KINGSLEY KICKBACK Greatness must be earned eight lengths easing down, or Shergar’s To Michael Tanner’s excellent letter in the Derby. September edition of the Kingsley Klarion A few other (questioning whether Frankel was the names: Enable, greatest racehorse ever), I would add a few Native Dancer, Man names from the past. Greatness is earned, O’War, Citation, not conferred by creative accounting. Pretty Polly and Let’s start with that immortal phrase Seattle Slew. which echoes down the ages: ‘Eclipse It’s difficult to see first, and the rest nowhere’. how a horse that won The very best have to win the great one Classic, and races; the Classics are taken as the avoided the three ultimate measure, along with the Arc. In great races open to the history of racing, only 15 horses have him (the Derby and won the Triple Crown in the UK; in the two Arcs), can be USA, 13; and dual winners of the Arc rated their superior. number eight. Other horses, especially in the USA, have won equivalent greatness. To name a few of the best: JIM COLLINS Isinglass, Triple Crown winner in 1893 Sceptre – the only horse in history to London W14 win four Classics outright. In one of the greatest races ever she was beaten a neck guided to a large, glass-fronted suite in the by Ard Patrick in the Eclipse Stakes, with Lazarus Stand overlooking the course, Rock Sand third, the winners of nine The way to treat owners parade ring and finishing line. There was a Classics between them. champagne reception on entry, full Ormonde – unbeaten in 16 races, We would like to put on record the quality explanation of the protocols for the day including the Triple Crown, and winner of of owners’ experience we received last and seating sufficient for everyone to the St James’s Palace Stakes and month at two racecourses. socially distance with hot and cold buffet Hardwicke Stakes on consecutive days. We were at Chester on Friday, available all afternoon. Isinglass – won 11 of 12, including the September 11. Owners were given a table In both cases the experience was Triple Crown, Eclipse Stakes and Ascot for the day in the panoramic 1539 excellent, with owners treated as VIPs and Gold Cup. restaurant with the table reservation card the staff were very courteous. Many other Ribot – unbeaten in 16 races, including in the name of the horse. We were given a racecourses could learn a lot from these two Arcs and the King George, having to personalised combined race card and two venues in how they treat owners. travel Europe by box and train. menu. A welcome cocktail was next, If you want visual evidence, watch followed by a three-course meal with lots Tudor Minstrel’s 2,000 Guineas, won by of choice. BARBARA AND ALICK RICHMOND Covid protocols Fleet, Hampshire were well- explained and implemented, with The Klarion welcomes lots of space for your letters the debrief around the parade ring Send to: and the owners’ [email protected] trophies presented back at the or restaurant. Kingsley Klarion, Kingsley The following Park, Park Lane, Middleham, day we were at DL8 4QZ. Doncaster. We were given Please include your name, postal personalised badges on arrival address and a telephone contact printed with our number. colours. We were Letters may be edited Ormonde, unbeaten in 16 races, won the Triple Crown in 1886 7.