Here’s the film of the blog so to speak: http://bit.ly/1UlAaiR
POTTS GOES TO THE EPSOM DERBY
Author: Conversations with Strangers
I like to converse in real time. Sometimes with friends and family, and quite often with strangers - that's you if you're reading this blog for the first time! Thanks for subscribing/visiting.
Serendipity Wins The Epsom Derby
“I had a dream” Clare Balding told me as I started to explain my win in the Epsom Derby. Poor Clare. I wanted to know, I really did but unfortunately with the overexcitement of the main race, I’d been reduced to a babbling mess. I needed to tell her the story of my day, which in racing terms had a magical twist of fate.
It had all started gently enough. Whilst waiting for my comrade in arms for Epsom at the train station a coffee truck pulled up and before you could say ‘Mine’s a cappucino’ I was chatting to the cab drivers, one of whom treated me to a latte: Things were looking good so far.
An hour later found us still struggling to find our carpark, but once inside the media tent all that was forgotten and the race was on.
A day at the track is like no other. Time flies but in the most surreal way. No sooner have you watched one race than horses parade in the paddock for the next. Bets are placed, champagne or beer is ordered, a roar comes up from the grandstand as you realise you’ve missed the 2.35 and need to get your act together for the 3.10.
Then, there’s the arrival of the Queen, just a week before her official 90th birthday, and you have to guess what she might be wearing, in French, with a party of that country’s finest gentlemen as you all endeavour to get a photo of her.
What seemed like moments later, I leaned across the railings next to a handsome man in a top hat chatting to his friend. “Where are you from in Ireland?” I asked.
“The Curragh” came his response.
“I’m from Meath – just next door – near Trim.”
“Oh yes, I know it. I used to have to drive through Trim all the time to get to Navan.”
“To the races?”
“Yep.”
I asked him what he was doing here today. “We’ve got a horse in the Derby – Harzand” he told me. “My Father’s the trainer.”
“Aidan O’Brien?”
“No! You don’t study the form do you?!” came the retort with a grin.
In fairness I hadn’t had time, but this was all I needed. “We must get to the Tote!” I said to Chloe. I’d heard first hand Frankie Dettori’s tips for the Derby (‘The main challenge for Wings of Desire is US Army Ranger’), and John McCririck had also weighed in with his comments before he waved me off and told me to ‘Keep blogging’. But this. This was pure gold.
Cakes and coffee by the winning post preceded an inspiring victory by Harzand with one of my each way bets coming in second.
On the train home I conversed with yet another fellow Irishman. We high fived our Derby success. “I won big” he told me.
“I broke even, and a bit more” I replied.
A bit of magic more in fact.
It all started with a coffee
Waiting for Frankie
The French were in town
Clare, the inimitable with Sir Tony McCoy
Mr Dettori and yours truly
This is what it’s all about
Mr McCririck
Mr Dettori. Again.
Pretty sure this is Postponed – winner of the 3.10
Seriously, I think my first ever racing win
Winner of the 3rd race: Postponed ridden by Andrea Atzeni
Clare you’re a legend. Already.
Nice spectacles. CWS approves
Cakes and coffee pre Derby
Pat Smullen, winning jockey of the Epsom Derby 2016
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Aga Khan, Dermon Weld
Kieren Fallon
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II looking spectacular in hyacinth blue
Nice pic by Getty Images
Chloe Haywood Milliner extraordinaire. Hats off after this pic. It’s been a great day!
Very many thanks to Epsom Derby, JSC Communications and Chloe Haywood for a magnificent day.
Tea at Soho Radio
It was a blast today. Conversations with Strangers first ever radio chat! Thanks for having me Soho Radio. Click on this link or cut and paste to listen: http://bit.ly/1Vizq30
Catch CWS from 29 minutes in ..
House of Crab
When you’re in the West End of London town and feeling peckish at lunchtime, it’s hard to escape the pull of the ubiquitous fast food chains for a re-fuel: Mayfair, home of the £20 cocktail is especially challenging.
Crossing New Bond Street through streams of Bentleys and revving Maseratis I sought sustenance and respite from the main drag. On Grosvenor Street I spied a couple of brightly painted tables and chairs sitting outside a cute wooden facade. An entrance gaily thrown open to the street dared me to walk past without investigating.
I walked in to more cheery furniture and a whitewashed bar at the back, behind which a young bearded man industriously attended to business.
“Are you a pop-up?” I asked, “Specialising in Crab by any chance?”
He grinned and gave me the lowdown. Open since early this year they are indeed that, and plan on staying in Mayfair for the duration of 2016, business depending. “Sit down! Sit down!” he insisted handing me a menu.
The Image of Beauty
The first pedicure of the season is always a reason to be cheerful. And, cheerful is the order of the day at Village of Beauty.
I walked in to sunshine streaming onto the plumply cushioned window seats. Instantly at home I felt the need to lie down on one, like a kitten about to be pampered to within an inch of its life.
“Oh, our clients often want to do this” Kamila told me, “In fact one of them did, she fell asleep right there.”
I could just imagine. What’s not to love about a comfy sofa-like seat, sunshine on your face and the gentle hum around you of ‘me’ time being relished.
Downstairs I lay back on the therapist’s bed and thought of beaches and waves, sea salt and sangria that a treatment of this nature usually precludes. Kamila’s voice softly spoke to me, and any pain was minimised.
I noticed a photograph of Marilyn on the wall and asked where it came from. “I’ve never seen that picture of her in my life before” I said, astonished.
“Ah, I pick it up at a car boot sale – it was just £1, somewhere in Wimbledon I think.”
Conversations with Strangers 