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
Simply having a wonderful Christmas rhyme
Evening all,
Barney McGrew here – equine superstar, literary genius.
So, this is my final blog of 2023 and I wanted to sign off by saying I hope you had a nice Christmas, and to wish you all a Happy New Year.
I’ll be honest, I prefer a quiet Christmas these days. I had a wander down to the pub on Christmas Eve and, on my way back, I passed a hot fudge sundae, a lemon cheesecake, and a slice of apple pie. I thought to myself: “Blimey these streets are strangely desserted tonight!”
Then, on Christmas Day, I had a few extra carrots for my dinner, pulled a few crackers with Commanche Falls, had a game of Scrabble with Dakota Gold (I won), then watched The King’s Speech before settling down in my stable for a bit of the Strictly special.
If I’m honest, my presents were a bit iffy this year. I’m definitely going to have to return the camouflage saddle-cloth the Sophie human bought me. I just can’t see myself wearing it!
Knowing that I like to write, the Chloe human bought me a pen that writes underwater. Mind you, it can write other words too!
Having said all that, I hear relations were a bit strained in ‘the big house’ over the festive period. The Gaffer asked my Carole what she wanted for Christmas. “Nothing would make me happier than a diamond necklace,” she replied. So, he bought her nothing.
To be honest, it’s all a bit much for me these days. After all, I’m gonna be 21 in the New Year, so I’m happy to take it easy.
Mind you, I did summon the energy to write my annual review of the year in rhyme. It’s not easy giving a mention to every bloody horse that’s won a race for the stable in 2023 – but here goes:
Before I go, a few predictions for 2024…
I reckon Azure Blue – or Bluey as I like to call her – will bounce back from her setback last season and prove herself to be a Group 1 filly. Wouldn’t that be something for those nice humans Peter Appleton and Anne Elliott?
Commanche Falls will have another fantastic season, except he’ll go even higher and bag a Group 2. Mark my words – we haven’t seen the best of Commy just yet. What a legend!
And it wouldn’t surprise me to see good old Dakota Gold – Goldy – have a last hurrah as a 10-year-old, once he’s on the right mark for a horse his age.
As for me, I’m planning to work hard at keeping fit. In fact, I was talking to my gym instructor the other day, and I said him: “Can you teach me to do the splits?”
“How flexible are you?” he asked, so I told him: “I can’t do Tuesdays.”
That’s all from me for 2023 folks, have a wonderful, peaceful New Year.
Bring carrots. Lots of love,
