Barney's Blog

It's a beautiful May!

Morning all, Barney McGrew here again. God, I’m gorgeous.

Anyway, what a bloody month this has been! 14 winners in May already and there's still a couple of days to go. I’m starting to think The Gaffer might finally be getting the hang of this horse racing lark.

That said, if he can train so many winners in May, why can’t he have a hit rate like that all year round? It’s a fair question, don’t you think? 

Now look here, Gaffer, whatever you do with the horses in May, do it for all the other months, and then you’ll train over a 100 winners. It’s not bloody rocket science, is it?

OF course, all those May winners included my old made Goldy – Dakota Gold to you lot.

I’ll tell you what, to see him win again at the age of 10 brought a lump to my throat. And it’s a long throat, so it was a big lump. What a bloody horse he’s been – 16 career wins after his Redcar success, and he’s not finished yet.

That said, there’s a point I want to make about Dakota Gold. The Gaffer, along with the Connor Beasley human, and those smug humans who own him, Doug Graham, Ian Davison and Alan Drysdale, soak up all the glory when he wins. There they were, in the winner’s enclosure at Redcar, smiling for the paparazzi, and lapping up the adulation as if they’d run the race themselves.

But where was the real hero in the Dakota Gold story? Yes, it’s my Carole who always goes down to the start to keep him quiet and get him into the stalls, but she’s forgotten about by the time he passes the post!

You never hear the commentator say: “And it’s another triumph for Dakota Gold, trained by Michael Dods and ridden by Connor Beasley, owned by Doug Graham, Ian Davison and Alan Drysdale – and put into the stalls by Carole Dods.”

She has to trudge back the six furlongs without being noticed while all the other big-shots grab the glory. OK, she might get a lift if she’s lucky but that’s beside the friggin’ point.

Carole, I want you to know that at least I appreciate the vital role you play. You’re worth your weight bloody GOLD! Now, bring carrots.

ANOTHER unsung hero also needs a mention in all this. Andrew Glass (or Glassy as I like to call him) looks after Goldy day in day out.

Bloody good human he is too. Lovely lad, and I hear he was also a bit emotional when Goldy scored number 16. The stable staff are the unsung heroes of this sport – and I’m here to make sure they get the credit they deserve. There you go, Glassy – bring us some carrots.

BEFORE I go, a quick word for our young apprentice human, Rhys Elliott.

I thought he rode a cracking race on Fifty Sent at Redcar, only to be beaten by a nose on the nod. It would have been his first winner for the yard and he was gutted,

“I honestly thought I’d won it, Barney,” he said to me when he got back.

So, here’s a word of encouragement from one who knows the game inside out. Keep going Rhys, bonny lad, you’re doing great. The rides are coming and so will more winners.

Now stop moping and bring me some carrots. I could do with a brush as well. Thanks.

OH, by the way, did you hear about the Ian Davison human – one of Goldy’s owners – going into Sainsbury’s the other day?

“I want to make a complaint about this vinegar – it’s lumpy,” he told the customer services desk.

“Sorry, sir, but they’re pickled onions,” said the assistant.

Silly old bugger.

That's all from me for now. I love you all. Send carrots. Send postcards. And don't forget my Carole.