The sweet smell of Sticky Toffee Pudding pervades the oh-so-neat village square of Cartmel. Fifty years ago the odour of skulduggery wafted across it from the bijou racecourse next door.
Nothing beats 'being there' and half a century on it seems like yesterday that we made our way round Morecambe Bay from Lancaster University to the tiny jumping course to witness one of the most stylishly orchestrated racing gambles.
The four of us never missed a Cartmel meeting. We weren't, though, wanted 'as witnesses' at Preston Crown Court when the perpetrators of the coup appeared there 18 months later.
It's the 50th anniversary of the Gay Future affair at the 1974 August Bank Holiday jumps meeting on the edge of the Lake District.
The audacity of it all made headlines beyond the racing pages but were soon trumped by the even more infamous disappearance of Lord Lucan after the murder of the family nanny. The difference between the two unconnected incidents was that Gay Future was seen again and nobody died.
The mechanics of the gamble on Gay Future in the Ulverston Novices' Hurdle were so outrageous what could possibly go wrong? 18 months later the judge at Preston all but directed the jury to let the Cartmel defendants off. His Honour summed up: "It was ingenious and nobody got hurt."
His words went unheeded; 'victimless crime' wasn't around in those days and the swingeing fines for the mastermind, Irish building contractor Tony Murphy and his 'accomplice' Ayrshire permit holder Tony Collins amounted to £1,000 each, plus costs.
The Jockey Club's punishment was more targeted: both men were 'warned off', banned from racecourses for 10 years.
But was it a 'crime'? 'Inside information' weren't then the dirty words they've become. A damning verdict is awaited on the betting scam using such 'privileged' information on the date of the last month's General Election with the -matter still under investigation at time of writing.
Esta historia es de la edición August 2024 de Racing Ahead.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 2024 de Racing Ahead.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
LION ROARS TO TOP SPOT
John Anthony is right up with the pace as the speed horses kick on again
JUST STAY IT AGAIN SAM!
Paul Jacobs relishes a grand October climax with final Flat season flourish
TROY JOY OPENS THE FLOODGATES
lan Heitman recounts a month of stunning track highlights
FINEST LAP OF HONOUR
Graham Buddry tells the dramatic tale of Australia's brilliant Southern star
DOWN LAMBOURN WAY
Richard Eagle brings news from the Valley, Epsom and beyond
BOY WILL STEP UP IN THE WET
Ben Morgan sticks to his guns with 10 top tips to follow in the coming weeks
CUTTING BACK TO THE OLD DEBATE
Rolf Johnson weighs up one of racing's perennial chestnuts
FROM BOOK TO BOOKIES
The former Sky frontman turns detective in hunt for Arc clues
FUM-ING BUT NO DISGARCE
Jeremy Grayson picks it up in the sticks after a late summer jumps break
MEMORIES OF SIR MICHAEL'S EARLY DAYS RUN SO DEEP
Dave Youngman looks back at Michael Stoute's road to success