Memories from the Cotswolds

ISun SUPPOSE Danoli winning the He had Alliance Hurdle was special. public great support from the general and the racing crowd. He was a sort of a freak horse in a way. Charlie Swan rode him and Tom Foley trained him. Tom was part of a small stable and I think that’s why the people loved Danoli so much. Everyone loves to see the small stable winning. Hurricane Fly winning the champion of hurdle twice is another big memory was mine and to be there to see special. When I was small I the horses my dad asking me to pick out the office in the paper as he was busy go racing and when he was finished we’d always together. As a TD he was nearly memories in Dublin and some of my nicest he had are going to the races when of racing time. I guess that’s how my love started.

Dingle Races Committee Member

IHAVE a nice memory about Kicking King who won the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup. The reason he stands out for me is that the late Liam Higgins, who was teacher of mine and a great character, met me one day outside the bookies in December 2004 and he just said, ‘Colm, go in there and back a horse called Kicking King’. It was the first time I heard of him and he won the King George that year. From that day on I followed the horse’s career and of course we all know he went on to win the Gold Cup a few months later. Unfortunately, Liam passed away some years ago and Kicking King is a horse I will always associate with Liam whenever I hear his name.

MY stand out memory of Cheltenham was in 1978. I was actual- in jail at the time and I wrote a letter to a friend telling him to back Monksfield in the champion hurdle and I was delighted when I heard he’d won. That evening we were playing cards and I was celebrating and boasting that I’d backed the winner, only to find out that I’d exceeded my quota of letters sent and the letter was never posted and the bet never placed. So I suppose that’s a different angle to a Cheltenham memory if ever there was one! Another great memory came in 1983 when Bregawn won the Gold Cup and trainer Michael Dickenson had the first five home in that race. Desert Orchid was another horse I loved. On the Gold Cup, the horse that won the Thyestes Chase - Champagne West - is one I think has an each- way chance. I took note of him at the time and he could go well.

General Manager, Killarney Racecourse

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Iall of Istabraq’s WAS lucky to witness which was special. wins at Cheltenham winning the Gold Obviously Dawn Run A very special Cup is a special memory. was in 1980 when one for me personally won the Arkle Anaglogs Daughter by Tommy Chase when ridden Carberry. What I remember she most about it is that and was a front runner of stayed clear. This type and horse is rare enough I that’s a nice memory. first still remember my seeing time going there and the ‘Welcome to Cheltenham’ you were sign and you just knew a place where the best somewhere special; of the Irish Sea do horses on both sides talk who wouldn’t battle. I know of people one end of the year about a horse from Cheltenham they’ll to the next and come It or four days off work. actually take three appeal for people. just has that sort of