Barney's Blog
- 20-Apr-2024: Latest News from Denton Hall Stables the home of Michael Dods Racing
- 02-Apr-2024: Close Connection loses his maiden tag in the mud at Pontefract
- 25-Mar-2024: William Pyle gets Stallone up on the line for second Newcastle win of 2024
- 09-Mar-2024: Members of Denton Hall Racing and Dods Racing Club enjoy stable visit
- 01-Mar-2024: Abruzzo Mia and Sean Kirrane get March off to a flyer at Newcastle
- 25-Jan-2024: Marcello Si wins for the second time this year at Newcastle under Clifford Lee
- 17-Jan-2024: Stallone goes in at Newcastle under William Pyle for our third win of 2024
- 04-Jan-2024: 2024 gets off to cracking start as Marcello Si and Hale End land Newcastle double under Clifford Lee
Derby Day memories
Evening all,
Did you watch The Derby today? What a bloomin' turn up for the books that was!
Who’d have thought Serpentine would lead them a merry dance like that? He just kept on going and, before the humans realised what was happening, the bird had flown.
Remember the name because it'll be a quiz question in years to come: who won the lockdown Derby?
Well done to the Aidan O’Brien human – that’s a record-breaking eight Epsom Derby victories for him. I’m pleased for Galileo too – he’s now sired five winners of the great race. And big congratulations to winning jockey Emmet McNamara.
It was also nice to see Galileo’s daughter, Love, win The Oaks a bit earlier. Another triumph for the O’Brien team over in Ireland, and she looks a smasher. Nice name too. We all need a bit of Love in our lives.
Anyway, it all brought back some fond memories of my grandad, Shirley Heights, winning the Derby in 1978 in a driving finish from Hawaiian Sound. He was trained by John Dunlop and what a ride old Greville Starkey gave him.
Here you go, have a look back. You’d never think he was going to win coming down the home straight, would you? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqNuk3nxCao
And then, of course, my great-grandad, the immortal Mill Reef, won the Derby in 1971. A human called Geoff Lewis rode him and he won well from a horse called Linden Tree. Here’s how the race panned out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIUEdoQfs6M
Yes, Mill Reef will always be remembered as one of the all-time greats.
Obviously, I wasn’t born back then but the family has always been proud of what they achieved, and I’ve been hearing stories about them since I was a foal. I might ask the Carole human if I can have some photos of them in my stable. She’d do anything for me. Got her wrapped round my hoof.
Talking of great horses, I’m looking forward to seeing Enable run in the Coral Eclipse at Sandown tomorrow. You’ve got to make the most of these legends while they’re still running, and she’s a superstar.
Oh, and I mustn’t forget my old friend, Dakota Gold, who’s also running down at Sandown tomorrow. The horses have been doing the yard proud lately, with First Greyed and Royal Context winning last week, so here’s hoping Dakota can get back to winning ways and keep a smile on the Michael human’s face.
He’s the gaffer, he buys our grub, and if he’s happy, we’re all happy.
Take care everyone, lots of love and kisses.
