On the eve of the Great War in 1914, a body is found in the lake at St James' Park. What initially appears to be a robbery becomes more complex when it is discovered that the victim is a servant oat one of London's prestigious gentleman's clubs. Hardcastle's enquiries reveal that the clubs members - and some of its staff - are not all they purport to be. Discovering thieves, adulterers and a blackmailer along the way, and despite attempts to prevent him uncovering the truth, the persistent DI Hardcastle eventually makes an arrest.
As relief from his lecturing duties, Stephen Cartmell set off to explore Britain using the cultural melting pot of the U.K. 's 59 racecourses as his staging posts. During his travels, the author observed the frequent absurdity of the British; the peculiarities of their institutions; and developed a satirical critique of one of the country's favourite pastimes. ability to find humour even in the face of petty officialdom, this acclaimed book is not simply a travelogue of racing but a key to understanding Britain and its curiously comical inhabitants. Racegoer, traveler or first time visitor, Stephen Cartmell's stories are sure to add colour to your journey.
The intriguing story and turbulent history of a paper Charles Dickens praised for its ‘range of information and profundity of knowledge’, and which Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, simply endorsed with the remark: ‘Of course I read The Sporting Life’. It was the Queen Mother’s love of horseracing that made her such an avid reader of the Life and coverage of that sport forms the core of this book, but there is so much more to fascinate the reader including eyewitness accounts of the first fight for the heavyweight championship of the world and Captain Webb’s heroic Channel swim of 1875. Highlights in the history of cricket, football and rugby are also featured, while chapters on coursing and greyhound racing rank alongside surreal reports on ratting contests and songbird singing competitions. And for 30 years Tommy Wisdom made his motoring reports unique by competing against the best at Brooklands, Le Mans and in many Monte Carlo rallies, while Henry Longhurst’s golfing column was simply the best. The paper’s strident campaigns for racing reforms are also chronicled along with its coverage of major news stories, from Fred Archer’s shocking suicide to its own untimely demise. Its travails in the law courts are documented from its first year, when it was forced to change its title, to its last, when it had to pay libel damages to the training team of Lynda and Jack Ramsden and their jockey, Kieren Fallon. A higher price was paid by its French correspondent who was killed in a duel over an article he had written, while the terrible toll the First World War took on the nation’s sporting heroes is catalogued by the Life’s embedded army correspondent, against a background of political bungling that is being repeated today.
Richard Dunwoody was the most successful steeplechase jockey of his time. During his fantastic career, he rode over 10,000 times, often partnering the top National Hunt horses such as Desert Orchid and Miinnehoma. His staggering collection of 1,699 wins in Britain has earned him professional respect and a string of accolades including an MBE.In this fascinating book, Dunwoody remembers the great horses he has ridden and the high points of his remarkable career. In 1986 he rode to victory in the Grand National on West Tip and repeated this triumph in 1994 on Miinnehoma. It was with One Man that he won two consecutive King George VI chases. Although his career was full of memorable partnerships and victories, it is for riding Desert Orchid that Dunwoody is best remembered. 'Dessie' was a hugely popular horse - apart from Red Rum, he was the only racehorse with a fan club - and the pair rode their way to a remarkable seven victories. Yet despite his big race victories, his determination and ambition remained constant, driving him on to even greater achievements.In a book full of stories, anecdotes and opinions, Richard tells not only of the glory surrounding his career but also of the hard work involved in achieving that glory: the struggle to ensure that both horse and rider were at their peak on race day; the pitfalls and the setbacks endured; and the quirks and characteristics of some of the finest horses in this tough sport.
As the eldest daughter of a prolific letter writer, Jane Torday received hundreds of letters from her father over the years. From irreverent advice and hilarious family anecdotes to moments of great poignancy, Roger Mortimer‘s missives are a touching and witty portrait of his life and relationships over the years. Dearest Jane begins with Roger’s time as a young army officer in Egypt, and then as a POW in the Second World War, where his sense of humour endured despite the conditions. Jane accompanies her father’s letters with her own memories and anecdotes, as we meet familiar characters such as Nidnod, Lupin and Lumpy, and learn more about the extended family, friends and pets who leap from the pages of his letters. This is an arresting and extraordinary record, not only of Roger Mortimer’s life but also of the history of an entire family between 1960 and 1991. Sparkling with the dry wit for which Mortimer’s letters are famous, and accompanied by an affectionate personal portrait, this book will delight both old and new readers.
Nick Mordin estimates he has spent over 30,000 hours researching racing results over the years. His aim has been to uncover the principles that govern the betting market and racing results themselves. In conducting his research Nick has tested thousands of systems, both his own and those developed by academics, professional gamblers and others around the globe. In Winning Without Thinking he shares the fruits of this work. the results of horse-races; basic principles that govern racing results and the betting market; mistakes commonly made by the general betting public and how to exploit them; full details of betting systems used by professional gamblers to make millions; how to predict and profit from new trends; and how to use computers to increase your returns.
The birth of a Grand Prix team does not occur every day -- or every season for that matter, Formula 1 is an extremely difficult business to break into, and very few new arrivals survive beyond their first year. That's why the racing world took note in 1997 when a new team bearing the name of race legend Jackie Stewart gained a foothold in the sport. The team has, in fact, been in the news since 1996, when Stewart and his son, Paul, first announced their intentions. Racing Stewart tells the story of this remarkable adventure, charting in full for the first time ever, the birth of a Grand Prix challenger. Hamilton and Nicholson were granted unparalleled access to the team from Stewart's initial decision, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at the peaks and valleys that are an inevitable part of gaining acceptance in this ruthless sport.
