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UK
Casino Times
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Articles
25 November
2006
Sharpe Angle At
Christmas
William Hills Media
Director, Graham Sharpe, offers his unique perspective on
current events in the world of sports and
gambling.
Let me declare in interest
here, in as much as Sean Magee is a good pal, but if you can
find a better racing book than his 'Arkle: The Life and
Legacy of Himself' which was actually published towards the
end of 2005 but certainly wasn't surpassed this year, then
snap it up.
In a year which saw the
loss of Desert Orchid, the story of Arkle is worth
reacquainting yourself with if only to judge the standards
by which all other horses must be measured. However, I still
believe there is an argument to be made that Golden Miller
wasn't far off of Arkle, but that is for another
day.
Sean's book is published
at £20 by Highdown, who serves the racing world so
well. A couple of their recent titles are worthy of
consideration as Christmas gifts, either for yourself,
friends or family.
Mark Johnston has been
around at the top end of British racing for some years now,
generally accompanied by his wife Deirdre, yet not many
people know much of the man behind the name, whose stable
motto is the well justified 'Always Trying'.
Independent on Sunday
writer, Nick Townsend, has delved into the world of the
Johnstons and come up with a rattling good read. Despite
being an authorised biography the book is far from being
anodyne and uncontroversial - as befits its feisty,
determined subject, that oddest of combinations, a Scottish
Yorkshireman!
The Johnston book will set
you back £18.99 - as will jockey Timmy Murphy's 'Riding
The Storm' - an autobiography penned with the assistance of
top Irish writer, Donn McClean.
The inside sleeve of the
book prepares the reader for what is to come - a story of
'anticipation, frustration, alcoholism, despair,
realisation, reconciliation and, ultimately,
redemption.'
If the final word has to
be taken on trust, as this is still a young man, then the
tale which builds up to that current conclusion, cannot fail
to move and enthral in its honesty and openness.
Murphy's greatest
achievements on a racecourse lie ahead of him, one hopes,
but a man who has already overcome self-imposed obstacles
and setbacks deserves the chance finally to achieve his
undoubted potential.
One of the jump seasons
highlights, the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup well warrants the
'Definitive History' now supplied by the pen of Stewart
Peters, who somehow divides his life between Cornwall and
Florida but has already written exhaustive histories of the
Derby , the National and the Cheltenham Festival, so knows
his stuff.
Newbury is, of course, the
home of the Hennessy - albeit the first running took place
in 1957 at Cheltenham.
With descriptions and
details from every running of the event until 2005, this
well-illustrated Tempus-published tome warrants its stiff
£25 price tag and will fill a gap in most racing
libraries.
A bit of a self-plug, here
- my book, The Magnificent Seven, about the famous and
unique day now over ten years ago, when Frankie Dettori rode
all seven winners in a single day at Ascot and virtually
bankrupt the bookmaking industry, has been reissued in
paperback for a mere £7.99 by Aurum Press. One of the
biggest names introduced to the world by the recent poker
boom has been Hull-born Dave 'The Devilfish' Ulliott, a
former safe-cracker whose life story might not win him any
popularity contests in the world at large but makes a
fascinating insight into the world of someone absolutely
tailor-made for the thriving world of poker. Des Wilson has
written 'Swimming With The Devilfish' which does explain the
origin of his menacing nickname. Published by Macmillan at
£10.99.
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