The Shadow

SHE'S NO FLASH IN THE PAN

17 September 2007

So much has happened in the last two weeks I still cannot get my head round it all.

It keeps coming back in a series of random snapshots. I recall standing on the terraces at Wolverhampton racecourse with Mr Bromwich, one of the Racing Club members immediately before Southwark Newsflash's first race there. I had just had twenty quid each way on our filly at 66-1. Mr Bromwich had had ten quid each way at the same price. As we stood there we looked down and the bookie looked up at us and put her up to 100-1. We both rushed down and had another ten quid's worth.

As they rounded the home turn and our filly was stone last the Racing Club members turned to me and their eyes said 'We are beaten'. I took a deep breath the same time as Flash did and said: "Here she comes."

For her second race at Wolverhampton , the one she won last week, I was standing in the same place looking at the bookie. I was standing with another club member Mr Guest, who works for Southwark Council.

I had already got my bet on at 14-1 but Flash's price was shortening. I told Mr Guest he better hurry up and get his bet on. I thought he would want to bet a fiver or a tenner but he produced a huge wad of cash and a list of all his workmates who wanted to back our filly. He was still lumping it on at 14-1 when the stalls opened.

The next thing I remember is Mrs Dunnett grabbing me in the winners’ enclosure and hugging me fit to crush my ribs. And me pounding the jockey on his back. Saying what a brilliant ride to the same jockey I had sacked at Lingfield two weeks before. Dimitri the jockey was as excited as the rest of us and kept repeating that he had done nothing, the filly had found her own way home. We then went up to the special box reserved for winning owners where we were offered as much champagne as we wanted but only managed about half a bottle between the lot of us because we were all driving back down the M6 that night.

I gave all my winnings from both Wolverhampton races to Mrs Dunnett's stable staff. Theirs is a hard and back breaking job and they have worked wonders with our filly.

We were all so excited we all forgot to take any photographs, but I hope the computer wizards at the 'News' can lift a photo for you from the DVD of the race.

On a practical note I need to explain to you what we have been doing about free badges to come to see our hosses run. I have had to put on hold the plan to ballot members for badges. We were not getting enough time to set it all up from when we entered our hoss and when we knew for sure we were in the race.

What we have decided to do is to allocate badges on a first come, first served basis if members wish to call the paper before the race. When we get a runner in a big race and we know well in advance where and when we shall be running we will revert to the ballot system.
Thank you all for your support, there are still a few places left in Flash so come and join the fun.

Ownership explainer
In answer to some queries: The Southwark News Racing Club is the registered owner of the horse in question with the British Horseracing Authority. This is a legally binding agreement.
The horse is leased from Mrs Dunnett and me for the period of the one year for which the £50 membership subscription relates.
I have paid £2,000 for 1/3rd of each horse. The membership subscriptions cover the training and running costs of 1/3rd of the total 100 x £50 = £5,000 = 1/3rd assumed year's training and running costs.
Any profit for the year will be equally divided among members or set against the next year's membership subscription. Any shortfall will be met by me.

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