Barney's Blog

Golden wonder

Evening all, Barney McGrew here again - pure equine magnificence.

Well, I can’t let the week pass without paying tribute to my old mate Dakota Gold, or Goldy as I like to call him. As you may have seen, Goldy won at Ripon during the week, making it 17 career wins in 72 runs. He’s also been second or third 20 times. What a horse!

What you dumb humans may not have realised is that me and Goldy are closely related. My dad was Mark of Esteem, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas in 2,000. Mark Of Esteem was also Dakota Gold’s grandad - the sire of his mum, Joyeaux. Therefore, Goldy knows me as ‘Uncle Barney’, and we’ve always had a soft spot for each other.

Goldy’s 11 now but he still loves his racing. I watch him on the gallops - that lovely Sophie human always rides him - and she has her work cut out curbing his enthusiasm.

When he won at Ripon on Thursday, the Connor Beasley human was in the saddle and they were out of the stalls faster than Tthe Andrew Miller human makes for the exit in the pub whenever it’s his round. Tight git.

Even though the ground at the North Yorkshire track was faster than Goldy likes, he was still too quick for them to land a blow. He’s bound to go up in the handicap now but there’s still more victories in him before he retires. I’d love to see him reach 20 career wins - wouldn’t that be something?

Don’t forget I won my last race as a 12-year-old, so it’s perfectly possible we’ll still see him running next year and, who knows, maybe 2027.

Well done, Goldy, old lad. Uncle Barney’s proud of ya!

Above: Dakota Gold with owners Doug Graham, Alan Drysdale, and Ian Davison 

IT was nice to read that ‘owners’ spotlight’ article on the nice John Sagar human the other day.

He owns or co-owns quite a few at Denton Hall: Pol Roger (or Polly as I like to call him); Billy No Mates (plain Billy to me); and Woven (or Wovy as I like to call him). John says his ambition is to win the Ayr Silver Cup with Wovy - I’d bloody love to see that.

Meanwhile, John also shares an unraced young ‘un, called Our Randolph, in partnership with the Dave Stone human. Naturally, I like to call him Randy (the horse, that is, not Dave).

Anyway, it was very interesting to read how John built up his steel company from scratch and now employs loads of humans back in Blackburn while he and his lovely wife, Alwyn, enjoy a well-deserved rest.

I wish them good luck for the season ahead. Bring carrots next time you’re up this way please, John. There’s a good lad.

Above: John Sagar with his wife Alwyn

TALKING of carrots, I don’t like to get too political in this blog but I’m getting worried about that bloody Donald Trump human - the loud American with the unnaturally stiff mane that looks suspiciously like a hay bale.

If he dares to slap tariffs on carrots, I’m getting on the next flight to Washington to bite his lardy arse and kick him out of the White House. If he wants a trade war, he can bloody have one.

There - I’ve said it.

FINALLY - and don’t tell The Gaffer this - but I hear our Travelling Head Lad, the Kenny Williams human, is still looking for another job.

He was having an interview the other day and was asked: “What are your strengths, Mr Williams?”

“Well, you’ll find I’m very good at performing under pressure,” replied Kenny.

“Excellent,” said the interviewer, who was about to offer him the job as a Lollipop Man.

He changed his mind when Kenny added: “And I also do a decent Bohemian Rhapsody!”

HAVING missed out on the Lollipop Man's job, Kenny is now thinking about launching his own business, running the world’s first dating site for chickens.

“Whatcha doing that for?” the Lauren Mulholland human asked him.

“I’m just trying to make hens meet!” he explained.

THAT’S all from me, folks. Hope you have a clucky Easter if you're having a bet. Lots of love. Bring carrots.