Barney's Blog
- 18-Aug-2025: Latest News from Denton Hall Stables the home of Michael Dods Racing
- 05-Aug-2025: Langholm scores all-the-way victory at Catterick for Dods Racing Club
- 29-Jul-2025: A dozen winners in July as Homeland strikes at Ripon under Connor Beasley
- 28-Jul-2025: Boy Douglas makes it a double for Connor Beasley and owner Frank Lowe at Ayr
- 28-Jul-2025: Stable's 10th winner in July as Mighty Magnus strikes at Ayr
- 26-Jul-2025: Novamay defies 21lbs rise in the handicap to make it three on the bounce with victory at Windsor
- 21-Jul-2025: Boy Douglas wins for the third time at Ayr
- 19-Jul-2025: King's Crown makes it four for 2025 under Rhys Elliott ride at Doncaster
- 15-Jul-2025: Brazilian Belle wins for the Dods Racing Club at Thirsk under Paul Mulrennan
- 14-Jul-2025: Novamay follows up Ripon success with victory at Ayr under Rhys Elliott
- 10-Jul-2025: Mayberry Moon wins for Elwick Stud at Carlisle
- 07-Jul-2025: Storming display as Novamay wins by nine lengths under Mason Patael at Ripon
- 07-Jul-2025: Taygar strikes at Ayr under Danny Tudhope
- 04-Jul-2025: Seventh career win for Emeralds Pride under Jason Hart at Beverley
It all Falls into place for my mate Commy
Hello everyone. Barney McGrew, the legendary equine blogger, here again.
I wasn’t going to bother with a blog this weekend because, quite frankly, I couldn’t be arsed. But, in the end, I just had to pay tribute to my old mate Commanche Falls after his epic run to win the Group 3 bet363 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.
Did you see the race? He looked like he had no chance a couple of furlongs out but the thing with Commy – as I like to call him – is that he’s got the heart of a lion.
And what a ride by the Connor human! He never panicked and went for the gap with expert timing to land the victory. What a bloody team they are.
What you may not know is that me and Commy are closely related. His mother is Joyeaux, who won six races when she was trained by a human called Ollie Pears. Well, Joyeaux’s sire was Mark of Esteem – who happens to be my dad! He was owned by Godolphin and his victories included the 1996 Two Thousand Guineas. As you can imagine, I’m dead proud of him.
Anyway, I was chatting to Commy when he got back to Denton Hall last night and he was telling me he hated the softer ground down at Newbury. He won despite that, and I reckon there’s even better to come from him.
WHAT a shame that today’s meeting at Redcar got cancelled because of the heavy rain. Who’d have thought it at the end of July, eh? The bloody British weather is a right pain in the arse.
It was meant to be the Circus Family Fun Day at Redcar, so it’s a real shame for the families who were planning to bring their kids to The Big Top to learn circus skills like carrot-juggling.
It’s also a shame for my mate Vortigan, who was due to run at Redcar. I reckon he’d have won as well because he’s been looking good on the gallops lately. Never mind, Vorty, your time will come.
INSTEAD of going to the Circus at Redcar, I suppose it means that the humans will have to stay at home and watch all those clowns at The Open.
I mean, what a bloody carry on! You get all these humans walking miles, hitting a little ball into a hole with a bag of sticks.
And every time, one of them tees off, some other humans shout: “GET IN THE HOLE!” They need a good hoof up the backside if you ask me. And they call us horses dumb animals!
ONE of our owners, who shall remain nameless, was playing golf the other day but he’d been absolutely useless.
As he walked up the 18th, he spotted a lake and said to his playing partner. “I’ve played so badly, I think I’m going to drown myself in that lake.”
Quick as a flash, the other bloke replied: “I’m not sure you could keep your head down that long!”
Anyway, folks, that’s all from me for this week - here's a picture of Commy winning at Newbury. Bring carrots!
Lots of love,
