On This Day In (Racing) History

May 9 1987

Seattle Dancer, the Worlds most expensive yearling at $13.1million won Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown from stable mate Ancient Times.
At the time of his purchase Robt Sangster reportedly said that if the horse won a Grade 3 he would be worth at least $8 mill.
Condor Pan won Savel Beg and Steel Commander won the sprint in the good old days when Leopardstown had a straight 6f track. Both were multiple winners and cracking horses for those who remember them.
Cash Asmussen also won 2yo maiden on an unraced M A O Toole trained colt which I thought was the best ride I had ever seen. Last a furlong down Cash manoeuvered the colt around two horses without hitting him to get up on the line by a short head.
He never won again.
This was also the day I first met 2 of my best racing buddies who saw me with binoculars at a bus stop and offered me a lift. Mike Doody the driver is unfortuanately no longer with us RIP but Paddy Mehigan is thankfully hail and hearty.
 
May 10 1989
Major controversy caused on this day when J Francome rode a horse around Chester with a helmet camera to show viewers how tight the track was. The horse was Gaasid due to run in Chester Cup that day. Horse started 2nd fav and finished 5th. Trainer Reg Akehurst had no knowledge that horse was being so used and fired the staff who arranged the gallop.
 
edgt said:
This was also the day I first met 2 of my best racing buddies who saw me with binoculars at a bus stop and offered me a lift. Mike Doody the driver is unfortuanately no longer with us RIP but Paddy Mehigan is thankfully hail and hearty.
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Nice post, Edgt. :cool:
 
May 10

On this day in 1997, subsequent St Leger hero Silver Patriarch took the Derby Trial at Lingfield.

Speaking of the Derby on Radio4 today at 11am Val McDermid investigates the death of suffragette Emily Wilding Davison at the 1913 Derby.
 
May 11

1985 Theatrical wins Derrinstown Trial in the style of a top class horse for D K Weld and M J Kinane. They had a bumper on the card to boost betting turnover in those days.

1988 At Phoenix park races my uncle's horse Brave Run got beaten by the smallest margin by Yuopon in Mercedes Benz Bumper, at the time the most valuable bumper in Ireland. Judge must have taken 10 mins or more before calling the result. Trained by Pat Hughes he cost the trainer a fortune in bets. His next run at Naas saw the trainer running a treble onto him only to finish 2nd again.A jady b*****d of a horse he ran in snatches before finally winning a Novice Chase at Punchestown the following January.
 
May 12

On this day in 1992, Lochsong justified 9-2 favouritism when taking the Paul Caddick and Macgay Sprint Trophy at York off a mark of just 73.
 
May 12
2002 I had the pleasure of going to Longchamp for French Guineas meeting.
I nearly had the place to myself as Landseer won 2000 Gns for A P O Brien and MJKinane with Medecis Firebreak and Captain Rio behind.
Zonda won 1000 Gns fro Richard Hughes, J Gosden and Khalid Abdulla
Act One won Prix Lupin.

Meanwhile at Leop High Chaparral won Derby Trial and Magarula won 12f handicap for JSBolger off 87 on her way to Irish Oaks win.
 
1899
First flat race run at Haydock Park.

1917

Omar Khayyam became first foreign bred horse to win Kentucky Derby; he was GB bred.

1926
My father was born. Without his interest I would be posting on very different topics no doubt!
 
May 13

This day in 1851 saw The Flying Dutchman beat 1849 Derby and St Leger winner Voltigeur by a length in a specially-arranged race at York.

1976 Steve Cauthen made his debut on 136/1 shot, King of Swat,10th of 11 at River Downs,USA.
 
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May 14
1779 Bridget won first Oaks at Epsom.

1977 Pampapaul won Irish 2000 Gns for H V S Murless and G Dettori at 16/1 from The Minstrel and 2000G winner Nebbiolo.
Both winner and third were sons of Yellow God son of Red God ,sire of Blushing Groom who won French 2000 Gns that year.

1988 I was at The Curragh to witness an M V O Brien 1_2 in 2000gns. Prince Of Birds 10/1 winner from Caerwent.
Big Shuffle won Greenland Stakes with Noora Abu 3rd. She later won Pretty Polly Stakes.
Shady Heights won Rogers Gold Cup.
 
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edgt said:
May 13 1970
Mill Reef made his debut at Salisbury. He won.

May 13 1976
Luca Cumani trained his first British winner Three Legs in The Duke Of York Stakes
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Missed out on a paragraph about 13/05/1977.
Friday 13th for punters in a major way.
Lester rode Lady Mere fav for 1000 Gns. She was 3rd to Lady Capulet, a Sir Ivor debutant for M V O Brien who started 16/1. She never won again.
MVOB ran 3 in Royal Whip. Lester on fav Valinsky; Tom Murphy on Meneval .33/1 outsider Alleged won easily, his third win.
In the last race Lester rode 1/7 Marinsky, who beat all bar the 20/1 outsider who beat him 5l.
 
May 14

On this day in 2002, Sir Michael Stoute’s classy filly Islington won the Musidora Stakes at York under Kieren Fallon.
 
May 15
2011 Princeton Plains won Ladbrokes hurdle at Killarney propelling Edward Harty to top of trainer board for the new season. His win with Carrigmartin a few days later ensured he stayed there until the end of May. (Sounds like a Bee Gees song ! I Know!)
PPs wins at Galway and Listowel meant he was JPs winningmost horse that season GB or Ire until Synchronised won Lexus Chase at Leop Christmas meet.
 
May 16

On this day in 1984 Henry Cecil and Steve Cauthen teamed up to win the Mecca-Dante Stakes at York with Claude Monet.
 
Hang out the bunting, today marks the centenary of the birth of Phalaris, the most influential thoroughbred stallion of the last 100 years.
 
16/05/1987
I went to The Curragh this day to watch a Kanturk bred horse win a Classic.
Dont Forget Me bred by the parents in law of the owner /breeder of Missunited won well for Jim Horgan, R Hannon and W Carson.
He was the first horse since Right Tack in 1969 to win Dual 2000 Gns.
Cockney lass won Rogers Gold Cup and Sylvan Express won Greenland Stakes from Orient.
Eurobird and Golden Temple, 2 fillies to play a big part in Cash Asmussen's Irish Experience both ran in the 3yo fillies maiden .
 
May 17

On this day in 1992, Paul Cole ended a 65-year drought for Britain by lifting Longchamp's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches with Culture Vulture.
 
May 17

1875 Kentucky Derby first run; won by Aristides

1930 Starting machine (of sorts) used to dispatch Kentucky Derby runners won by Gallant Fox


1969 Henry Cecil sent out his first winner Celestial Cloud at Ripon.
Within 7 weeks he sent out his first Group 1 winner, Wolver Hollow in Eclipse Stakes( pre pattern I Know!)

2003 Hawk Wing Blitzes his field in the storm in Lockinge Stakes, winning by 11l and 8l.
 
May 18

This day in 1991 saw American raider Fourstars Allstar land the Irish 2000 Guineas for trainer Leo O'Brien.
 
Remember it was Lockinge day on the 18th May when Keltos won and the Godolphon horse, Noverre?, tried to bite him as he went past.
 
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