories 11 and 12 almost simultaneously just after 3.15pm.

Such an astonishing feat of training is almost impossible to imagine – never mind actually execute – which is why the name of the genius Michael Dickinson will forever be foremost in any discussion of Yorkshire racing legends.

https://goingbehind.com/dickinsons-dozen-boxing-day-1982/

If you use 'scroll' you can actually scroll through the days cards as presented by the Daily Mirror.

thanks, it looks like it was Rathgorman that let me down