was to throw down a huge wad of the old After all the anxiety and turmoil of about a lot of comfort, and so that was my white fivers, held together with an elastic having life suddenly reduced to home and Johnston Racing memory of 2020. KINGSLEY KICKBACK band, and invite racegoers to help work imprisonment, especially with no Although running it a close second were themselves. Oddly enough, nobody ever racing to enjoy on a Saturday afternoon, to the lovely, online musical renditions of did, but more than once I was tempted. see Marie’s Diamond once again on Deirdre and Angus during lockdown. So Chepstow Racecourse was the happy television winning in such style brought thank you all for making life just that bit Sorry to see you go Epsom in 1946 (1945 was run, as I am sure already contribute towards the Injured hunting ground of The Captain who used back joy and excitement. It was wonderful better and enjoyable. Stay safe always. you know, at Newmarket). The grey colt Jockeys Fund, annually, by purchasing to give away pencils and notebooks as a to see him win well and to appreciate the I am disappointed that failing eyesight and Airborne did the recently demobbed Christmas cards etc, so, if possible let me way of attracting attention to himself. hard work and professionalism of the yard other health issues compel me to say that paratroopers a favour, by winning the race know of another, appropriate charity. Always smartly dressed, this amusing man which had continued throughout those CHRISTINE MURPHY (CHRISSIE) there is no longer any point in my at 50-1. Sadly, being too young to bet, I I may no longer be able to keep abreast was in great demand at parties where he difficult months in order to produce so Rochester, Kent receiving the always enjoyable Kingsley was not ‘on board’, but I remember the of the yard’s activities through the pages of would perform his famed race many winners immediately racing was able Klarion magazine from Johnston Racing. race well. the Kingsley Klarion, but nevertheless, I commentaries. to resume. I’m afraid I can no longer keep up the I started helping and riding out at stables wish you all the very best for the years A tipster of a different sort was the Elarqam, Dark Vision, Subjectivist. . . interest I once had in horse racing, which I in Epsom in 1950, which continued on a ahead. religious gentleman who would attend all what a choice of stars. But for me, Marie’s Fantastic Fanning have followed since 1945 when I was nine. weekly basis until 1980. Until I was 82, a the Chepstow meetings. With a banner Diamond represents the determination and I have always found your magazine to year or two ago now, I still managed to do NAME WITHHELD AT WRITER’S REQUEST aloft, he would stand by the numbers' reliability of Johnston Racing to overcome My best Johnston Racing memory of 2020 be both informative and of great interest to some light stable work at one of the yards board for hour after hour extolling whatever challenges come along and to try was of Joe Fanning and his excellent me, and I would like to thank everyone near the course. Mark Johnston writes: I am sorry to hear racegoers to mend their ways and save hard with every horse in the yard. It was horsemanship at Goodwood in June when who contributes to it. The Klarion is such a I tender my apologies for wandering off- you will no longer be reading the Klarion, their souls. But, unlike the ‘can I mark great to feel the excitement again and to he avoided a possible catastrophe and well-presented magazine, and the columns course, down memory lane. Returning to but thank you so much for your kind your card,Guv’ brigade who use to hang enjoy seeing once more the tartan of the being ejected from the saddle in an by Mark Johnston and articles by John the point of this letter, I want to praise all gesture. I would ask that your donation around the car parks, his advice came grooms and the crests on the bridles which incident involving Oisin Murphy. Praise be Scanlon (to name but two of your writers) those in Johnston Racing for their goes to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, completely free of charge. had been so sadly missed. to Joe! are always full of cogent and highly achievements, not only with this magazine, which is often called on to take injured I wonder if Klarion readers recall these informed writing. but also for the superb, unrivalled manner riders to hospital. Everybody here at or any of the other colourful characters CAROL MUNDELL TONY WILDING My interest in horse racing stretches in which the business of training horses to Johnston Racing wishes you well for the who once graced our racecourses? Leyburn, North Yorkshire Hull back a long way. Living within two miles race, is run. future. of Tattenham Corner, it was somewhat Racing today needs more people of the BRIAN LEE inevitable that my father would take me to character of Mark Johnston, who can see (Recently honoured with Welsh Horse witness the first post-war Derby run at through the chimera being created by Racing's Lifetime Achievement Award) TV interview I’ll treasure A dreadful year people in places of Where have all the tipsters Cardiff authority who are gone? My most enjoyable memory regarding In this ‘year like no other’ the Klarion obsessed with Johnston Racing in 2020 was not of a invites readers to name their best Johnston GRÄFF CAPITAL MANAGEMENT marketing, and Whatever happened to all those tipsters particular race, or horse, or jockey or ride. Racing memory of 2020. I always like to have no conception who used to grace our racecourses? Among In praise of the vets! Let me explain. Quite a few years ago I respond to invitations and challenges, but of the grass roots of those I can recall are Prince Monolulu, became interested in horse racing through feel that for the first time, I have no Multi Family Office the game. whose catchphrase was ‘I gotta horse’; I don’t know how much feedback you get seeing a horse called Bandari win the positive response to make. May he never Gully Gully; a gentleman from Cardiff on your various topics in the Kingsley Group 3 Gordon Stakes when I went to I acknowledge that Johnston Racing, as give up his passion known as The Captain; and an ex-jockey Klarion, but I have to say that I find your Goodwood races. I wanted to know who always, has had many highlights this year, for what needs to simply known as Mike. veterinary section, ‘If Only They Could the trainer was and all about the horse. I and I am sorry to sound negative; but this be done to correct Although it is many, many years since I Talk’, very interesting indeed. wrote to Mark himself and he invited me to year, for the first time ever, I have not been some, if not all of first came across Prince Monolulu at Whatever changes you may make in the visit the yard. to York, Thirsk, Ripon, Pontefract, the sport's current Salisbury Races, I can still recall some of future, please do not discontinue these Since then, I have been very lucky in Doncaster or Wetherby races. So for me it problems. the famous lines he came out with, such as: columns. being able to visit Middleham and the is not appropriate to nominate an occasion To Mr Johnston, ‘God made the bees, the bees made the racing yard for many years. Hence, I was for recognition. I merely say this: honey; you have a bet and the bookie takes TREVOR MILNER gutted that this year’s annual visit had to be I appreciate the purpose of this Keep up the good your money.'' There were several other Ipswich postponed, not just because of Covid challenge was to help us supporters find work of exposing sayings, but not for repeating here! restrictions but I was also called back to something to be positive about, but the more insane Then there was Gully Gully. While nursing duties. But what did bring me a ray unfortunately this is how I feel regarding acts of behaviour Prince Monolulu wore a headband of dyed of happiness was the television interview this dreadful year! by the BHA and ostrich feathers, Gully sported a teacher's My magic memory of Marie’s with Mark by Derek Thompson at the yard ORIENTAL FOX others involved in mortar board. Dressed in his white gown, in July. A T ASHWORTH Queen Alexandra Stakes winner in 2015 & 2017 the sport at high the red face of this colourful character The Klarion has asked readers to nominate It had me back in Yorkshire there and Ilkley, West Yorkshire level. could always be seen at the holiday their Johnston Racing memory of 2020. then. Just seeing the yard again brought As a means of fixtures in the West Country. The last time Well, my personal Johnston Racing We understand the racehorse expressing my I saw him, more years ago now than I care moment of 2020 came during that first community’s investment needs appreciation for the to remember, he was demonstrating tremendous week at the beginning of June, The Klarion welcomes your letters many years you household appliances in Pontypridd when racing returned from the shutdown Send to: and a cavalcade of winners burst from the Specialists in asset management for private individuals have sent your market! [email protected] or magazine to me, Mike was a regular at Cheltenham races starting stalls. But of all the winners that week, the greatest moment for me was Kingsley Klarion, Kingsley Park, Park Lane, Middleham, DL8 4QZ. Gräff Capital Management AG Tel: +41 (0)44 215 30 00 free of charge, I and he would carry around with him a Fraumünsterstrasse 13 Fax: +41 (0)44 215 30 01 would like to make large framed photograph, supposedly of Marie’s Diamond making all on June 5 at 8001 Zurich E: [email protected] a donation to a himself on some horse or other being led Newmarket in the Paradise Stakes and Please include your name, postal address and a telephone contact leaving the rest of the field behind to win Switzerland www.graffcapital.ch charity of Mr into the winner's enclosure. A favourite number. Letters may be edited Johnston’s choice. I trick of his, to gather a crowd around him, handsomely. 6 7