By Dave Johnson
Having grown up in Missouri and worked at tracks in Illinois, I have known hooligans who bragged about pushing cows over in fields. I hope they were just bragging.
But I have never heard anyone talk about pushing a racehorse over, with their hands or anything else. Sleeping or wide awake.
The “scene of the crime” is important in this case. For that I ask those of you who remember in Saratoga the spot on Union Avenue where horses cross from the Oklahoma training barns over the road to the main Saratoga track.
It always looked dangerous to me, but I never did hear of a horse being hit or pushed.
Well, here at Ascot racecourse outside London on Wednesday morning a star filly from Wesley Ward's list of invaders, Princess Peggy (Scat Daddy), was knocked over by a man on a bicycle!
You can't make this up.
The very good news is that the filly was tended to quickly, and the vets gave her a thumbs up–just a few superficial abrasions. Which means she will probably run on Friday in the six-furlong G3 Albany S., where she is 8-1, if she passes muster again by the vet.
That means Ward will have another chance to add to his two winners for this meeting, and nine Royal victories overall.
Another unusual thing happened at the racecourse Wednesday. A woman gave birth in Ascot Car Park #1. She deserves a trophy, too.
Speaking of trophies, Thursday's feature, the signature race of the meet, the G1 Ascot Gold Cup, has the tiniest trophy.
Maybe that is because it is real gold, and the owner gets to keep it. Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), trained by Michael Bell and ridden by James Doyle won the 20-furlong marathon by a nose.
Big sport, small country. Long race, small margin. Big race, small trophy. Go figure.
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