Indeed, one cheery soul gleefully predicted that it wouldn't make its first jumps season - and he was one of my pals!
Maybe if Racing Ahead was ever run as a business by myself and better-half Anne, it would have been an early faller.
But it never was a business, more a labour of love that cost us a fortune to keep afloat in the early years but has flourished into a magazine that has lasted two decades and is still bucking and kicking in the paddock.
I understand why there was such pessimism as, despite being the No2 spectator sport in Britain, racing has never been able to sustain a monthly magazine for very long.
We decided to start Racing Ahead when the excellent Odds On went to the great newsagent in the sky a few months earlier. I am told the exorbitant cost of some new-fangled thing called a website was to blame for it ceasing to exist in print form too.
So we took the plunge and I know there will be many people reading this who bought the first issue back in June 2004 with Kris Kin winning at Chester on the cover.
It's not easy covering racing in a monthly magazine as the sport rolls on day to day and things quickly become out of date. But, by always publishing near the end of the preceding month, we have hopefully struck a good balance of tipping pieces and horses to note along with features and interviews.
この記事は Racing Ahead の June 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は Racing Ahead の June 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
LOOKING BRIGHT FOR IRISH STARS
Karl Hedley reports as jumps challengers pile on the heat across the water
WELL SET TO STEP AHEAD
Ben Morgan has ten warming prospects to follow in the coming weeks
CUE FOR MANY A CELEBRATION
Graham Buddry recalls the life and times of jumps legend Cue Card
KID KAN DOO FOR NICHOLLS
Paul Jacobs casts a close eye over leading picks for this month's big races
TWISTER RUNS MASTER CLASS
John Anthony watches Nigel Twiston-Davies' star catch time judges' eye
NO LEAVES ON LINE TO SLOW THESE FLYERS
Simon Nott enjoys a West Country Weekend catching up with ring pals
EXPECTATIONS SOAR AT RIDGE
Nick Townsend talks to rising Newmarket training star James Owen
KID KAN DOO FOR NICHOLLS
Paul Jacobs casts a close eye over leading picks for this month's big races
NORMA'S COLOURS ARE FLYING PROUD
Robert Cooper sees Percy Willis and Kaadam grace white and green spots and red cap
CHIANTI FLOWS AS NEW LION GROWLS
Prior to the National Hunt season 'proper' getting underway at Chepstow the question on many people's lips was whether or not Willie Mullins would target a second consecutive British trainers' title.