GBB

Toby Balding, who died recently, trained winners at the highest level. His record is superb. What stopped him from doing even better was his belief that there was more to life than training. And he wasn’t just referring to tennis and his various other recreational interests, important though he considered them. Quite early on in his career he began to spend time on the various committees that slowly and laboriously attempt to keep racing in existence and on an even keel. This cannot have been a lot of fun, thanks to racing’s dismal financial situation throughout his lifetime and to the emphasis on self-interest in the attitude of too many of the industry’s stakeholders. Nevertheless he did what he could and he showed an amazing capacity for understanding the most complicated of the problems involved. He did good work, he was constantly in demand and he was always ready to return to the coal face.

So there you have two lives – more than enough, one would imagine. But there was a third, which might perhaps have outweighed the other two, even if they jumped on the scales together.  First at Weyhill, then at Fyfield and finally at Kimpton, his establishment was many things to many people, but the basic reality was that that people turned to him in times of indecision. Why? Because he took an interest, and that interest was benevolent, fuelled by an instinctive desire to help.

As a result a constant trickle of people who for one reason or other had a gap in their lives, or were at a crossroads in their careers, or were irritating their parents beyond endurance, fetched up at the Balding ashram, and were found a bed and a mucksack and launched into the magnificent whirligig that is the racing world, where they were expected to fit into a society which was diverse in its composition and robust in its attitudes, to get up in the morning, to put in a proper day’s work, and to behave like reasonably civilised human beings.

The optional extras were just as important and involved education. If they wanted to learn about horses and racing, they would have every opportunity and the help of numerous experts in every aspect of the sport – provided they approached those experts with all due humility. . And if they wanted to find out about their own potential and limitations in an adult world which is full of pitfalls, no better or kinder introduction to all those pitfalls could be found than was available at the universities of Weyhill, Fyfield and Kimpton.

Over fifty plus years that trickle has amounted to a substantial number of disciples, and I suspect that every one of them emerged from the experience remarkably improved and enlightened as a result. Today, throughout the racing world and beyond, there are people of every age up to and including those on the verge of antiquity, who may meet as strangers but who warm to each other when it transpires that time spent chez Toby is something that they have in common – and the reminiscences are almost always accompanied by laughter. I suspect that the benevolence of the master, who never made a fuss of anybody (including himself), was a key to the success of the process, and to the profound debt of gratitude which I am sure we would all be proud to acknowledge.

 

Imagine – not just one life, but three – each of them worthwhile, all of them the hallmark of only the best of men.

 

CALLISTHENICS

If in doubt, check back to Sport 33,4,5,6.

Incidentally, by now you should be positively floating on air and really enjoying your food – if you’ve persevered. If you’ve given up, I cannot bear the thought of what you might turn into. Try musical accompaniment (Bob Marley and UB40 highly recommended. That easy “boom-b-boom-boom” beat could get you back into full swing.)

Peter Alliss wrote a book called “Golf – the Cure for a Grumpy Old Man.” In it he recommends an endless list of warm-up exercises, but he never stops reminding the reader that he or she must not overdo the exertions. Do not hurt yourselves, he exhorts, and I echo that sentiment. Do enough to stay supple and active and reasonably strong (and beautiful). Run the motor regularly, but don’t revvv it like a lunatic. Remember: neck, spine, pelvis, legs. Plus a little jog to remind heart and lungs of their role in the scheme of things. One day we’ll get round to arms, but perhaps now is too soon.

IN THE SHADOWS

The BHA has refurbished its website. As a result it is extremely difficult to navigate to the various pages one wishes to view. They come and go as if they have minds of their own. Is this another step in the direction of obfuscation and management by stealth? Or is it just Donec’s ineptitude? If the former, it should be resisted. If the latter, we will persist in our efforts to keep an eye on the ball and an ear to the terra firma. There are certain people in that venerable organisation who need to be watched at all times.

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

1. Duerr’s Marmalade (Thick Cut). The Duerr family have been at it since 1881. It tastes extremely good. As far as we know it is the only “preserve” which is equipped with an almost miraculous device which makes opening pain-free – which suggests that, in a more and more mercenary world, here we have a trading house which loves its customers.

2. Garlic. Has even proved interesting on toast – slim wafers of garlic on top of Duerr’s Marmalade.

3. Starting. I am amazed to find “starting” on a list of cheerful topics, but that is where it now belongs – fingers crossed. I understand that, even as I type these words, the question of starting big-field steeplechases is being discussed by all the relevant authorities, who have become possessed by the determination that those starts should cease to be monstrosities and should become respectable processes that are fair, fit for purpose and excellent in every way. If in due course this turns out to be a false dawn, the scowl and the growl can return to the lips. Until that happens, Donec will remain possessed by the determination to be cheerful.

LITERATURE

Donec’s literary editor seems to think that good books stopped about the year 1962. Apparently he read half of the first Harry Potter, then hurled it onto the boardroom fire, and was heard to murmur “The Narnia books were vastly superior.” Until the board has debated this judgement, and perhaps sacked the lit. ed., we are going to be very selective about future recommendations, and we have nothing to offer at this time. One might add that the lit. ed. lent his favourite book to a friend (?) for a stipulated-in-writing “two months.” That was five months ago. Maybe rage and frustration has affected his judgement. Maybe the iron has entered his soul.

On second thoughts we do have modern book to recommend. It featured a few paragraphs ago.  “Golf: The Cure for a Grumpy Old Man” by Peter Alliss (published 2008). As well as good advice about exercise, it includes one joke. As follows: young Laidlaw (a very talented and dedicated player) comes into the bar looking distinctly miffed.  There he finds Alliss and a sizeable group headed by Abe Mitchell, the best golfer never to win the Open (according to the author).

“What’s up, lad?” Abe inquires.

Laidlaw reels off chapter and verse of 18 holesworth of misfortunes. It takes some time.

When he draws breath, Abe comments “That’s really sad. But remember this, lad:  apart from you, nobody gives a bugger.”

Cruel, funny, and so true. Here is a mantra which all golfers should pass on to their children.

MUSIC

There is a French radio station at 162 metres (don’t ask which 162 metres because Donec doesn’t know). The Donec car radios are always tuned in to it, for educational purposes. Parler Francais est une bonne chose (Excuse absence of cydilla). One afternoon each week a Frenchman with a resonant voice that is rather attractive presides over a programme of classical music. Years ago he introduced us to Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.” Now he has come up with another cracker: (Maria Callas and) Guiseppe dI Stefano in Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” Resist the temptation to use the Overture to the “Marriage of F” as accompaniment to your morning exercises: it could lead to serious injury.

FINALLY

It can never be said that Donec neglects the cultural responsibilities of the thinking man’s website. If we are short of books, we eventually manage to find just one, and one containing a joke, even. We also give you music, fitness, garlic and marmalade; and we limit our obsession with “starting” to a mere eight lines – and cheerful lines for a change.

Best wishes,

DONEC