The Derby

Being our 22nd wedding anniversary we are off visiting folk again, so here's Saturday's edition early.

The Derby is where it all started for me. I was 14 and at Pontins Camber Sands having possibly the worst holiday of my life, when we took a coach-trip to Epsom - which drove right past our front door, imagine the horror of driving back to Camber Sands afterwards.

The racecourse was packed and exciting - my mother allowed me £1 to bet with and I had 50p each way on Relkino. My mum put the bet on with a bookmakers - all this was impossibly exotic - and they shared a joke at my expense - Relkino being 33/1.

There was one of the hottest favourites ever running - Wollow - and everyone else had backed him. I have no idea where Wollow finished, and I can't tell you the name of the winner, but I can tell you that Relkino finished 2nd, and I was able to buy a couple of Hammond Innes books to ease the boredom for the rest of the week, (I recall The Lonely Skier as being particularly fine).

I've always had a soft spot for Relkino's babies ever since - Relkeel being one my favourite ever hurdlers. And I've always had a soft spot for 33/1 shots each way too. So, whilst I like Rewilding and Workforce tomorrow, Ted Spread is surely the bet for all first timers, looking to be hooked into a lifetime of thrills and spills, hope and despair...


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