Mince Pie for Starters by John Oaksey
John Oaksey has seen it all in racing, as a jockey, commentator and newspaper reporter. After a lifetime devoted to the sport, he recalls the great characters, horses and races that have made horseracing the great passion of his life, a passion that he is so brilliantly able to convey to others. One of the most respected and loved people in the sport, partly due to his work with the Injured Jockeys Fund, John Oaksey has a fund of fascinating and hilarious stories to tell. This book is not just a wonderful self-portrait, it is also a definitive account of racing since the war.
'Even the title John Oaksey chose for his autobiography confirms Mince Pie For Starters as the imperative read for racing fans this christmas' -- The Times 20031213 'Fantastic news for anyone who has even a passing interest in horses and horseracing.. [a] very enjoyable book' -- J.A.McGrath, Daily Telegraph 20031030 'John Oaksey is the archetypal English gentleman. He is a sweetheart, a star, the bravest of the brave, funny and kind...I loved this charming book: old fashioned the standards may be, modest to an almost ridiculous degree the style, but shining through it all is a man in love with life, with sport, tradition and competition. How lucky the sport of racing has been to have him as its leading writer and advocate for so many years' -- Stoker Hartington, Spectator 20031115 '[a] delightful and often hilarious autobiography...splendid memoir' -- Country Life 20031002 'The imperative read for racing fans this Christmas' -- Chris McGrath, The Times 20031213 'Hilarious anecdotes ... Oaksey is a gripping storyteller. Not only is this one of the best racing books that has ever been written but it also reveals an honest and generous character' -- Chris Goulding, Sunday Express 20031214 'One of the most remarkable feats of sportswriting I have witnessed was by a mud-splattered jockey who had just been narrowly beaten in the 1963 Grand National. Within minutes he was crouched in a noisy, sweltering, overcrowded Press room penning 1,200 words on the emotions of losing in the last few yards to a 66-1 outsider, Ayala, to catch the first edition of a Sunday newspaper. If I have ever seen ultimate professionalism that was it' -- Ian Wooldridge, Daily Mail 20031115
John Oaksey began his racing career in 1955 and went on to ride more than 200 winners until 1975, including the Whitbread Gold Cup. He has written for the Daily Telegraph since 1957 and has been a TV presenter since 1970, first on ITV then on Channel 4. He was a founder trustee of the Injured Jockeys Fund in 1964.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780755310661 |
| ISBN 10 | 0755310667 |
| Title | Mince Pie for Starters |
| Author | John Oaksey |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Headline Publishing Group |
| Year published | 2003-10-06 |
| Number of pages | 288 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |