It was a day of mixed emotions as Mister McGoldrick said farewell to his beloved Wetherby Racecourse and his legion of fans who turned up to wish him well.

Mixed emotions yes....

Sadness at the thought of never being able to enjoy the spectacle of such a genuine horse.... racing and producing those prodigious leaps as he attacked his fences wherever and whenever he ran......always doing his best.... win or lose.... whatever the task.

Relief because history will show his "innings" as being NINETY ONE races not out, and there won`t  be a 92nd race, or 93rd etc., where, especially in the last 2 seasons, the thought of a "one race too many scenario," and having to live with the consequences afterwards, had increasingly played on my mind.

He can now retire with honour, fit and well and unscathed after a long career in which he made so many admirers throughout the Country in general, but  the North of England  in particular.

Finally happiness that Sue and I retired him at the right time AND place.....Wetherbys Boxing Day fixture....their biggest and best days racing of the season where McG won two Castleford Chases as well as SIX  other races, to return an impressive EIGHT wins out of his career total of FIFTEEN  at his favourite track.

Mister McGoldrick loved Wetherby, and Wetherby racegoers loved Mister McGoldrick, and I`m grateful to Chief Executive Jonjo Sanderson for allowing us to bring McG to be paraded both in the Ring and in front of the stands to great applause from spectators before being driven back to Craiglands Farm to hang up his boots/shoes before tucking into the enormous box of carrots with which he was presented by staff at the Racecourse.

Thats all for now, but I am already in the process of gathering as much TV footage as possible, together with many photographs of the big day, and I will get as much material as possible on to the website over the next few days.

Richard

FOR  DETAILS   REGARDING MISTER   MCGOLDRICKS RETIREMENT  APPEARANCE  AT  WETHERBY  RACECOURSE ON BOXING  DAY,

PLEASE GO TO     www.wetherbyracing.co.uk        look  for LATEST  NEWS  then click on   "Wetherby Course Specialist Retires"   for further details.

For those of you who don`t have the pleasure of having the Yorkshire Post delivered through your letterbox each morning, below is an excellent article from Tom Richmond, their Chief Sports Editor and  mega McGoldrick fan.

Hope you enjoy reading it.

Richard

Published on Friday 23 December 2011 08:36

Yorkshire’s most popular racehorse has been officially retired and will be paraded at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Owner Richard Longley spoke exclusively to Tom Richmond about the decision.

It was a telephone call that Richard Longley, the man lucky enough to own the evergreen Mister McGoldrick, both expected and dreaded from the horse’s ever pragmatic trainer Sue Smith – the ‘pipe and slippers’ conversation.

“She said ‘what do you think about retiring McGoldrick, and what about Wetherby on Boxing Day being the ideal stage to make it official’?” explained Longley as he weighed up the decision earlier this week.

“We talked about the options, of which there were a few – options such as racing in an all age handicap off a mark of 133. I did a little bit of thinking; there would be horses, aged eight and nine, in their prime. By the time they were born, McGoldrick had already won two Castleford Chases.

“It would be an unfair ask of a horse that had given so much. It was then we decided to pull up stumps. When he raced, I was a bag of nerves. With this decision, we’re not going to get the ‘one race too many’ syndrome for me to live with, and to have on my conscience. He retires with honour.”

The bare statistics fail to do justice to the 14-year-old veteran – Mister McGoldrick will be 15 on New Year’s Day – who won 15 of his 91 career starts, including an unprecedented eight races at his beloved Wetherby where he parades on Boxing Day.

He was bought by Longley from a Knaresborough butcher during the former’s recuperation from major heart surgery that was performed at Leeds General Infirmary by the surgeon Joe McGoldrick, hence the horse’s name.

Yet, if Longley, from Leeds, expected some relaxing days at the races, he was mistaken as his horse’s exuberance – honed at High Eldwick by Smith and her husband Harvey, the legendary showjumper – took Mister McGoldrick to the pinnacle of steeplechasing. Watching this majestic jumper spreadeagle his fences was not for the faint-hearted.

Two Castleford Chase victories; third place in the 2006 Queen Mother Champion Chase (when one Kauto Star crashed out); an emotional 66-1 Cheltenham Festival victory under Guiseley-born jockey Dominic Elsworth – and then an unforgettable final triumph, at the age of 13, in a Huntingdon veterans’ race.

Every person connected with the horse has their favourite moment, including those lucky enough to see Mister McGoldrick roaming with nature each summer on Baildon Moor.

As for Longley, it was watching his horse turning for home in the 2008 Racing Post Plate at Cheltenham. The day had not begun well.

“My daughter rang me up at 8am to say her car exhaust was falling off. She got to our house and I drove her to work in Harrogate,” he recalled.

“I got home and said to my wife Joanne that I couldn’t be bothered to go. He’d got no chance, he was 100-1 in some papers. Joanne gave me a kiss and told me not to be so silly. I’d got friends going down, she said, and I’d be letting them down, and the horse.

“Driving down, I couldn’t see the point. But, as we got to Cheltenham, and the rain started, that was the key. If it hadn’t come up soft, we would have struggled.

“I watched the race in a marquee on my own. Watching him and Dominic clear the second last, I just thought ‘Good God’. They were pulling further clear. You stand many times by the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham – you never think you will have a horse good enough to lead up. I’ll never forget it.”

Longley, who now runs the McGoldrick Partnership racing syndicates, credits both Sue and Harvey Smith with keeping the horse so “fit, well and happy”. Astonishingly for a yard steeped in National Hunt racing, it was the couple’s first Festival victory – and it still means a lot to them.

This correspondent had the privilege to be standing by Harvey Smith at Haydock last November when Mister McGoldrick won his final race – his wife was leading the horse up at Huntingdon. The crowd grew, quietly, around the televisions by the Tote booth as a motionless Smith watched his stable star – and Elsworth, who was on his own comeback from a serious injury – return victorious.

One could sense Smith’s pride. Behind the tough exterior was a sentimentalist at heart; indeed those congratulating him appeared more taken with McGoldrick’s race 150 miles away than Imperial Commander’s Betfair Chase victory.

There was the usual dig at the handicapper “Why don’t you recognise the horse’s age?” That’s Harvey – and the BHA expect it.

Yet Mister McGoldrick only stayed at the top for so long because he thrived at Sue and Harvey Smith’s no-frills stables. His like will not be seen again for a long time. 

The decision has been made for Mister McGoldrick to be retired at Wetherbys Boxing Day meeting.

Sue Smith phoned me about ten days ago to say it was time to seriously consider the right time to retire McG and she suggested Wetherbys Boxing Day meeting as an ideal time and place to officially end his career.

My first reaction was that of shock and sadness, but it didn`t take long for  those feelings to turn to relief and contentment in the knowledge that this wonderful horse of mine had run his 91st and last race, and survived, unscathed to enjoy a long, active and happy retirement.

I was very much aware that had we kept him going, his chances of winning a race aged 14/15 and off a handicap mark of 133 and taking on younger horses in their prime, was always going to be an extremely big ask, which prompted the unthinkable  thought in my mind of the one race too many scenario, and having to live with the consequences.

Veterans races were therefore a preferred option in our plans to keep him racing, and a repeat of his 2010 success in the Huntingdon veterans race of 2011 was originally in our minds until we learnt that Huntingdon racecourse had withdrawn this annual event from their programming plans.

This left an end of year veterans race at Haydock, which most likely, win or lose, would have been his final race, especially as he won his very first ever race there on the 22nd Sept 2000.

But I finally came to agree with Sue that there was no need for him to retire in a blaze of glory IF ....and it would have been a big IF...he had raced, and won at Haydock.

It was then that I began to agree with Sues suggestion wholeheartedly.....I had always told her it would be her decision when to retire him anyway.....and what better place to celebrate such a distinguished career than at Wetherby racecourse, Mister McGoldricks spiritual home, where he won a magnificent EIGHT of his FIFTEEN career successes including TWO Castleford Chases.

Jonjo Sanderson and his staff at Wetherby have always been great fans of the old boy...and made me most welcome as well !!  so now that I`ve come to terms with the fact that McG`s racing days are over, I can relax and enjoy the old boys "send off" that will happen there on Boxing Day.

So its the end of an era for McG and everyone involved with him, but its nice to know that after 91 races he retires fit and well and best of all unscathed and non the worse for all his magnificent efforts.

There will be more "add ons" to this blog over the next few days, but in the meantime I would love to hear from anyone who has followed Mister McGoldricks career over the years and would like to add a comment.  Just click on the "add comment"  link below.

Richard

The form book will show that Mister McGoldrick, in his seasonal reappearance at Wetherby, was last of seven to finish in the Bet 365 2ml 4f Class 1 handicap for FOUR year olds and upwards...and upwards....and upwards in order  to accommodate my old fella who, now rising FIFTEEN, continues to belie his years with his genuine enthusiasm for jumping fences.

From the horses perspective, he just loves to get out there and perform and at Wetherby he thoroughly enjoyed the experience of, yet again, jumping the SIXTEEN obstacles he faced with  undiminished  enthusiasm....breathtaking at times as he sees a stride,  stands off and provides superb action shot material for those photographers standing by the wings of the fences, and breathtaking also for young Shane Byrne who was in the saddle and who confessed on dismounting for it to be an absolute privilege to ride McGoldrick.

But there are some who will have seen his race, some who will have just looked at the result in the newspaper and seen that Mister McGoldrick finished last of 7 finishers, beaten 30 lengths, and will say that his winning days are over, so why the hell don`t they retire him.

TELL THAT TO MISTER MCGOLDRICK. He doesn`t get birthday cards telling him he`ll  be drawing his pension soon old fella, and don`t you think its about time to hang up your boots.

ASK SUE AND HARVEY SMITH....ASK ASSISTANT TRAINER AND JOCKEY HENRY OLIVER....ASK WORK RIDERS RYAN, JOHN, SHANE AND OTHERS.

They would tell you that McG would hate NOT to be involved with his life as a racehorse, and even at 14 nearing 15, there is no more willing or enthusiastic horse in training at Craiglands Farm than you know who, so it would be pointless to retire him.

BUT, as most people will agree....in order to continue to race any horse, there has to be belief by connections that their horse is capable of winning. Thats the object of the sport....indeed any sport.

In my opinion McG`s first run of the season at Wetherby was not too dissimilar to his first run last year....in the same race !!  He took the lead on the bend approaching the straight, stayed on, but was no match for the younger horses.

His next race ?  he came out and easily won a veterans Chase at Huntingdon.

Pity there aren`t more veterans races on offer, but nevertheless the Handicapper now must surely fall into line and take the publics view that  an official rating of 138 for a 14 yo is bloody ridiculous...and act accordingly.

If he does, then the door may be opened for McG to race, and be competitive against younger horses off a sensible and realistic mark.

What do you think?

You can respond by clicking on the "add comments" link below and let me have your opinions.

Richard

Throughout the summer I have received many emails from Mister McGoldricks  legions of followers asking if McG will race again.

As many of you know, after his race at Cheltenham on New Years Day he came back with a slight leg injury. Nothing serious but Sue decided not to risk racing him again too soon, and as there weren`t that many opportunities once the desperate winter conditions had relented, Sue decided to give him plenty of time to fully recover and so he was despatched firstly to the paddocks and then the moors for his summer break.

The decision as to whether or not  McG will race again has never been mine to make. Sue and Harvey adore my horse and quite simply they will be the ones McGoldrick will tell when he decides he`s ready for his pipe and slippers.

The latest word from Craiglands Farm in a conversation on 10th August is that McG has been back in training for 6/7 weeks, he looks an absolute picture,  is just as strong, keen and enthusiastic as ever....the slight injury he carried has gone, and as long as he continues to take everyones breath away by the way he responds to his work.....he still wants to "play out" when the others have cried enough..... we will be looking to race him at Wetherby in a two and a half mile chase around October time.

McG is an amazing horse and its a privilege to own him.   Let me have your thoughts, you can email me on  themanorbarn@yahoo.co.uk

Richard

Due to a nagging foot injury it has been decided to abandon any hope or prospect of McG racing again this season.

He is extremely well in himself but for a while has been slightly lame in a front foot.  Veterinary examinations have shown nothing seriously amiss with the old boy, but the fact is he`s not right....end of story.

I had a long chat with Sue this morning and she is adamant it would be inappropriate at this stage to announce his retirement  because of his continuing, and seemingly endless enthusiasm for the job he does best.

So he will, for the next few months, remain under the watchful eyes of Sue and Harvey, begin his summer holiday a bit earlier than usual, after which, if the foot problem has been resolved by time, rest and patience, he may well come under starters orders again in a veterans race towards the back end of this year.

For those who may doubt the wisdom of postponing the decision of his retirement, needlessly prolonging the inevitable you might say,  let me say that Sue Smith thinks the world of McGoldrick , knows and understands him better than anyone, and I`m comfortable with leaving  McG`s racing future....if indeed he has one...at Sue`s discretion.

Richard

Some of you have been emailing to ask if Mister McGoldrick will run in the Byrne Group Plate at the Festival meeting, the race which he won in 2008.

The answer is no he won`t be there.

An entry has been made but Sue and I discussed the situation and we agreed to abandon the idea.

For my part it would have been great for him to run, but my reasons for him to go to the Festival would have been based on such things as sentiment and nostalgia whereas the real and proper reasoning for a decision to be made should be based on logic and common sense.

At fourteen, and with nothing to prove to me, Sue or anyone else in the world of NH racing, it would be ill judged to expect him to compete at the highest level against younger horses, many of which were probably not even born when McG won his first hurdle race back in 1999/2000.

No doubt he would go there and give his best, as he always has done, but even though my heart was uncertain, my head, in no uncertain terms was telling me to forget it, and whilst some may disagree, I feel that the decision not to run him will be perceived by the vast majority of McG supporters and national hunt enthusiasts as the right thing to do.

This however is not, as yet, an announcement of his retirement.

The situation is as its been for a long time now, is that McG will let Sue know when he`s ready to hang up his boots, and until then we will keep our eyes open for perhaps another veterans race for him, though It must be said that after yesterdays veteran race at Newbury when another wonderful veteran Erics Charm broke a leg and had to be put down, its not difficult to take the view that maybe sooner, rather than later would be the right decision.

What do you think?  Please add your comments below.

Richard

Sue Smith has just phoned to say McG will NOT run in the veterans Chase at Doncaster next Wednesday 23rd Feb.

A minor foot injury has not fully responded to treatment and he is still slightly lame so, disappointed as I am, deep down I was worried about the 3ml trip, a distance over which he has never won, and the likely prospect of one or two specialist 3 milers in the field.

So its got to be que sera sera with McG and we`ll have to wait for another day for him.

Disappointment is tempered by the fact that Sue has entered a McGoldrick substitute in the veterans race, a category of race into which Leac an Scail now falls, so lets hope he .....as a "young" veteran can bring a big smile to members of the Leac an Scail partnerships faces next Wednesday. Leac usually needs two or three races to get him fully wound up, so hopefully he`ll be there to run a big race for us next week

First of all I would just like to thank Channel 4 for the amount of time dedicated to Mister McGoldrick on both The Morning Line and and in their live coverage of McG`s involvement in the Victor Chandler Chase.     It was brilliant for once that a Sue Smith horse  actually received more air  time coverage  on a big race day than a Paul Nicholls horse.  (No criticism implied here)

It was not our long term plan to go for the Victor Chandler. It was an option that we took because of the paucity of suitable races available for consideration in the Programme Book. The veterans races were ideal, but there aren`t that many of them, and most are run over 3mls, a distance over which McG has never won.

Yes we knew that Cheltenham might just be too much of a mountain to ask him to climb, but, despite the snow and ice, he had done enough work to show us he was well enough to take his chance. He would be racing off a good handicap mark, the ground would be ideal, he loves it round Cheltenham, and agent Dave Roberts advised  us that Dominic was available. So in the end, despite us knowing this was a much hotter race than at Huntingdon, we decided to let him take his chance believing he was capable, even in this grade, of running a big race, BUT with the proviso that if he was not  in contention for the last part of the race then the jockey would accept the situation and let McG come home in his own time.

What Sue and I most certainly did NOT expect was the amazing amount of media attention his participation received, and the "whole Country" was looking forward to a DREAM result scenario with "not a dry eye in the Country" as a 14yo veteran passed the post in front to win the race.

For my part, most people that come racing with me know I`m always a nervous wreck when McG runs, but yesterday I felt even worse shouldering  the swell of hopeful anticipation from his massive public following.

Alas it wasn`t  to be, and the REALITY of the event should now be addressed.

I thought Dominic would have pulled up McG half a mile out when he was miles behind the leading 9/10 contenders, but Dominic said he was still travelling OK and with no pressure from the saddle...and no resort to the whip....the old boy not only kept going....doing his own thing....he actually stayed on to end up finishing a very respectable 6th of 15.

Copnsequently this prompted Sue to suggest that we ought to consider going back down the easier veterans route for him again, and maybe have a close look at a 3ml option on a nice flat track such as Doncaster.

All in good time though.

 I`m sorry that the dream did not come true for all those many thousands of hopefuls....myself included. but, in conclusion I would just like to say to those who perhaps may suggest its time for us to consider retirement for McG;

It was not McG`s fault that the mountain we asked him to climb proved, on this occasion, to be too difficult a challenge for him. However within an hour of the race he was washed down, relaxed and cool and ready for his journey back to Craiglands Farm.

On arriving back home he was kicking his box door demanding his supper  which, on arrival, was readily scoffed and enjoyed.

The same applied early Sunday morning when he was whinnying and carrying on because others were getting their breakfasts before him, and later in the morning he could be seen out in the paddock bucking and kicking like a 5yo.

Sue Smith will decide when the time is right for him to hang up his boots, but  as long as he retains his fitness, his ability and enthusiasm for racing and  jumping  fences, she is happy for now to let him carry on doing the things he loves best.

I   would be delighted to hear your views, and invite you to add your comment to this Blog.

Richard 

The above headline quotes Nick Luck, Racing UK`s main presenter after McG`s win at Huntingdon on Sat 20th Nov. 2010.

The dust has now settled and I can sit back and reflect on McG`s well deserved victory in the veterans chase at Huntingdon last saturday.

If anything I seem to be getting worse whenever McG races. Why do I insist on beating myself up contemplating hyperthetical situations that my fella may have to deal with in the race, when there is absolutely sod all I can do about it.......Twiston Davies fancies his and its got no weight to carry !!   young Twiston Davies is riding out of his skin....will the ground  be OK.....he`s never won going right handed...what if its abandoned because of fog!....and probably the most ridiculous pre race comment Dominic has ever heard from an owner in the parade ring, namely an instruction of mine, if he was leading at the last, to make sure he steered McGoldrick past the right side of the winning post !!

Accepting that those who know the "dog leg" run in on the Chase course at Huntingdon will understand what I am talking about, it was still a bit of an insult to the jockeys intelligence for me to suggest he might take the wrong course and throw the race away. Dominic knows me well though, responded with a patronising "yes Richard" and went off to be legged up on McG.

As things turned out McG won by 14 lengths and received tremendous and deserved applause from the racegoers at Huntingdon almost matching the cheers for Imperial Commanders victory from racegoers at Haydock fifteen minutes later.

My  thanks to Martin Harris, raceday commentator for RUK, and both Nick Luck and Graham Cunningham for the extremely complimentary comments made, not just for his victory on the day, but for their appreciation of McG`s career as a whole and how his efforts "chiselling away at racings coalface for ten years" has earned him the title of "the nations favourite". Brilliant stuff for a brilliant racehorse.

Let it not be forgotten that Ellerslie George, another veteran and a wonderful servant to National Hunt racing, broke a leg at the fourth last and had to be put down. A tragedy for both Mr Henderson the owner, Nick Mitchell the trainer and indeed all connected with the gallant 10yo.

Nearly a week now since McG`s victory and when I saw him two days ago, he was his usual self out in the paddock where his continuing appetite  for carrots and dislike for polo mints was again in evidence.

Where do we go from here?  I`ve honestly no idea. There are no immediate plans, and there aren`t many similar veterans chases to contemplate. The handicappers banged him up 5lbs for his win which puts him on a new mark of 142 so the only thing to do is to sit down with Sue and Harvey in the next week or so and discuss ALL options.

Many thanks for the texts and emails resulting from McG`s Huntingdon win. I honestly still have to pinch myself to believe that its MY HORSE that people throughout the Country..and indeed Ireland, have taken to their hearts.

Richard

Mister McGoldricks seasonal debut was pleasing in so far as his enthusiasm is still there for all to see....his jumping over the stiff Wetherby fences was practically faultless, and, assuming Mr Handicapper decides to drop him 4/5 lbs for the run, McG will be nicely placed off a mark of 134/135 to end a losing sequence stretching back to Cheltenham 2008.

Like the true professional he is, he took his first run extremely well and came back demanding to be fed before all the rest.

For all those who aren`t able to obtain the Yorkshire Post  morning newspaper, I hope you will agree that the article below which appeared in Saturdays edition 16th Oct. 2010, and which I just had to put on the website, is a fantastic testimony to Mister McGoldrick and his popularity which seems to be increasing year by year.

McG`s campaign for this season, 2010/2011 is due to start on Friday 29th Oct  at Wetherby at the Charlie Hall meeting.

Hope you enjoy the article, and feel free to email me with any comments.

Richard

I don`t have to say it, the racing media do it for me. John Francome, Alistair Down, Tanya Stevenson, Simon Holt, Peter Naughton, Sean Magee, Tom Richmond, Graham Cunningham, even John McCririck and no doubt many others are all as one in their praise of  a fantastic servant to National Hunt Racing, Mister McGoldrick.

Sue Smith, at the start of the current season, knew  she only had to tell me if she thought it was time for him to hang up his boots, but no, in her own words ,   "In his head he`s still a 4yo, his body is like that of a 4yo, his legs are like those of a 4yo, and his enthusiasm to go out on Baildon Moor most mornings has not diminished.So much so that he still wants to "play out" when most of the others have cried enough".

And so the legend he has become ( not my words, the Racing Posts ) is still enjoying himself and thrilling racegoers with his ability to perform honourably, even in defeat, the latest being at Cheltenham (again) on Saturday 30th Jan in the Betfair Trophy Chase. His gutsy third prompted the comment from Alistair Down on Channel 4 TV  that it won`t be long before families are naming their kids after him!!   I think it was meant as a compliment !!

And so we  now have to consider finding him a race at the Cheltenham Festival. Much will depend on ground conditions of course, but if it were to come up Good to Soft with rain on the day to loosen up the ground, I think that would set up a real opportunity for a another big race from McG. 

If  conditions are as mentioned, I suggest you watch the video on the home page which shows him winning the Racing Post Plate in 2008. On that day the ground was exactly how I`ve described and just watch how he glides over it, whereas if you watched him race in the Betfair Trophy, the ground was tacky or sticky which definitely didn`t help him.

No complaints though, even if its Good to Firm in March and we have to change plans, Sue will find a race for him on a day where things will click into place and his admirers will be, as one, cheering him home.

Richard   

At the time of writing this its only 48 hours since my old fella McGoldrick, now aged thirteen,  again ran his heart out when putting in an amazing performance to finish third in the Victor Chandler Chase on New Years Day.

I would just like to comment as follows:

The likes of  Kauto Star, Denman, Big Bucks etc. etc will all go on and win the best races and the big prizes, ie Order of Merit,  best racehorses of the year at the BHA Anglo IrishNational Hunt Annual Awards in May  etc., etc. They are true champions and thoroughly deserve their success.

But wouldn`t it be great for the Sport of Jumps Racing if, at the Annual Awards Dinner, there was,  every now and again, as in the Oscars, Baftas etc., a special "Lifetime Achievement" award given to a horse such as Mister McGoldrick, who we know in his long career has fallen just that bit short of top class, but nevertheless has performed with great distinction, at the highest level for many years and given many, many thousands of people an enormous amount of pleasure watching him race in the sport we all love. Such a major  contribution to National Hunt racing deserves recognition by the BHA.  

What do you think?

The bloke that owns me Richard Longley is a real nice guy and I`m pleased  that this new McGoldrick Partnership thing is going really well for him, especially as its named after me.

So I was really pleased the other day when he came up here and he took time out to watch me doing a piece of fast  work with a Trevor Hemmings horse called Turpin Green that arrived at Sues in the summer and was third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup a year or two ago.

If, before watching me work, he was even half  thinking of putting me out to grass, then I`m bloody certain after watching me work that morning he got the message that I`m fitter and better than ever and there is no way I intend to hang up my boots just yet.  12 years old I may be, but 12 is just a number to me.  I love it up here, especially when Sue takes me over the moors, and there is no way yet that I intend to takes things easy just yet.

 So long as Richard makes sure that wherever he decides to race me this season, he looks for  fresh soft ground for me to race on, I know      I can still hold my own against the best of them over 2ml 4f.    Just watch me.

Mister McGoldrick..... News at Ten.......On Baildon Moor

I must own up and admit that over the last few months I`ve been somewhat preoccupied with building up "The McGoldrick Partnership" and telling existing, new and potential members about our three horses bought to "follow in my old boys famous footsteps"

The inference there is that "my old boy" as I refer to him, is now a bit of a back number.

Well having just seen him in light work  for the season ahead,  a bit of a back number he most certainly is NOT!!   He looks superb after his summer break, and Sue, who rides him in some of his work reports that he is "pulling her arms out" and, quote, "honestly Richard you`d think he was a 4yo. He just loves being up here"

If all goes well with his preparation for his 12th season of racing, and we are sensible in the choosing of his races, then his current win tally of 14 races might well increase.

Whatever happens Mister McGoldrick is a fantasic ambassador for National Hunt racing, and from what Sue says, there`s no way he`s ready to hang his boots up just yet. 

Richard                                               posted    14th Aug `09

Where to run him next? I suppose I should, and I am, so very thankful that McGoldrick has been such a wonderful servant to me that it  if he never races again I have had more pleasure from owning him than most owners could ever wish.

But, even at the age of twelve, I`ve watched him in his work, and he just loves his job. He wants to race and therefore so long as we don`t push him too far, he will continue to race until he tells us otherwise.

The problem is finding him a race these days where he can be competitive, and so it was not a difficult decision to disregard the Freddie Williams Handicap Chase because of the ridiculous11st 12lb he would be carrying at 12 years of age.

So, much as I would have enjoyed  having a crack at a repeat performance on Thursday, by refusing to declare him, some other horse will have to do the donkey work and set the race up for a younger better "handicapped" horse on the day. Good luck to them.

Instead we`re going to have a real sporting crack at the Ryanair Chase with all runners off level weight. Dominics available to ride him so, with some fresh rain (hopefully) on the day to soften up the ground,, we might just cause a bit of an upset.

And just watch, despite him, for example, beating Gwanako last year by 13 lengths, and giving him 9lbs as well,  you`ll find that McG is available at 66:1 on some books whereas Gwanako is 12:1. Does that make sense?

See you on Thursday

Richard    posted Tuesday 10th March 2009

Below is a letter I sent to the Racing Post which was published in the "letters to the Editor" section on Friday 27th Feb 09. It was in response to an article by journalist Colin Russell published in the RP Fri 20th Feb on the subject of the rights and wrongs of racehorse handicapping in the UK.

"Some might say that as the owner of 2008 Cheltenham Festival winner Mister Mcgoldrick, I`m hardly in a position to agree with Colin Russell`s critical but constructive analysis of the handicapping system.(February 20th).

How on earth, after McGoldricks runaway victory in the Racing Post Plate, could I quibble about his being raised 16lb for his Master Minded-style win - 13 lengths clear of the second and a further 11 lengths back to the third?

The answer, my friends, was blowing in the wind.

In stark contrast to the gales that played havoc and caused the Wednesday card to be abandoned, a light breeze drifted into Town about lunchtime. But, significantly, with it came light rain that persisted and, by late afternoon, had become quite heavy.

The ground got wetter and softer, and by 4.05pm, the off time for the Racing Post Plate, everyone could see it was definitely soft, at least.

Trainers who had declared 48 hours earlier, most anticipating good, near perfect ground, ended up sending their horses to post on soft-and getting softer-terrain.

There were very few who ran in the race who appreciated the change of going that day, but Mister McGoldrick did. He ran his usual, genuine race, but on this occasion, thanks to the intervention of the elements, he had his one big day, which he so richly deserved.

But the records and statistics will forever show the distances between the first three and then wider distances back to the rest, not forgetting the five who pulled up.

The point I am trying to get across is that Russell is quite right to say "when assessing the merits of a handicap, the distances between the first two, three or four home appears the overriding factor, seemingly regardless of ground conditions or competitiveness of the race".

It was not rocket science to understand that my horse was not an improver. All he did was take advantage of the changed underfoot conditions when most others could not.

If one agrees with my reading of the Racing Post Plate and the major influence conditions on the day had on the result, and the fact that, as an 11-year-old, McGoldrick is fully exposed, with his only previous chasing wins coming at Wetherby and Ayr, how on earth can a 16lb hike in the weights be justified?

What else can we believe, other than that handicapping today is based solely on figures, statistics and software? In giving my horse a 16lb rise, the system has probably denied Sue Smith any chance for the next two seasons of making Mister McGoldrick competitive again, by which time he will be 13 and eligible for his bus pass.

Handicappers must, whether it is a selling race at Sedgefield or a top class race at Cheltenham, sit back at times and, using their common sense, say, "hang on a minute, that doesn`t look quite right, so lets have another look".

We`ll run Mister McGoldrick again at the festival this year, but even if my late mum and dad watching from their grandstand in the sky can organise another timely intervention by the weather, it may not be enough off his current mark.

Richard Longley   Leeds

posted Monday 2nd March 2009

Well its time for a long overdue update on McG.

I know we can safely forget his running in the Paddy Power because something was amiss, but whatever it was he was OK the next day.

We`ve decided to swerve running him in handicaps because with McG entered to run,he`s always going to be setting races up for younger horses carrying less weight as a result of him being there. So its off to Huntingdon, all being well for the Peterborough Chase next Thursday the11th Dec. where he will not be off level weights but should carry 11st 4lbs which is OK by me.

Remember if he does win next Thursday there will be £3k going into The McGoldrick Partnership account from his winnings, so if anyone browsing this website likes what they see, please get in touch. There are still shares available in Final Veto (see "The Horses" page), and also two more horses on the way which are exactly what we`re looking for.

Again, all being well, I`ll be at Huntingdon next Thursday, so please contact me if you too will be there and would like an informal chat.

Posted Friday 5th December 1630

Sunday 16th November 2008

I`ve had many, many "highs" with my  old boy Mister McGoldrick over the last ten years, and plenty of "lows" as well, but his performance yesterday, in the Paddy Power Gold Cup was a real shock to me.

I could blame it on superstition, in so much as on my way down to Cheltenham on the M1 yesterday, travelling towards Nottingham doing about 80mph, there was this bloody great sickening thud on my windscreen.  All in a split second I thought......hooligans on an overhead bridge......at least my windscreens not smashed......and then looking through my rear view mirror saw what I assumed to be floating feathers. No doubt a forensic expert would have also told me that the large  white dust like imprint on my windscreen was that of something like a wood pigeon or similar. When I had recovered from the shock of it all, the thought occurred to me..........bird hitting, or flying into a window, if you`re superstitious, means bad luck!!!  McGoldricks got no chance this afternoon now!!

After the race Dominic was at a loss to give a valid reason or excuse for McG`s poor performance, saying only that the horse usually takes him round, hard on the bridle, but on this occasion he was niggling away at him after the 3rd or 4th fence. He knew then that he had no chance of winning so there was no point in being excessively hard on him, especially with 11st 12lb on his back.

Sue phoned me to say McG had eaten up Saturday night and was grazing in the paddock this morning so all seems to be well. However, whilst its too soon to make any sound judgements, I am certain that for a horse of his age to be carrying top weight in as hot a handicap as  yesterdays Paddy Power, shows the handicapping system in this Country to be something of a joke.

Yes I admit he won the Racing Post plate at Cheltenham in March, but what happened.? Most of the runners in that race were entered anticipating Good ground. When declaration time came, the ground was still forecast to be Good

But on the day of the race,at about 1:00pm, just as I was arriving at the Course, light rain began to fall. This continued, unabated until by 4;00pm, the time of his race, it was raining quite heavily and had seriously affected underfoot conditions.

Consequently, of the 20+ runners that went to post, the majority of them would not be relishing the very soft ground. In contrast it suited my fella and the rest is history. But run that race again on Good ground and I know damned well the result would have been different.

So Mr Handicapper why didn`t you make allowance for the change in the going relative to the horses that were`nt expecting it so soft, and consequently did not run their true race. If you had done your job properly using your head, instead of the keyboard of your computer to assess that race, a rise of 8/10 lb...and not 17lb would have been the answer.        Would you please, now, do the honourable thing and drop Mister Mcgoldricks handicap mark to a true and sensible figure of between 148 and 150. 

What do you guys out there think? Please let me know.

Wednesday 12th November 7:00pm

Decision Day today....Paddy Power at Cheltenham,  or wait for the week after and go for the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

At nearly 12 years of age, and as Pricewise eloquently suggested, almost ready to collect his bus pass, you`d think life would be getting easier for my "veteran" superstar. Instead we`ve decided to hump 11st  12lbs round Cheltenham on Saturday as the better  chosen option.

If he turns up in the same form as he did in March he`ll be thereabouts at the finish, but the oldest horse in the race giving varying lumps of weight away to younger horses doesn`t exactly fill me brim full of confidence. Nevertheless, as you all know, he always does his best, and with Dominic available to ride him, and the ground hopefully in his favour, plus Sue Saying he`s more like a 5yo this season the way he`s galloping, lets hope its March all over again!!

Sunday 1:00pm  9th November

Sue Smith phoned Friday 7th to discuss Mcg`s next race. He`s entered  at Cheltenham in the Paddy Power over 2:5 miles on 15thNovember, and also at Haydock in the Betfair Chase the week after 22nd.

We both agreed that the going is the biggest factor in deciding which to go for. Personally I favour the Cheltenham option if the ground is G/Soft or softer, but statistically Cheltenham tends to get good ground , whereas Haydock is heavy, even in high summer for the flat!!

I would be delighted to receive your opinions. My address is on the "contact us" page, especially if you`ve got access to a really long range weather forecast for the next  two weeks!

Richard

Mister McGoldrick and Richard Click >>> for form

Aintree 26^th October The Old Roan Chase 

 Richard