Superstition we have about racing

 Jockeys are just one of the many sportsmen and women who are prone to  Superstition.

A prime example  is Graham Thorner, who after winning the Grand National in 1972 on Well to Do, chose to wear the same pair of underpants for every race he ever competed in from that point on. They eventually became so disintegrated that he had to wear another pair over them to stop them from falling down!

When Dick Saunders won the National in 1982 on Grittar he made sure himself and his wife were wearing the exact same outfits as they had worn when travelling to Aintree the previous year for the Fox Hunters' Chase. 

Mick Fitzgerald always thought of number 7 as his lucky number, and it was indeed true that Rough Quest was No 7 when he won the Grand National. 

Timmy Murphy always dons his right boot before his left one,never leaves the weighing room first

 John Buckingham who rode the Grand National winner Foinavon always takes care to wave at magpies. 

It's not just the jockeys who have superstitions ? owners, relations of the riders and trainers are also prone to a bit of superstition. Noel Furlong, the owner and trainer of Reynoldstown, when on his way to the race at Aintree in 1935 passed a funeral en route. Reynoldstown won the race and legend has it that the following year Furlong drove around Liverpool looking for a funeral procession. It worked as Reynoldstown won again, as Davy Jones (who looked extremely likely to win), rann out at the last minute as the buckle on his reins broke.

In 1985 Richard Dunwoody rode West Tip at his first National and fell at Becher's Brook. His parents who had attended the race decided that they had brought bad luck upon him and never went to the National again! Maybe their ruse worked as he went on to establish himself as an exceptional record in the National.

The majority of the jockeys who win at the National will insist on having the same peg in the changing room for the rest of their racing career. 

However the most superstitious of all people involved in the Grand National is Jim Lewis  when his Best Mate was due to run in the Gold Cup he would not leave his home until he found a vehicle registration plate that added up to 25. And when Best Mate scored his 3rd successive Gold Cup, Lewis insisted on travelling by the same route, carrying his lucky knitted black cat and wearing his lucky black overcoat with Aston Villa tie and scarf!

 Ok  there are a few things that I like to have on my side --- when travelling to a track I like to see a car number plate 555 --- I don't like to see a number plate 444 - it must make a difference to my thinking  as seeing them relates to my wins (am totally convinced of this)

I Have to see any race that I have a bet in --- being called away from the television -- horse will fall or at the very least not be mentioned!  

one of my friends nearly always throws his ticket down on the ground if his horse is having a battle or hard time -- yep he did it and spent the best of 20 mins looking for the winning ticket! that does not stop him still doing it.

Have a friend who swears by -- Number five - green and yellow colours Lingfield handicaps. If his chosen horse fulfils that criteria he has to double his bet.  (never tested it but when it comes in he loves to say Told you so!)  

Another friend swears by not taking the lens caps of his binoculars onto the track.  Same guy has to stand in the same spot where he stood for his first winner that day.

 Pam has to wear blue to to the track - her stipulation not mine, Years ago we had a miserable days punting and she discovered she had left her blue scarf in  the car - two horses won that day - Blue heaven at 33/1  and Silky Blue 20/1  ( you can tell how long ago those races were!)

So let me know of any superstition you have and or know about 

Bob


 Going reports are up on the forum and beware there is  lot of heavy rain forecast for the tracks!!!