Who was it for you?
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geowarrior
- Leading Sire
- Posts: 3593
- Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:45 pm
- Location: Spokane, WA
I don't remember the first horse for me. I watched so many horse races as a child that few stick in my mind. My strongest memories are of our family tradition which was to watch the Grand National and we each (Mum, Dad, wee sister) would bet four horses, sixpence each way before we went decimal in Britain. So I remember horses like Red Alligator, Highland Wedding, L'Escargot (hall of fame steeplechaser in U.S.), and of course Red Rum who won his first Grand National when I was 14.
In the late sixties my sister was four or five and I was seven or eight - can't quite remember the year. In this particular year my sister picked a 100-1 shot called Foinavon and bet sixpence each way. Well, there was a famous pile up at a fence (the 23rd?) which is now called the Foinavon fence. Old Foinavon was going so slowly he managed to find a gap in the pile-up and popped over the fence before any of the others had a chance to remount. So he won the race and when my dad brought back the winnings for my sister it was OVER FIVE POUNDS. My very tiny little sister had never seen so much cash all at once. I'll never forget the look on her face.
My grandpa was a heavy gambler (I think, I know he bet frequently anyway) and my mum disapproved. I remember he gave me a book about Arkle for my birthday although I don't remember seing Arkle race. Although my mum watches racing still, she disapproves of my involvement in racing just as much as she disapproved of my Arkle book at the time.
I used to study the form in the Scottish Daily Express religiously. I remember a 15 year old horse called Le Garcon D'Or who was 15 years old but kept winning. Of course I know now that these must have been low class races, but I was always impressed with the number of 1's on his pp's lined up like skittles in a row.
In the late sixties my sister was four or five and I was seven or eight - can't quite remember the year. In this particular year my sister picked a 100-1 shot called Foinavon and bet sixpence each way. Well, there was a famous pile up at a fence (the 23rd?) which is now called the Foinavon fence. Old Foinavon was going so slowly he managed to find a gap in the pile-up and popped over the fence before any of the others had a chance to remount. So he won the race and when my dad brought back the winnings for my sister it was OVER FIVE POUNDS. My very tiny little sister had never seen so much cash all at once. I'll never forget the look on her face.
My grandpa was a heavy gambler (I think, I know he bet frequently anyway) and my mum disapproved. I remember he gave me a book about Arkle for my birthday although I don't remember seing Arkle race. Although my mum watches racing still, she disapproves of my involvement in racing just as much as she disapproved of my Arkle book at the time.
I used to study the form in the Scottish Daily Express religiously. I remember a 15 year old horse called Le Garcon D'Or who was 15 years old but kept winning. Of course I know now that these must have been low class races, but I was always impressed with the number of 1's on his pp's lined up like skittles in a row.
Wow! Awesome tales of how we all got hooked. I failed to mention that I was also a horse crazy girl from the age eight on...Beyer models were my reward for doing well in school...then came Affirmed and Alydar and of course the trips to Arlington. Off and on since I was nine I've taken riding lessons. Started Western, moved to English ten years ago. Due to ride again today. Not sure if it's genetic (I'm part Hungarian and they have some serious horse people there...and of course...Kinscem!!)
Amazing to read that someone's dad was in the cavalry under General Pershing. Wow! I joked with my instructor that I must have been an old cavalry type in a past life...who's gone really rusty in the saddle!!! I probably pitch forward out of past dodging of bullets...
Keep the stories coming...I love reading how people got into horses!! And thanks for sharing the passion for our equine friends!
Amazing to read that someone's dad was in the cavalry under General Pershing. Wow! I joked with my instructor that I must have been an old cavalry type in a past life...who's gone really rusty in the saddle!!! I probably pitch forward out of past dodging of bullets...
Keep the stories coming...I love reading how people got into horses!! And thanks for sharing the passion for our equine friends!
A horse gallops with his lungs
Perseveres with his heart
And wins with his character. --Tesio
Perseveres with his heart
And wins with his character. --Tesio