AROUND THE WORLD
Volume 1 | Week 5
🏆 TOMMY’S REPORT
Finn’s still away in Europe… and Apparently he’s Been Looking in Some Strange Places. We asked him to keep an eye on what has been happening in racing around the world.
He came back with a horse calling a racecaller, a horse called Brucie nearly winning a Grand National, a racecourse being attacked by an old coal mine and Lionel Messi somehow turning into a goat.
So, fairly standard week really.
🇬🇧 Britain:
The Day the Racecourse Nearly Disappeared
When they said the track had opened up, this wasn’t quite what they meant.
There are plenty of things you expect to stop a race meeting.
Rain. Fog. Lightning. Maybe even the occasional escaped horse.
However an old coal mine isn’t normally on the list.
Back in May, Haydock Park suddenly had a hole appear in its outer course after Friendly Soul put a foot into it during a race.
At first everyone naturally suspected drainage.
Then the engineers arrived.
And kept looking and looking.
And eventually discovered the problem went rather deeper than anyone expected.
The hole was linked to a fissure associated with historic mining beneath the area, together with an earlier repair that had deteriorated and created an unstable pocket beneath the turf.
They brought in structural engineers, specialists and even ground-penetrating radar before racing finally returned to Haydock on 7 August.
Tommy looked at Kenny.
“So they weren’t checking the track?”
“No.”
“They were checking what was underneath the track?”
“Pretty much.”
Tommy nodded.
“Good thing nobody entered a pit pony.”
🇺🇸 America:
Calling Collmus… Called by Collmus
Some race calls are memorable. This one was almost impossible to call with a straight face.
Larry Collmus has called some of the biggest races in American racing.
Kentucky Derbies. Triple Crowns. Breeders’ Cups.
But eventually somebody decided Larry needed a new challenge.
Calling Larry.
Well, Collmus, anyway.
The horse carrying his name belongs to Zedan Racing and is trained by Bob Baffert. He’s a son of Gun Runner and cost a rather serious US$2.2 million as a youngster.
Which presents an unusual problem for a racecaller.
Imagine spending your career trying not to make yourself part of the story and then having to shout your own surname down the straight.
Tommy thought about this.
“If the horse wins, does Larry get to say Collmus wins!?”
“Yes.”
“And if he gets beaten?”
“Larry has to announce that too.”
Tommy shook his head.
“Two-point-two million dollars and you still can’t control what people say about you.”
🇳🇿 New Zealand:
Lord Spencer Versus… Brucie
Lord Spencer and Brucie settle an old argument the traditional way… over the fences.
The 151st Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton had all the ingredients you’d expect from one of New Zealand’s great jumping races.
History.
Stamina.
Courage.
And a horse called Brucie.
At one end of proceedings stood Lord Spencer, whose name sounds rather comfortable around silverware, country estates and someone bringing afternoon tea.
At the other was Brucie.
Just Brucie.
And Brucie very nearly pinched the whole thing before Lord Spencer prevailed.
Tommy was firmly in Brucie’s corner.
“Of course you were,” Kenny said.
“Mate, if a horse called Brucie wins a Grand National, that’s not racing. That’s Australia and New Zealand achieving something culturally important.”
🌎 Somewhere Between Argentina and America:
Messi Has Become a Goat
Finn finally found a GOAT who really does belong at the racecourse.
Finn saved his best one until last.
Burnham Square has developed into one of America’s outstanding turf horses, stringing together a remarkable run of form.
But apparently he doesn’t travel alone.
His travelling companion is a little goat.
Named Messi.
Yes.
Messi.
Which seems particularly appropriate in 2026, because after a World Cup in North America, we’ve somehow ended up with another Messi wandering around the United States.
Only this one eats grass.
And doesn’t take free kicks.
The little bloke reportedly travels with Burnham Square and helps keep him settled when the horse is being moved around.
Tommy stared at Finn.
“So you’re telling me one of America’s top racehorses has his own emotional-support Messi?”
“Basically.”
“And Messi’s a goat?”
“Yes.”
Tommy sat back.
“Well, people have been calling the other Messi the GOAT for twenty years. Someone was eventually going to take it literally.”
Finn wasn’t finished.
Apparently Messi isn’t exactly an uncommon name in the horse world either, with racehorses around the globe having carried the famous Argentine name.
Which raises a tantalising possibility.
One day we could conceivably have:
Messi the horse.
Travelling with Messi the goat.
While Lionel Messi watches.
Kenny put down the form guide.
“Don’t encourage him.”
Too late.
Tommy was already wondering whether the goat was eligible for the Melbourne Cup.
Tommy’s Final Word
So there you have it.
A mine underneath a British racecourse.
A racecaller calling a horse bearing his own name.
Lord Spencer fighting off Brucie in New Zealand.
And a champion racehorse travelling around America with Lionel Messi’s four-legged namesake.
Sometimes we go looking around the world for racing stories.
Other weeks…
the world does most of the work for us.
Until next week, keep your eyes open.
Because apparently looking at the horses isn’t nearly enough anymore.
