Tipp challenge thrown out

Horseracing enthusiasts will understand. Those of you who either don't like horseracing or have no interest in it, will not appreciate it or even begin to understand it. Last Tuesday night, at the request of Headfort Golf Club, I attended an informal-style official function which was organised by the Council of the club - for Council read: those members who have achieved lofty positions due to their ability to make the correct decisions about important matters. The occasion, as reported in a more formal manner on the front page of sport this week, was to confer honorary membership on Johnny Murtagh. Exiled in Kildare, since his mother sent him there to learn about jockeyship many years ago, Murtagh has never forgotten his Meath roots - he reads the Meath Chronicle every week, so that's a positive sign for starters. When I arrived, punctually as advised at 7.30, the only man I recognised was Johnny Murtagh. You see, I'm not a golfer, so while I might write a golf note or two for Headfort each week, and know who won the Sunday scramble, I would not necessarily be able to put names to faces. And the most famous, and allegedly the best, Headfort golfer that I know, George Smith, wasn't there. So in a contradictory sort of way, Johnny Murtagh, as is his custom, greeted me with his usual enthusiasm (that's not giving anything away, is it?) and duly introduced me to the captain, Tom Briody and the president, Jimmy O'Brien, who assured me that although he has lived in Kells for 'a long time' that he was a real Navan man. That made me feel more secure. I can honestly say that I don't know too many superstars, but I know one - Johnny Murtagh. Yes, he gets big money for doing what he does, that's what makes him a superstar. And you may be thinking that honorary membership at Headfort might not mean much to him. But that would be an unfair judgement. The event was deliberately kept informal and it worked. After the formal photographs and speeches, the highlight of the evening was unveiled. That it was unexpected, made it even more enjoyable. Yeats was involved. Now this was not the late William Butler, but the equine version winning the 2009 Gold Cup at Ascot for the fourth time, making history in the process. It gave the patrons who viewed the replay of the race an appetite for more. Yes, Johnny won the race again and was applauded for it. It was obvious that some of those watching the action weren't too sure whether he was going to win it or not, but they were quickly converted. Next Sinndaar flashed up on the screen, Fame And Glory, some others, to horseracing enthusiasts it was like watching Kevin Foley's goal against Dublin in 1991 again - it gets better all the time. The boy from Bohermeen was told by Fred Reilly, a former captain of the club, that there would be a question and answer session. About 60 minutes later, Fred said 'right' we will have to finish it now. During an absorbing hour, the lucky patrons were treated to some seriously humorous banter in which Johnny's father-in-law, Babs Keating, suggested that he might bring some of the Tipperary hurlers to Headfort with the likes of Frankie Detorri as the team captain to take on Johnny's team of Meath footballers. Lucky for us he didn't suggest that he might bring the Tipperary footballers as well. The question which had the patrons almost rolling in the aisle - not that they did as it would not be proper and fitting behaviour in a golf club of the calibre of Headfort - was "did you ever ride a winner that was as good as Mick Fitzgerald's Aintree Grand National victory." "Look my father-in-law is here and I have five children, so what can I say" was the response which, again, had the patrons doing the virtual version of rolling in the aisle. Lady captain Eustelle Conneely, in typical woman-style, claimed she didn't know much about horseracing - "but we are looking forward to you playing the mixed tournament" to which Johnny replied that his wife would enjoy that as she had started to improve her golf recently after a number of interuptions for which he accepted full responsibility. There were other more serious questions directed at the Royal County's superstar. He told the attentive audience that regardless of how St Nicholas Abbey might run in the Guineas at the weekend, that they should watch out for a blistering performance aorund Epson in June. He also pledged to return to Headfort soon for some more of the club's famous hospitality.