Bilge

[Bellman]

Jockey Club to introduce Eye Tests ?
(Subtitled Laughing-boy Laughran hands over lead at Lepardstown.)

'Moscow Feyer' was leading the field and 100 yards from the winning-post when his jockey Roger Loughran,
thinking he had crossed the line, decided to celebrate by rising in the styrup in celebration. Sat bolt upright, punching
the air, laughing-boy Loughran failed to notice 'Ho Cloy' and 'Fota Island' slip past to take first and second places.

Still smiling, in spite of a little crowd booing, Loughran, ''newly'' turned pro, said ''I mistook a birch stick for the winning post.''
I guess a few of the punters, who lost over a million pounds, would like to take a birch stick to Master Laoughran.