Horses

Ah, so you're a horses man (or woman), are yea'? Welcome to the www.francome.com Guide to Winning on the Horses ... simply send me £10 and I promise to put that on a dead cert and send you the winnings. Only joking, as my Dad is always quick to point out - punting is a mug's game. But a day at the races is always a grand occasion, whether it be a wet day at Pontefract or an afternoon strolling around the Royal Enclosure at Ascot. And if you can, using skilful selection criteria based on the latest scientific techniques, manage to pick a few winners then that makes the experience all the better. Here at www.francome.com we can often be found browsing through the Racing Post and are happy to share our knowledge of the "Sport of Kings" with you.

Below are profiles of several racing celebrities; more will follow as we compile our insider exclusives, drawing on our extensive contacts in the racing world.

 

John Francome

Yes, I know we've done him already on the Famous Francomes page, but we couldn't resist giving his racing career a closer look. Now best known as a presenter and racing expert on Channel Four Racing, John Francome's achievements as a National Hunt jockey are the stuff of legend. He is a seven time winner of the National Hunt jockeys championship (1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985). The 1982 title is actually shared with Peter Scudamore due an act of sportsmanship that has few parallels in modern sport; championship leader Scudamore was injured late in the season and John refused to take any more rides once he had matched his rival's tally for the season.

Career highlights include winning the Champion Hurdle (on Sea Pigeon in 1981), the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Midnight Court, 1978) and the King George VI Chase (twice, Wayward Lad in 1982 and, two years later, Burrough Hill Lad). After retiring from the saddle he dabbled in training before moving on to full-time TV work and writing. Speaking of writing, you can find all of John's books (and many more) at Amazon - if you are planning to purchase something then please use the link at the bottom of this page and make us at www.francome.com very rich indeed. Although the Amazon link also appears on the Famous Francomes page, I have noticed that not very many of you have used it. When I say not many I actually mean zero. The patter of tiny feet has been heard here at www.francome.com (no, not Pat Eddery) and we need that cash, so get clicking. Oh, and John is a noted worker for charity and was awarded the MBE in 1986.

The Flying Fenton Brothers - Micky and Barry Fenton

Not, strictly speaking, Francomes, but related through marriage (at least Micky is). Michael Fenton is one of Britain and Ireland's foremost flat jockeys, a Group One winner and probably one of the worst tipsters in the game. Micky rides for leading trainers James Given, Michael Bell and Hughie Morrison, among others, and has ridden winners in the USA, Australia, the Far East and across Europe. He is particularly popular in Milan, where he has an amazing strike rate at the San Siro (the race track next to the, considerably larger, football ground). Whenever he is in Milan he stops by to visit the Italian Francomes. The Limerick Pony Club must be justly proud of his achievements.

You can get more information about Micky at the Jockey's Association of Great Britain. Other racing websites that we are happy to recommend are the Injured Jockeys Fund and the Jockey Club. The Injured Jockeys Fund is a particularly good place to shop for gifts and the proceeds go to a very good cause (after which you may still have money left over to buy a book at Amazon). The Jockey Club is a good place to find out why your horse was disqualified and what Rule 28 (XII)(g) means (here's a clue - the 1993 Grand National).

Not only are the Fentons a famous Irish family with a long sporting heritage, Micky's brother, Barry Fenton, is a leading National Hunt jockey. In fact, they are the only brothers to have both won a Lester award (the equine version of the Oscar). Barry has won several major jump races, his biggest win to date was on board Eulogy to land the 1999 Whitbread Gold Cup. You can read Barry's personal profile at the Jockey's Association of Great Britain. Barry is pictured here (left) before the race has even started. Currently Barry rides for several leading trainers, including Richard Rowe and the up-and-coming Emma Lavelle (a recent finalist in Channel Four's "Top Racing Totty").

As well as the links provided above, we can recommend the following sites; The Jockey's Room provides information on a diverse list of jockeys (including many from outside Britain and Ireland) and includes photographs, personal profiles and links. For an alternative view on racing and the bloodstock industry, try RaceHorse.com. You can find details on a selected list of trainers at the Racehorse trainers site and Nashwan Links provides a comprehensive list of links to UK racing websites. And National Hunt racing is well served by UK Jumping. Finally, the good old Sporting Life is alive and well (if only on the Internet).

Update 08/2006: "Muscles" Micky piloted Speciosa to win the 2006 1,000 Guineas. Speciosa is trained by Pam Sly and this win represents a tremendous "David versus Goliath" story - a triumph achived despite the best efforts of racing's "big guns" and the financial resources that they are able to call upon.

There are plenty of articles on the web regarding the race, but the Guardian do their usual sterling job and there is a personal summary of the day at Turf Travels, along with some good photos. This was Micky's second Group One winner thus far and Speciosa is primed for some big races later in the year. If you have a userid then you can review the video coverage of the full race via the Racing Post website.

 

Right: a smiling Micky and a perky Speciosa enjoy their triumph.