Remembering Alastair Down

I first became aware of Alastair Down when the Sporting Life Weekender was first published, I forget the year, but it was just around the time I first discovered betting shops and fell in love with racing. In that order. Alastair used to share a page in the Weekender with Jeffrey Bernard (when he wasn't unwell), they both wrote in a similar fashion and told stories of a similar ilk. They were the sort that I was lapping up from the fictional tales of Robbie Box and Arthur Daley. Of course Alastair was soon so be on the Morning Line and famous in person in the racing world as well as for his writing waxing lyrical about the exploits out on the turf but that's where I first read his work. 

By the time I interviewed Alastair, at his home in January 2019 for #BettingPeople #72 it's fair to say he was still writing a well as ever but not getting the work that he used to. Having had access to the Press Room with Turf TV for some years I'd been in close proximity to him on numerous occasions but never got to even speaking, let alone first name terms with him as I had others. Not because he was unfriendly, but some people you do and others you don't and Alastair I didn't. I always get nervous before an interview but it was with some trepidation when I knocked on Alastair's door, I didn't really know what to expect as far as my reception would be. I need not have worried, he was welcoming and charming, I think we did a very good #BettingPeople. He was off to an industry dinner when he concluded and I was off home to upload what we had captured as soon as I could. The interview was extremely well received. It's still available to watch HERE

As the week it was released went on the response, mainly on social media, was pouring in positive and warm remarks abound. Knowing Alastair didn't use twitter and the like I decided to give him a call and let him know. I read out out tens of messages. He was quite overwhelmed, and became emotional thanking me for reading them to him. He said that he'd no idea that people still felt that way about him. This happened a couple more times as the week went on, with the same response. As sometimes happens when I do an interview, for a couple of weeks it seems as if you have found a new mate, he called from time to time but also as often happens things fizzled out after a few weeks. Of course, Alastair was to suffer some awful personal tragedy at the end of the year had much more on his mind than keeping up a fleeting acquaintance but it was very nice to be in his phone book for a bit. 

I hadn't seen Alastair to speak to for years before he came to Cheltenham to mark the renaming of the press room in his honour earlier this year. He appeared to be in his element, he was on the racecourse he loved, friends of his had made the journey from far and wide to be there. He  was the nucleus of a hubbub of them while he was in the press room then again before retiring to a private box to enjoy the racing. It certainly wouldn't have been the day to remind him I met him for an hour five years ago. 

Like everyone else I'm sure, I was very shocked and saddened to learn that Alastair Down passed away just days after and that happy afternoon at the races was to be the last time most of us saw him again. The memory of it did bring a smile to my face in a way though, what wonderful timing that opening ceremony was. Alastair Down, the great racing scribe had passed away in absolutely no doubt how highly he was still thought off by his friends, colleagues and beyond. I'm sure that knowledge made him a very happy man during his last few days on Earth especially having enjoyed his last afternoon of racing at his beloved Cheltenham. RIP Alastair.

Simon Nott 

Previous Blog FREE MONEY?