Barney's Blog

Claim to fame

Evening all, Barney McGrew here again and what a magnificent specimen I am.

Well, I couldn’t let the week pass without saying a big well done to my human pal, Rhys Elliott, for riding out his 7lb claim at Newcastle Races last night.

Me and Rhys have become great mates since he joined the yard, and I admit I was a bit worried about him when he had that nasty fall at Newcastle last year. All credit to him for the way he’s knuckled down, worked hard, and got back to riding better than ever.

He landed his 20th winner for the David Thompson human on a horse called Coramento. I was interested to see the gelding is owned and bred by a great local character called Ray Craggs.

Ray’s a farmer in his eighties, and trains a few horses as a hobby over at a place called Sedgefield. He won a big handicap at York last year with a horse called Ron O, so congratulations to him.

Anyway, back to our Rhys. I’m confident he’ll continue to ride winners as a 5lbs claimer and I don't think it'll be too long before he rides the 50 winners needed to go down to 3lbs.

Beyond that, he has the attitude to go all the way - just as long as he remembers to keep coming over to my field to ask me for advice.

In the meantime, I‘ve got a suggestion on how he can celebrate riding winner number 20. He can buy me a nice 7lbs bag of carrots!

AT the other end of the age range, I also want to say well done to another lovely human – Peter Blackett, who is one of our owners.

Peter has the distinction of being one of the longest-serving law partners in the country, having clocked up more than 50 years with BHP Law, in Darlington. He’s known as the Peter Pan of the legal profession and is a real gentleman.

Well, I was thrilled to see Peter having a nice run of luck. He had a winner at Southwell last week when King of Fury won on his first run for the yard.

The next day, he had another winner when Lord Abama went in at Newcastle under a good ride from that very nice Sean Kirrane human (see picture below). Peter shares Lordy with Karen Pratt, who is also a big part of BHP Law, which happens to be the oldest law firm in the North-East.

Well done to both of them. Now, bring some carrots – or I’ll bloody sue.

MEANWHILE, news reaches me of one of our owners, who’s been in hospital for a minor operation. I’d better not name him but he’s a notorious tight-arse and likes a drink, so you can work it out for yerselves.

Anyway, he was desperate for a drink and remembered there was a pub next to the hospital. Despite being in his hospital gown and wired up to an IV drip, he went into the bar and ordered two pints of lager, four whiskies, a double gin and seven shots.

The barman thought the unlikely-looking customer might not have long to live, so served him his drinks without question. The owner drank everything right down to the last shot, then turned to the barman and said: “I shouldn’t really be drinking these, not with what I’ve got”.

“I’m really sorry to hear that,” replied the barman. “What have you got?”

“About £2.50,” came the reply.

FINALLY, I’m sad to report that the Kenny Williams human – our Travelling Head Lad – is laid up and can't drive after a health scare of his own.

Kenny recently had to visit his doctor with a sore eye. Turns out he’d opened a sachet of tomato sauce that splashed up and hit him in the face, leaving him temporarily blinded.

The Gaffer was typically unsympathetic. “You should have been more careful, you silly old bugger,” he said.

“Aye,” said Kenny. “Heinz-sight’s a wonderful thing!”

That’s all from me for now, folks. Stay saucy. Bring carrots. Lots of love.