Racing
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january and february
McCoy: AP closes in on another record as he wins on Cheltenham- bound Seebald
Festival pointers: Looks Like Trouble returns with a win as Istabraq drifts badly
Ned Kelly: Well-backed gelding romps to victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle
march and april
The Festival: Best Mate wins Gold Cup as Hors La Loi surprises in Champion Hurdle
Return of the Flat: Lincoln 'good thing' Adiemus is touched off by 33-1 shot Zucchero
Aintree: Culloty's annus mirabilis continues as he partners Bindaree to National glory
Classic clues: Islington is the new Oaks jolly as Chaparral runs away with Ballysax
Attheraces Gold Cup: Bounce Back triumphs in race formerly known as the Whitbread
may and june
Guineas: Ballydoyle dominance continues as The Rock and Hawk Wing complete 1-2
Derby trials: Mark Jonston scoops the lot but none of them hold an Epsom entry
York: Godolphin play their Derby card as Moon Ballad wins on the Knavesmire
Up on the Downs: Chaparral wins the Derby, Kazzia the Oaks, the crowd watch football
In the news: Kenyon reveals all, there's cocaine in court and O'Brien unleashes a Tiger
Royal Ascot: Johnny Murtagh picks up the London Clubs Trophy ... and a four-day ban
july and august
String 'em up: Culhane blunders but punters blow punishment out of all proportion
Rose grower: Cecil wins a Group race, Coolmore and Godolphin button down hatches
Goodwood: Another Group 1 winner for The Rock but Aidan thinks best is yet to come
Jousting anybody? Tactics questioned as Shergar Cup resembles It's A Knockout
Ebor: Frankie keeps Charley Bates in the car park as Hugs Dancer wins handicap
september and october
Solid as a Rock: Gibraltar makes history in Moulin and the Leger stays in Yorkshire
Fairytale at Ascot: Where Or When gives Terry Mills his first Group 1 win in the QEII
Champions' Day: Punch lands Jockey Club blow, Tout Seul springs a Dewhurst shock
All about O'Brien: Rock run comes to an end, Chaparral wins in US, Boru takes Trophy
november and december
McCoy's diet: AP fasts for Chicuelo ride but stablemate Cyfor triumphs in Thomas Pink
Back in action: Best Mate and Baracouda show they're still forces to be reckoned with
Differing fortunes: Be My Royal wins the Hennessy, Ahern makes the wrong headlines
Tingle Creek: Edredon Bleu victorious after Uberalles wipes out Moscow Flyer's chance
Christmas action: Intersky wins at Kempton as Beef Or Salmon emerges as contender
100 Racing Greats
O'Brien voted the all-time No.1
FROM the other side of the world, Vincent O’Brien’s excitement was palpable.
The man whose racing achievements set him apart from any other in the sport still takes pleasure from winning.
Triumphant in four Cheltenham Gold Cups, three Champion Hurdles, three consecutive Grand Nationals, 26 Irish Classics, 15 British ones, including six Derbys, the man who trained Triple Crown winner Nijinsky and now the greatest figure in the history of the turf.
Vincent O'Brien: Tony O'Hehir on the ultimate trainer
HIS training career spanned 51 years. And from his first winner, Overplay at Limerick Junction on May 20, 1943, to his last, Mysterious Ways at The Curragh on September 17, 1994, Vincent O’Brien achieved more than enough to be a serious contender in any list of racing greats. His success at the highest level, over jumps and on the Flat, gives him outstanding claims to the top spot.
Lester Piggott: Tom O'Ryan on a true sporting legend
MEMORIES of a genius seldom fade. In full flight he was a sight to behold, knees touching over the pommel of the saddle, coiled body lungeing forwards, whip high above his head. When the chips were down, his was an all-action, all-consuming effort, almost frightening in its intensity.
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Sheikh Mohammed: David Ashforth on loyal supporter
SHEIKH MOHAMMED bin Rashid Al Maktoum bestrides the racing world like a colossus and British racing in particular – conservative, insular and ailing before his arrival – owes Dubai’s Crown Prince a huge debt of gratitude.
It took a long time for the British racing establishment to show its appreciation, even to decide that his presence was a good thing.
AP McCoy: Thomas argues case for ultimate achiever
THE worst kind of ‘Best of All Time’ lists are those compiled by or voted for by uninformed people with the attention spans of mayflies. The No. 1 is so certain to have been plying his or her trade in the last 20 years that anyone who can remember flaredtrousers the first time round need not apply.
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Fred Archer: Tony Morris argues case for a tragic hero
LET’S get one thing straight for a start. Yes, there have been owners, trainers, breeders and handicappers with a claim to greatness in the world of racing. But none can qualify for the accolade of ultimate great.
Racing is essentially a spectacle. The visual impact of competition is what excites us, makes our sport what it is.
Martin Pipe: Graham Dench on a revolutionary trainer
MARTIN PIPE would figure in the highest echelons of racing’s all-time greats by virtue of his achievements on the racecourse alone. Set them alongside the revolution he has inspired in the training ranks and the case for voting him number one is compelling.
Since first hitting the headlines in the 1981 Triumph Hurdle, Pipe has won nearly all of jump racing’s most coveted prizes.
Sir Gordon Richards: A star in and out of the saddle
SIR GORDON RICHARDS, the only jockey to have been knighted, dominated the Flat riding scene throughout the second quarter of the 20th century. From his first championship in 1925 to his last in 1953, he failed to land the crown on only three occasions. And in only one of those seasons, when he lost by one to Freddie Fox on the final day of the season, was he beaten fair and square.
Admiral Henry Rous: Randall on a towering innovator
THE greatest figure in racing history means the greatest in more than three centuries, not merely of the last five minutes, so there is only one possible choice: the man who did most to create the sport we know today and who, in integrity, drive and strength of purpose, towered above all the other racing men of his time.That man is Admiral Henry Rous, administrator, handicapper...
Fred Winter: Rodney Masters on a peerless horseman
MORE than a legend. It wasn’t simply Fred Winter’s supremacy as a champion jockey and champion trainer that made him that rarity in jump racing at that time, a household name.
It was also the qualities of the man himself. His integrity. His decency. There was never a grey zone of doubt about Winter.
...click here for full story
Queen Mother: Scott on a wonderful ambassador
SHE gave a new face to racing, a smiling face. Queen Elizabeth had already saved a monarchy, her impact on racing was equally great.
Of course, the Queen Mother contributed nothing like the direct action of Fred Archer, Gordon Richards or Tony McCoy, nothing comparable to the horse power of Vincent O’Brien or Martin Pipe. What she did was in a wider field.
Phil Bull: Howard Wright argues case for a pioneer
PHIL BULL had his faults. It was virtually impossible to change his mind by reasoned argument; he was a bad loser at tennis and snooker; in later life he was irritatingly painstaking when he committed his thoughts to paper; he became increasingly unable to maintain meaningful relationships with all but a few people, male or female.
Frankie Dettori: Jon Lees argues case for a showman
THERE are seven magnificent reasons why Frankie Dettori should be crowned racing’s all-time great and they were called Wall Street, Diffident, Mark Of Esteem, Decorated Hero, Fatefully, Lochangel and Fujiyama Crest.
Anybody present at Ascot on Saturday, September 28, 1996 will never forget the day Frankie rode every winner on the card.