Dear Ruby,
Sorry about the leg. When word got out that you broke your leg again, your friends, your fans staggered for a moment, each one of us feeling the pain. Gerry Hogan stopped me in the paddock and we shared a moment of respect, while wincing, for a sportsman who we've seen fly and fail, all with the same determination.
See you soon,
Comrades in Arms
.............
Dear Pacha,
Uber's got nothing on you. You've carried a cyclist, a burgeoning
phenom and a broken-winged amateur over 9 15/16-miles of relentlessness and resolve.
Look Mom, no hands,
Safe Conveyance
........................
Dear Ms Parfois,
Sorry about Rathvinden, you were strong in running and in defeat.
It's one long hill,
No Loss in Defeat
...................
Dear Katie,
Your ride on Pylonthepressure was the ride of the meet. It was the hardest earned £2,925 at the Festival. I know you're an amateur, but if they're looking for gift ideas, I'd suggest a new neck strap.
Sliding to the knot,
Speed Bumps
...................
Dear Davy,
Great week. Tough week. I didn't know your mom, but after your description, I wish I did.
If I were teaching a young jockey about pace, I'd tell him to follow you. Well, other than in the Arkle (insert smiley face, wink-wink emoji). You are a legend, the calm in the storm, the feather in a room full of knives.
Oh, and by the way, it wasn't me who said, "Good job, Davy," as you walked back after falling in the Cross Country. If looks could kill? I did snap a photo, which is my favourite of the week.
Keep it rolling,
Awed Again
.............
Dear Harry and Bridget,
That kiss, oh that kiss...on horseback, mouth guards, on the neck..that kiss was better than Bogart and Bergman.
XOXOXOXO,
Smooched
...................
Dear Cue Card,
A friend of mine, Nick Finegold, who, evidently, goes to Cheltenham for the drinking and the betting asked me at the end of the week, "Clancy, what do you do all day? We see you early and then we don't see you again until late.? I tried to explain that I go racing, but it fell flat, he just looked at me blankly.
Later that evening, George Baker (the trainer, not the jockey) brought up your name. I jumped out of my seat and described the scene.
"That was the best..the best moment of the whole week...that was Istabraq in 2002...See More Business in 2003..that's what Cheltenham is all about..that's what National Hunt racing is all about..
The Ryanair is over, Balko Des Flos and Un De Sceaux are long gone up the hill and there... Cue Card cantering along the outside rail, a slow lope, head up, turned toward the crowd, ears forward, almost like he was looking across at his friends, like he was waving goodbye from the rail of a ship..he was taking it all in, just like we were taking it all in, the crowd clapped, erupted as he passed, all the way to the gap to go back to the paddock, down the chute, into the unsaddling enclosure, we cheered..I yelled, ..Cuuuuuuue Card..Cuuuuuuuuue Card...Cuuuuuuuuuuuue Card..."
LEFT: Cue Card returns after pulling up in the Ryanair
Baker turned to Finegold, and said, "That's what he does."
Thanks for the memories,
The Good Life
.................
Dear U.S. Customs,
When you asked if I was close to livestock on the customs form, I checked the 'no' box. I wasn't close to livestock. I was close to greatness.
No mud on my shoes,
Respect
.................................
Dear Laurina,
You were most impressive in the paddock - loved your swagger - and on the racecourse - loved your power coming down the hill and up the hill. While impressed, I do wonder about the legitimacy of a mares novice hurdle at Cheltenham.
Beware parity,
Mysilv, Solerina, Flakey Dove, Shawiya and the rest of the girls
....................
Dear Pat,
Some season with Presenting Percy. Beginners chase, novice chase, handicap chase, Grade 2 hurdle, Grade 2 chase, RSA Chase..You legend. Some horse, some trainer,
Throwback
.....................
Dear Apple's Jade,
I watched it right behind Eddie, he didn't curse or scream or kick the ground.
No hard feelings,
Still Loved
................
Dear Footpad,
There is always one jump that defines the week, your second-to-last, directly across from us, when you skipped off the ground like a kid across a puddle, that was it. We raised our hands, arms, drinks as you soared for the simple reason that you could.
You are a jet plane,
Arkled
................
Dear Kalashnikov,
No problem, buddy.
I still love you,
Chasing Awaits
...............
Dear Relegate,
Sorry about writing ?pony? across your name in my programme.
I stand corrected,
Blinded
...................
Dear HIT Buyers,
What were we doing when Veneer Of Charm brought 16,000gns and Mohaayed fetched 32,000gns?
Diamonds in the Rough
.........
Dear Mark,
You must be living right. Congratulations on your first Cheltenham win.
Welcome to the club (not that I?m in the club),
Right Place, Right Time
...........
Dear Valdez,
Did that just happen? The veering to the right, OK. Losing Wayne Hutchinson, ... happens. But, did you have to run the whole race loose?
And, yes, I noticed that you actually won the race.
Surreally,
Disappointed
.....................
Dear Lizzie, Bryony and Katie,
Not sure where you learned to talk to the press but, thank you, you represent the sport well, dogged determination and heartfelt emotion all wrapped into one.
Thank you,
Impressed
............................
Dear Dickie,
What a ride. What a ride. What a ride. There are days when I watch you ride and think you're too aggressive, too much kicking, too much sending. Not on Friday at Cheltenham. The sport rewards the brave and you and Native River were the bravest. If you see Native River, give him a pat for me.
Deservedly,
Long, Longer and Longest
................
Dear Altior,
Sorry I doubted you. I've never seen a horse go from, ..How far is he going to lose by..to ..How far is he going to win by...in a matter of strides. We knew you were talented, now we know you're tenacious. Thank God I'm not on Betfair,
Shamed.
.......
Dear Barry,
Be careful patting Dickie Johnson on the back so fast, you nearly toppled Native River at the end of the Gold Cup. Two respectful jockeys, two tired horses.
P.S., great job on your double.
Stay straight,
A Handshake will Do
..................
Dear young jockeys,
Keep your weight in your heels, you're so aggressive, bordering on desperate, in the finish that you swing your legs so far they nearly touch at the back of the saddle. This doesn't work, you lose your balance, you lose your strength. If you watch Ruby, AP, Barry..their heels stay low, their calves grip, they urge and push without scooting and booting.
The longer you ride, the longer you ride,
Head up, Elbows in, Heels down
...........
Dear Mossback, Report To Base, Sandsend, Some Plan, Dresden and North Hill Harvey,
Sorry, you incredible, giving servants.
Never forgotten,
Empty
..................
Dear Simon Claisse and everyone at Cheltenham,
Somehow you make it look easy.
The enormity never dawned on me until the day JT fell and never rose, we walked out of the track that day, laughing, guffawing after another lark at Cheltenham. As we walked .. staggered .. I saw you, Simon, skitter past. Suit still buttoned, you were stone-faced, moving with alacrity and purpose. We yelled to you, you gave us a curt wave. Only on the car ride home, with the air ambulance fluttering above us, did we learn of the tragedy. Only then, did your eyes, your actions as we went home and you went to work, make sense.
It dawned on me that day, the responsibility of putting on the show. It's an enormous burden, an awesome responsibility.
An anthill just looks like a hill of sand until you think about the ants.
A Fan for Life