Advent Calendar #16 – 1989 Victor Chandler Chase
The 1989 Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot showcased Desert Orchid at his electrifying, untouchable best. Already a folk hero for his white-grey flamboyance and fearless jumping, “Dessie” had spent most…
Advent Calendar #14 – 1973 Grand National
The 1973 Grand National is remembered not just as a great race, but as a defining moment in the legend of Red Rum. Trained by Ginger McCain, the bay gelding…
Advent Calendar #13 – 1993 Cheltenham Gold Cup
The 1993 Cheltenham Gold Cup produced a hugely popular winner in Jodami, the big, powerful chaser trained in the north by Peter Beaumont at his tiny North Yorkshire yard. A…
Advent Calendar #10 – 1994 Champion Chase
The 1994 Queen Mother Champion Chase showcased the explosive brilliance of Viking Flagship, a horse whose raw pace, aggression and iron will made him one of the outstanding chasers of…
Advent Calendar #7 – 1983 Grand National
The 1983 Grand National delivered one of Aintree’s great milestones when Corbiere, trained by Jenny Pitman, powered through the rain and mud to give the race its first winning female…
Advent Calendar #6 – 1984 Champion Chase
Badsworth Boy stands alone in Champion Chase history. Trained by Michael Dickinson and later his mother Monica, the fiery chestnut possessed blistering speed, accuracy at his fences, and a competitive…
Advent Calendar #6 – 1997 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup
Suny Bay was a grey of immense stamina and heart, trained by Charlie Brooks and best remembered for his mighty weight-carrying performances in top staying handicaps. His breakthrough moment came…
Advent Calendar #5 – 2004 Scottish Grand National
Grey Abbey was one of the most popular northern chasers of his era, a relentless front-runner trained by Howard Johnson and adored for his bold, attacking style. Tough, uncomplicated and…
Advent Calendar #4 – 1996 Champion Hurdle
Collier Bay was one of the great transformation stories of 1990s National Hunt racing. Originally a modest Flat performer, he was revitalised under the care of Jim Old, developing into…
Advent Calendar #2 1989 Champion Hurdle
Beech Road was one of the most unlikely Champion Hurdle winners of the modern era, a tough, late-maturing hurdler who rose rapidly through the ranks for trainer Toby Balding. Initially…
Advent Calendar #1 – 1995 John Hughes Memorial Trophy
Up to 24 December I’ll be concentrating on my favourite races of all-time in the form of an advent calendar. I hope you enjoy it. Dublin Flyer was one of…
Mirror Racing – Friday 30 November 1984
Daily Mirror Racing on Friday 30 November 1984 featured cards from Sandown, Leicester and Sedgefield, and Tim Richards reported on a dispute between a punter and the big bookmakers. Download…
Daily Mirror – Saturday 29 November 1980
Three excellent cards at Sandown, Chepstow, Market Rasen and Sedgefield provided a great day’s racing in the Daily Mirror of Saturday 29 November 1980. Download QR
Mirror Racing – Thursday 28 November 1974
Daily Mirror racing on Thursday 28 November 1974, and Red Rum is in the news. The racing that day was at Haydock, with Towcester and Wincanton also in action. Download…
Mirror Racing – Saturday 27 November 1976
Daily Mirror racing news and cards on Hennessy Day at Newbury. Catterick and Wolverhampton were the other two cards on Saturday 27 November 1976. Download QR
Mirror Racing – Friday 26 November 1993
Day one of the Hennessy meeting at Newbury, plus cards from Bangor and Southwell on Friday 26 November 1993. Download QR
Daily Express Racing – Saturday 25 November 1978
Hennessy Day at Newbury on Saturday 25 November 1978. News and other cards from Wetherby and Wolverhampton in the racing pages of the Daily Express. Due to an industrial dispute…
Racing Mirror – Friday 24 November 1989
Don’t be thinking that small fields over jumps are a new thing. Newbury, Sedgefield and Leicester cards from the Daily Mirror of Friday 24 November 1989 provide the evidence. Download…
Racing Mirror – Saturday 23 November 1985
A terrific Saturday of racing in the Daily Mirror of 23 November 985. Terrific names everywhere, including Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National winners, and not just at Newbury –…
Racing Mirror – Friday 22 November 1991
The Racing Mirror of Friday 22 November 1991 featured cards at Leicester and Sedgefield in support of an excellent Newbury card. This meeting was notable for Roark – the favourite…