Barney's Blog

Congratulations – a thousand times

Evening all, Barney McGrew here again. Forget all these arguments about whether Baaeed, Frankel or Sea The Stars was the best – none of them’s got their own blog, have they?

Now, I know I spend most of my time having sly digs at everyone and generally taking the Michael, but I want to be sincere this week.

That’s because Michael Dods Racing, which has been my home all these years, hit the 1,000-winner mark when Bold Territories won under the Oliver Stammers human at Newcastle last night. That’s 968 Flat winners in this country, plus two more in France, another one in Ireland, and 29 over jumps.

It all started with a horse called Rural Outfit in a novice hurdle at Sedgefield, on April 16, 1991, with a human called Alan Merrigan in the saddle. That was followed a month later by Blue Grit winning on the Flat at Redcar under a female human called Alex Greaves.

There have been lots of highlights for Michael Dods Racing since then. Mecca’s Angel had back-to-back victories in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York in 2015 and 2016 – what a filly she was. Then we had Mabs Cross winning the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp in 2018. And, this year, Commanche Falls became the first horse in more than 50 years to win back-to-back Stewards Cups at Glorious Goodwood.

Hey, and let’s not forget that nine of those 1,000 wins were down to yours truly. If it wasn’t for me, the stable would still only be on 991. I can’t believe there isn’t a bronze statue of me at the entrance to the yard.

Seriously, many congratulations to The Gaffer, as well as my Carole, and all the team here at Denton Hall on a magnificent achievement. And big thanks to the owners and the jockeys who’ve all been part of the success.

We definitely need to celebrate - with a bloody big carrot cake.

CONGRATULATIONS also to Bold Territories for being the horse to bring up the 1,000-winner milestone.

Terry – as I like to call him – is owned by those nice humans who run Taylor’s Butchers, in Darlington. It’s brilliant that Terry is turning out to be a winner – just like Taylor’s famous pies.

By the way, the 1,000th win at Newcastle came on the birthday of one of the owners, Paul Taylor. Happy birthday, Paul. Have a pork pie on me!

BY the way, I'm so bloody proud of my old mate Commanche Falls for coming so close to following up his back-to-back Stewards' Cup wins by lumping 9st 12lbs to be a close second to Summerghand in the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap at York this afternoon. The winner's a class horse on his day and Commy was giving him 12lbs.

I've told The Gaffer that he should probably go down the listed route next because it's so hard trying to win these big handicaps off a mark of 109. He normally listens to me, so we'll see.

Anyway, well done Commy. You're a bloody star, even in defeat.

FINALLY, let's return the the subject of pies to celebrate the latest win by Taylor's Butchers.

I once knew a pie that loved to go to the gym? He was a buff pastry!

Here's a question for you...Where to you go to weigh a pie? Somewhere over the rainbow!

And did you hear about the pie that walked into the pub? The barman looked him up and down and said: "Sorry, mate, we don't serve food."

God, I’m bloody funny. Lots of love til next time.