David Ashforth came relatively late to racing journalism, from the academic world, having been a lecturer in modern history and a doctor of philosophy. But he had always been passionate about racing and a regular punter.
As he himself once said: “I would spend the mornings studying the treatment of poverty in the nineteenth century and the afternoons learning how to achieve it in the twentieth.”
His amusing and unique take on our sport soon found an enormous following on The Sporting Life and later in the Racing Post.
1. When did you first become aware of The Sporting Life?
When I was at school. I first saw one on the wall of a betting shop in Borehamwood High Street in 1966.
2. When did you join The Life and what was your first job?
My first article for The Life was published in 1988 – “David Ashworth takes a look at some equine enigmas and eccentrics.” I joined full-time in 1990.
One of my first jobs was to phone trainer Gordon Richards to ask how his promising chaser Full Strength was doing. “Not reet well, lad,” said Richards. “He broke his neck three days ago.”
3. Did you have ambitions to stay there and climb up the ladder?
Not to climb up the ladder but just to stay there. I loved it.
4. Any early memories that stand out about experiences, personalities and/or stories of the time?
Shortly after I joined, Noel Blunt, the pedantic chief sub-editor, called me over. I’d written, “Aintree saw the defeat of ....”. “A racecourse can’t see,” Blunt told me, bluntly.
Charles ‘Scotweiler’ Wilson, the Mirror Group’s managing director, took a keen interest in The Sporting Life. It was a frightening prospect, as Wilson was rumoured to have hurled someone’s typewriter out of a window for displaying reluctance to enter the computer age.
Wilson had a habit of asking one particularly timid sub-editor how he was. “How are you, fingertips?”
Eventually, the sub summoned up the courage to ask why Wilson called him fingertips.
“Because that’s what you’re clinging onto your job by, laddie."
5. Any funny moments you can recall?
A Newmarket trainer rang the newsdesk to let us know that Tom Waugh, a member of a famous family of trainers, had died. “John Waugh will be able to tell you about it,” he said.
So I phoned John Waugh. “I understand Tom Waugh’s died,” I began.
“Died, Tom? Good Lord! I only saw him the day before yesterday. He was hale and hearty then. James will be able to tell you more than I can. Good Lord!”
So I phoned James Waugh. Mrs Waugh answered. “Good God, good God! You’d better speak to James.”
“Dead, dead? Good God, Tom? I only saw him yesterday afternoon. He seemed fine then. You’d better speak to Jack.”
So I phoned Jack Waugh and told him the bad news. He burst out laughing. “That’s bloody amazing,” he said, “because Tom walked out of my back door only five minutes ago."
6. Any stories or tips that you are particularly proud of? Or not!
It was the stories that people like John Aspinall and Jeffrey Bernard, Sir Mark Prescott, Robert Morley and John Mort Green told me in my early years at The Life that engaged me, as did the stories told in the High Court when trainer Lynda Ramsden, husband Jack and jockey Kieren Fallon sued The Sporting Life for libel in 1998, in the case of Top Cees. I tried not to offer tips, to avoid cruelty.
7. What was the best thing about working for The Life?
The people, the camaraderie, the atmosphere, pursuing and writing stories about a sport I loved. You could watch races on TV and bet and I just loved it. I’d found my niche.
Also in the series...
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