Who was Vincent O’Brien?

Who was Vincent O'Brien? To readers of a certain age, the late Vincent O’Brien requires little or no introduction. He was, quite simply, one of the greatest, if not the greatest, racehorse trainers of all time. Like his namesake, and successor at the now famous Ballydoyle Stables in Co. Tipperary, Aidan O’Brien, Vincent O’Brien began his training career in the sphere of National Hunt racing.

However, after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup four times, the Champion Hurdle three times and the Grand National three times in the Forties and Fifties, O’Brien turned his hand to Flat racing. He would become Irish Champion Flat Trainer for the first time in 1959, by which time he had already saddled Ballymoss to win the St. Leger in 1957 and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1958. He would win the Irish trainers’ title 13 times in all and the British trainers’ title twice, in 1966 and 1977.

Alongside his son-in-law, John Magnier, and the late Robert Sangster, O’Brien was instrumental in establishing Coolmore, now a global breeding and racing powerhouse, in the Seventies. As far as English Classics are concerned, O’Brien won the Derby six times, including with Nijinsky – the last horse to win the English Triple Crown – in 1970, the 2,000 Guineas four times, the St. Leger three times, the Oaks twice and the 1,000 Guineas once.

How many British Classic winners did Jimmy Lindley ride?

To a modern audience, the late James Frederick ‘Jimmy’ Lindley, who died in March, 2022, aged 86, was best known as a respected paddock commentator on BBC Television, for whom he worked for nearly 30 years. However, in his first career, as a jockey, Lindley rode 882 winners on the Flat, including three British Classic winners. He won the 2,000 Guineas twice, on Only For Life, trained by Jeremy Tree, in 1963 and Kashmir, trained by Mick Bartholomew, in 1996 and the St. Leger once, on Indiana, trained by Jack Watts, in 1964. All three victories came by a short head or a head on horses subsequently rated ‘inferior’ or, at best, ‘average’ Classic winners, which bears testament to his acknowledged strength in a finish.

Lindley fought a battle with the scales throughout his career and, like his contemporary, Lester Piggott, spent a season riding over hurdles in 1958, during which he rode 25 winners, before reverting to the Flat. Granted that his opportunities were restricted by weight problems, his career statistics on the Flat barely do justice to his riding ability; he achieved his highest seasonal total, 71 winners, in 1963, and his highest placing in the jockeys’ table, ninth, in 1963, 1964 and 1965. In the face of kidney damage, Lindley retired from the saddle, aged 39, in 1974. He was recruited by BBC horse racing correspondent Julian Wilson to succeed Clive Graham, a.k.a. ‘The Scout’ at the ‘Daily Express’, who died in August that year.

Horse Racing: The Importance Of Having An Opinion

Horse Racing: The Importance Of Having An Opinion The world and his wife have an opinion.

The world and her husband do too.

Our pet budgie, Jimmy, sadly now deceased had lots to say. He used to sit in his cage each night, eyes closed, chatting to himself or anyone who cared to listen to his words. True, he may have been mimicking the words he heard. The TV sat just a few feet away so it’s no surprise he liked to recount his favourite adverts. ‘We take more care of you…’ He used to whistle ‘We’re off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. We once recorded Jimmy’s conversation on an old cassette recorder and he was chatting away for an hour or so. He mentioned our pet dog, Zak, and referenced: ‘He bit me, don’t deny it!’

I loved little Jimmy.

He had more character in his little winged body than a giant of a man.

I enjoyed listening to his words.

To me, he was quite opinionated.

At times brash.

Horse racing opinions are a similar story. I guess they can range from the fool with an opinion to the font of all wisdom (whoever that may be). You can have a worse opinion than a fool and that is someone who intentionally tells you something hoping to put you off a winner or stitch you up with the supposed good thing they picked out with a pin.

Having a strong opinion myself, I don’t like listening to other’s opinions about two-year-old horse racing because, whether right or wrong, I feel I know more than most. That can be a double-edged sword. However, I would rather die by drinking my own poison. Also, I enjoy the elixir of life. Each to their own. I once heard of a man who lived in Alaska who in fear of suffering hypothermia would drink a thimble full of anti-freeze each Sunday morning after saying a prayer.

All went well until one day he died.

However, should we be afraid of other’s opinions? Even if we are convinced we know more should we still listen to the word’s of an anorak?

Clearly, it’s a good idea to vet the people who may have an opinion. You need to raise the bar to a certain level. Although perhaps that ‘crazy fool’ who picks horses by their name or the colour of the racing silks may say something inspirational.

I often talk to my brother about horse racing. And my opinions have been met with mixed feelings. Good news. I put him off backing a loser. Bad news. I put him off betting on a 33/1 winner. Not good at all. That’s the problem with having an opinion. It can be the best and worst idea. It’s enough to make you keep your opinions to yourself.

This matter needs some thought if not explanation. Because what is the best answer to the question? Should we state our opinion or never say a word? I will limit this to never saying a word about horse racing else it will be too much for anyone to consider. I’m not sure it’s possible to have a conversation without having an opinion.

I must admit I’ve felt bad when I told someone my opinion and it resulted in them missing a winner. It doesn’t go down well. In fact, if you don’t know someone well it’s probably best not to have an opinion about the horse they have picked to win. It can only lead to disappointment.

It’s one of those things.

Even the most informed opinion can be wrong. It happens however difficult to appreciate. I said to my brother: ‘I either give you my opinion or never say another word on the subject matter.’

It makes no sense not to state an opinion as saying nothing really isn’t an option (keep quiet with strangers though). Anyone who knows their subject should be right more than they are wrong. So long term their opinion should have some worth. It should be a positive rather than a negative. Short term this may seem a disastrous idea. However, the option of listening to an opinion and declining it should be acknowledged by both parties. Yes, it sounds like the opening statement of a lawsuit. You may need to state terms and conditions which brings concern to any opinion given.

Never be afraid of giving an opinion or listening to them. Whether right or wrong they are simply part of a bigger picture.

Don’t blame me if your horses losses or you missed a winner because you were listening to my every word.

However, I do agree that sometimes we have to whistle our own tune.

Just like Jimmy did when whistling: ‘We’re off the to see the Wizard the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.’

Do Horse Trainers Know Best?

Do Horse Trainers Know Best? That’s an open-ended question if I ever read one.

However, punters often question the merit of trainers. We’ve all done it, hey. ‘I think that horse would be better over a mile! Why is that horse being dropped in distance when it looks like it needs a longer trip?’

Smoke coming out of your ears. Clumps of hair on the floor next to your armchair. You lost a caster last week in a head-bob finish.

Plenty of armchair jockeys inching ever closer to the TV. That imaginary whip raised high above the shoulder, shouting in both hope and horror. It’s pretty much the same for us all (I do include myself here).

Armchair jockey and trainer. I’m proud to wear both hats.

I will call myself Sir Henry Sofa.

Not only would I have trained Frankel I would have ridden him too from my mobility chair. True, in the last furlong I would have raised the recliner a notch or two, but I’d have won in comfy fashion. I’d have cruised over my Axminster carpet like Nijinsky, both ballerina and horse.

I often talk with my brother about horse racing and we have conversations about every aspect including distance, trip, furlongs and yards. With the classic utterance: ‘I don’t think that horse will get the trip!’

How many time have we watched the horse win? It loved every last inch. The trainer, bless their heart, proven correct. The armchair trainer left hoarse. Bewildered. Silenced by reality. But that will never stop Sir Henry Sofa.

He’s the talk of the town.

The next race: ‘I’m sure that jockey booking is a negative!’

Thinking about this whole questioning the trainer idea. To be fair, it’s good to get to the bottom of these things and answer the question once and for all. The reason being, it pays to have a set approach else you lurch from one thought to another which doesn’t help. No one likes someone who lurches. It’s not natural. I makes you sound like a prowler.

Logically, it makes sense to think the trainer not only knows best but they have the best interests for both the horse to win races and the owner(s) who are paying the bill. There may be some trainers who run the horses as if they own them (some do) but most want to win races and if they decide a horse needs a step up or down in distance then there is probably a very good reason for them making that decision.

If we don’t consider the trainer knows best (which is kind of illogical and perhaps cynical) then we are stating the armchair trainer is better informed. By that answer we are stating that trainers are poor judges.

Once again, this really doesn’t make any sense.

It is best to accept that the horse trainer knows best rather than question their knowledge or integrity. Also, if you scratch a horse from your assessment, because you think you know better, then you will often be proved wrong. This has implications if you select another horse in the race because you can guarantee the horse you ditched (‘it’s running over the wrong distance!’) will not even register in your thoughts. The trainer thought the step up in trip would be a positive. Who is likely to know better?

For years I would consider I knew more than the trainer, convince myself I could have ridden a better finish than Lester Piggott (even thought the horse would have been carrying five stone overweight) and if I was an owner/breeder I would definitely have more success than Benny from ABBA.

However, if Benny, the late Sir Henry Cecil and Lester Piggott were looking through the window of a little cottage on the outskirts of Cambridgeshire, they’d witness me shuffling closer to the TV, my armchair rocking back and forth riding out the finish to the next race at Hexham on a cold winter’s day. I’m sure they would be killing themselves laughing as a cup of tea falls into my lap, a slipper is lost under the rug while my betting slip is eaten by the dog.

‘That lads a good judge!’

‘You don’t get carpet burns like that on your knees without knowing a thing or two!’

Laughter erupts from Benny as he shouts: ‘Fan dig, Fen boy.’

I promise never to question another horse trainer or jockey for the rest of my days.

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