Funny racing stories

Gajima wrote: You may find this amusing.

I had a share in an unraced filly with Corinne Bestel at Clairwood many years ago. The Mercury newspaper was promoting the Natal Mercury Sprint later in the week and wanted a photo shoot for the front page and this filly Melting Ice was chosen. After the photo shoot the filly worked with a three time winner and a one time winner over 1400 metres at Clairwood, starting slowly and leading up to a sprint. As anybody who has attended these workouts will tell you the owner present always has the benefit of seeing his horse win the sprint.

About 2 weeks later the filly made her debut and shortened from an opening 20's to 3's joint favourite before drifting closer to the off. The distance of the race was way too short and she finished second last, as expected.

I never ever found out if it was the front page exposure where she was named as a candidate for the Mercury Sprint or someone watching the workout who caused the rapid and misleading shortening, or indeed if any bets were even struck.

Lol

Pirhobeta wrote:

Gajima wrote: You may find this amusing.

I had a share in an unraced filly with Corinne Bestel at Clairwood many years ago. The Mercury newspaper was promoting the Natal Mercury Sprint later in the week and wanted a photo shoot for the front page and this filly Melting Ice was chosen. After the photo shoot the filly worked with a three time winner and a one time winner over 1400 metres at Clairwood, starting slowly and leading up to a sprint. As anybody who has attended these workouts will tell you the owner present always has the benefit of seeing his horse win the sprint.

About 2 weeks later the filly made her debut and shortened from an opening 20's to 3's joint favourite before drifting closer to the off. The distance of the race was way too short and she finished second last, as expected.

I never ever found out if it was the front page exposure where she was named as a candidate for the Mercury Sprint or someone watching the workout who caused the rapid and misleading shortening, or indeed if any bets were even struck.

Lol

did you play it after it shortened...?

Gajima wrote:

Pirhobeta wrote:

Gajima wrote: You may find this amusing.

I had a share in an unraced filly with Corinne Bestel at Clairwood many years ago. The Mercury newspaper was promoting the Natal Mercury Sprint later in the week and wanted a photo shoot for the front page and this filly Melting Ice was chosen. After the photo shoot the filly worked with a three time winner and a one time winner over 1400 metres at Clairwood, starting slowly and leading up to a sprint. As anybody who has attended these workouts will tell you the owner present always has the benefit of seeing his horse win the sprint.

About 2 weeks later the filly made her debut and shortened from an opening 20's to 3's joint favourite before drifting closer to the off. The distance of the race was way too short and she finished second last, as expected.

I never ever found out if it was the front page exposure where she was named as a candidate for the Mercury Sprint or someone watching the workout who caused the rapid and misleading shortening, or indeed if any bets were even struck.

Lol

did you play it after it shortened...?

Lol No.

But I recall a race at Scottsville where the trainer had gone on leave and left his son to run the stable. My mare shortened the morning of the race from 14's to 7/2. I called the jockey to ask if he knew something that I didn't but he was also in the dark.

In the race the mare was 2 lengths clear with 100m to go and got caught on the line. I did not bet her. Subsequently traced the money bet to a bucket shop in Natal where the son bet regularly. We then moved the mare to another trainer.