Mick & David Easterby: Racing Syndicates and Racehorse Ownership





Red Marshall (GB)

Red Marshall (GB)



SireTobrouk
DamCrescent Moon
DOB 1972
Sex gelding
Colour bay
Owner J Mason

Strange things seemed to happen when Red Marshall was around.

It started in the Tyne Maiden Plate at Newcastle in 1975. First of all the favourite, a horse called Chan threw his rider. The horse was blindfolded and about to go in when he went down on his knees and catapulted jockey Sandy Barclay in the air. The horse then trampled the jockey who was lucky to get out alive let alone uninjured. Chan was withdrawn and a horse I trained for fruit merchant John Mason called Red Marshall took advantage by winning the race.

On 6th August 1979 Red Marshall was entered for the Trent Novices’ Chase at Market Rasen. In terms of quality it was a dreadful race and the horses that lined up had recent form that looked more like the alphabet than the usual row of numbers. There were more Fs, Ps and 0s than I think I had ever seen before. Red Marshall at least only had 0s, in that he had completed his races, but he did have four of them.

I fancied Red Marshall to run a big race and I had a reasonable bet on him. He was backed into 2-1 favourite but he only passed the post in third place, at which point I thought that the money had been blown. A horse called Mary Mile won the race, with Milan City six lengths behind and Red Marshall ten lengths further back.

My disappointment would be short-lived. A steward’s enquiry was called and the first two horses were thrown out as it turned out that they had taken the wrong course. Red Marshall was awarded the race and I went to collect my unexpected winnings. The irony was that Red Marshall had once been disqualified himself when his rider weighed in too light, but that had only been a fourth placing and this was more than adequate compensation.

Red Marshall was eventually sold to G Vergette to continue his career.



Date Race

06Aug79 Trent Novices Chase
Market Rasen
Colin Tinkler

2m

12Aug75 Tyne 3yo Maiden Plate
Newcastle
B Raymond

1m 4f