On This Day In (Racing) History

Another one for yesterday

14th August 1986 Catterick staged a Christmas meeting, the original meeting was abandoned during the Festive season due to bad weather.
 
August 15

15/08/1972
Shock at York as Bregadier Gerard beaten for the only time in his 18 race career by Roberto, ridden by Braulio Baeza in the first Benson And Hedges Gold Cup.
"Roberto must have been stung by a wasp" was the comment of the day!

15/08/1989
Cricket Ball won The Prix de Meautry at Deauville for the fourth consecutive time,the first time such a feat was completed in a group race. John Fellows trained him.
 
August 16

On this day in 1988, Shady Heights, ridden by Willie Carson and trained by Robert Armstrong, was awarded the International Stakes at York.
 
August 16

16/08/1988
I blew my first paycheck going to York races. What a great time I had!
Persian Heights won International only to be disqualified for interfering with 3rd Indian Skimmer, who would not have won in any case; so Shady Heights got the race.
Diminuendo blitzed her field in Yorkshire Oaks in course record time.
Thorn Dance won Acomb Stakes easily. I thought him the best 2yo of 1988 and a buddy of mine took 50/1 for 89 2000Gns before Christmas. The January sales saw his price reduced to 5/1 so we drank on the strength of our wisdom!
He never made the Guineas nor won again but what fun we had .

16/08/1999
Two great races at York:
Persian Punch touched off Celeric in Lonesdale Stakes.
One So Wonderful wins International in a finish of whiskers from Faithful Son and Chester House.

16/08/2005
International Stakes lives up to its name with Italian Electrocutionist winning from Zenno Rob Roy from Japan.

16/08/2009
St Nicholas Abbey wins on debut at The Curragh on a day when DK Weld wins big race double with Casual Conquest in Royal Whip and Famous Name in Desmond Stakes.
 
August 17

This day in 1988 saw the Henry Cecil-trained Kneller (Paul Eddery) land a gamble in the Ebor at York on just the third run of his career
 
1982 -Assert wins the Benson & Hedges- Gorytus makes a sensational debut in the Acomb and is made favourite for the following years Guineas and Derby.
 
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August 17

Re Assert Pat Eddery had his wrist strapped up that day like a good NH jockey!

17/08/1988
Day 2 of my Knavesmire adventure. Sun still shining.
Miss Demure won Lowther Stakes. Her breeder Leo Collins of Ennistown Stud was the first man to offer Sheikh Mohammed a "luck penny" after selling the full sibling at Goffs Million Sales that October. Sheikh refused to take it until Ml Osborne told him of the Irish tradition, so the Skeikh took the £20 note and framed it!

Sheriffs Star won Voltigeur from Insan, a fabulous race.
 
August 18

18th August 1978 Lorna Vincent was the first professional woman to win under NH rules when Pretty Cute won at Exeter.

On this day in 1992, the great Rodrigo De Triano won the Juddmonte International Stakes at York in the hands of Lester Piggott.
 
August 18

18/08/1988
The final day of York saw heavy rain change going to soft and me in shirt sleeves !
Handsome Sailor won Nunthorpe from Silver Fling and a most gorgeous 2yo won the 6 furlong maiden. His name was Danehill.
 
August 19

19/08/1931
Willie Shoemaker born. pound for pound one of the very best sportsmen of all time.

19/08/1982
Sharpo wins Wm Hill Sprint Championship for third consecutive year. J Tree trainer.

19/08/1988
High Estate won Solario Stakes for Henry Cecil and nonagenarian owner Jim Joel who was present and gave tv interview.

19/08/1993
Falbrav wins International in style and APOBrien has 1-2 in Voltigeur with Powerscourt and Brian Boru .
 
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August 19

This day in 1998 One So Wonderful came out on top in a three-way battle for the International at York beating Faithful Son and Chester House
 
August 20

On this day in August 1986, Guy Harwood's Primary ran out an easy winner of the Ebor at York in the hands of Greville Starkey.
 
August 21

On this day in 1993, owner Stavros Niarchos enjoyed a one-two in the Prix Morny at Deauville as Coup de Genie beat Psychobabble.
 
August 22

On this day in 1990 Further Flight ran on strongly for Michael Hills to hold off the strong-finishing Bean King in the Ebor at York.
 
August 23

On this day in 1989 there was a local winner of the Ebor at York as Sapience, trained at Malton by Jimmy FitzGerald, landed the handicap.

23rd August 1990 Dayjur (Dick Hern/Willie Carson) won the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in a new course record of 56.16 secs.
 
August 24

On this day in 2000, John Hammond's Nuclear Debate just got the better of Bertolini in a storming finish to the Nunthorpe at York.
 
August 25

On this day in 1985 Teleprompter gained one of the richest wins ever enjoyed by a British horse when he landed the Arlington Million.
 
August 26

On this day in 1989, Michelozzo staked his claim for the St Leger with victory at Goodwood. He later won the Leger, staged at Ayr, by 8L.
 
August 26

26/08/1974
Another bank holiday, another shock result!
Gay Future won at Cartmel at 10/1, the only surprise being he was ridden by top Irish amateur Mr T A Jones. However as he was backed in doubles and trebles with non runner stable companions a rat was smelled by large bookmakers who had no phone contact with the race course.
The brains behind the operation was Cork builder Tony Murphy.
"Murphys Stroke" the movie and "The Gay Future Affair " book tell the story in full.
 
August 27

On this day in 1990, 19-year-old Frankie Dettori became the youngest jockey since Lester Piggott in 1955 to ride 100 winners in a season.

27 August 2002, AP McCoy rode Mighty Mantefalco to victory at Uttoxeter ,becoming leading jumps jockey of all time

27th August 1960 The last day's racing at Buckfastleigh in Devon took place with a crowd of over 4,000.
 
27th August 1960 The last day's racing at Buckfastleigh in Devon took place with a crowd of over 4,000.

Later that day 49 were hospitalised and 240 arrests were made after rioting broke out as a result of every racegoer receiving a bottle of the local produce.

The cry was "Oo-arr, I'll pure plunge you ya dick"
 
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