The Old Race returns to the league this week here is the race from the past..


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaKkTQQ16-c

Martin I imagine would love this and it's right that he should be calling it

Cheers Gray always signalled the start of the proper jumps season The Mackeson.

I love watching them old races on youtube and have to admit that saddo that I am I quite often watch some after the SO6 races. There is a ton of stuff on there, some that even have extended pre race footage. It is amazing to see the changing attitudes in only 20 or 30 years.

For instance, jockeys putting up overweight was the norm. John Francome was riding Burrough Hill Lad in a Welsh National and Richard Pitman calmly announced "still not sure how much overweight he'll put up, probably 6 pounds. In an early 70s National the overweight notices were on just about every horse, some as high as a stone.

Funniest one I have see recently was, I think, Wayward Lad's first King George. Red hot race with Night Nurse, Silver Buck and Fifty Dollars More plus an outsider ridden by a lady amateur. Oaksey, whilst doing his pre race analysis calmly says "She's a competent horse woman but I hope she keeps out of everybody's way and doesn't cause any problems".

On a more recent note ITV racing gaffs of the week last week. Hayley "do you know what" Turner - "I wonder if Lester stands in the paddock and wishes he could still get his leg over" and Johnny Murtagh "he's got an awful lot between his legs there"

Martin the Mercedez Benz Chase was always the start of the jumps season for me.

Good point. Was that a couple of weeks earlier than the Mackeson ?

I miss all those old races The Massey-Ferguson, The Whitbread, even sponsorships like Philip Cornes Nickel Alloys and Edinburgh Woollen Mill make me smile when I see them. The Ainsley China Cup, The Peter Cazelet. Some great handicaps like The Extel and The Andy Capp Handicap. I still remember The Racing Post Trophy being The Observer Gold Cup and the novice hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival were called The Gloucester Hurdle and they split them into 2 divisions. I have all the form books going back to 1941, some of the old names are great.

We need an expert scheduler to recreate a season from the olden days. Could even put the names of the old horses in but it would probably take weeks !!

Panama Cigar Novices hurdle I think these were qualifiers I could look into it lol Summer special Schedule over 6 weeks now that would be using horse files already uploaded something Thrown out amongst Trainers a Mix Schedule Flat And Jumps.