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    On one's tod

On one's tod (Sloan)

Rhyming slang for " alone "  - on one's own. 

Tod Sloan was a successful American jockey that came to England in 1897. A very popular jockey who rode for King Edward VII. He was banned in 1901 and faded from the public eye.  

John Lawrence was a very successful amateur steeplechase jockey who later became Lord Oaksey.

 His book John Lawrence's  " World of Racing " was published in 1970. It contends an article on breeding and the dream of John Hislop to breed a champion from the line of Pretty Polly. One of the great British racehorses, she won The Oaks in 1904. It mentions that John Hislop eagerly awaits the progress of a filly of the pedigree foaled in 1970 called " Fille de Joie ". Unfortunately she did not emulate her ancestor

Ironically a two page photograph of " Brigardier Gerard " winning the Champagne Stakes at Salisbury is shown in the article. Brigardier Gerard was also of  Pretty Polly stock and bred by John Hislop.  Brigardier Gerard won the 2000 guineas the following year beating Mill Reef, who subsequently won the Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Both were truly two of the very great British racehorses.

Ass Racing was advertised to take place at Trowse, Norwich in 1783

newspaper extract

It is fairly common knowledge that Good Friday fell on Boxing Day but where and when ?

Obviously 26th December,  at Wolvehampton in 1899. 

A national character, probably the most famous black man in Gt. Britain of his time, Ras Prince Monolulu was best known as a racecourse tipster. Dressed in ornate clothing wearing ostrich feathers he would cry " I gotta horse, I gotta horse". I recall seeing him at Gt.Yarmouth races in the late fifties. He achieved fame after backing Spion Kop 100-6 for  the 1920 Derby winning £8000 

Although he claimed to have been a Tribal Chief in Abyssinia / Ethiopia he probably came from Guyana. His real name was Peter Carl McKay (1881 - 1965). He was interned in Germany during WW1 and at some time worked there as a model. Before turning tipster he also worked in Europe as a fortune teller, boxer and passed as an opera singer.     MP3

Both Fred Archer and Dick Francis rode their first winner at Bangor races. Fred Archer won a pony race.  

comments: peter@thorndyke.f2s.com

Ass Racing, Norwich

Good Friday

unknown source

    Prince Monolulu

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