Harry Redknapp’s Lifelong Passion: From East End Roots to King George VI Chase Contender
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A remarkable journey has led Harry Redknapp, a celebrated figure in both football and reality television, to the brink of steeplechase glory with The jukebox Man in the upcoming King George VI Chase. The former footballer and FA Cup-winning manager reflects on a life transformed by a passion for racing, rooted in the clandestine world of 1950s London.
Early Days: A Family Affair in the Shadows
“She wouldn’t believe it,” he says, transported back to Poplar, describing his grandmother’s role as a runner for an illegal bookie. At a time when betting shops were outlawed,the operation relied on individuals like “Cyril the paperboy” – a man in his seventies still referred to by his childhood nickname – to facilitate wagers. “Peopel forget ther were no betting shops, betting was totally illegal, so the only way you could have a bet was through an illegal bookmaker,” Redknapp explained. Bets were small – “Three tuppenny doubles and a tuppenny treble, that was the standard bet” – and results were gleaned from the radio at six o’clock each evening, meticulously scribbled down by his grandmother.
From Football Fields to the Racecourse
Redknapp’s passion for racing wasn’t immediate. while a player at West Ham United, his focus was on dog racing at tracks like Walthamstow and Hackney Wick. It wasn’t until a move to Bournemouth in the late 1980s that he became involved in horse racing, joining a syndicate with colleagues to purchase Slick Cherry with trainer David Elsworth. This initial foray proved fortuitous, as Slick Cherry ran alongside the legendary Desert Orchid, and achieved a 6-1 victory in a Windsor maiden in July 1990. “That was off and running,” Redknapp notes, marking the begining of a four-decade-long commitment to racehorse ownership.
A Lifelong Pursuit and Cheltenham Dreams
Redknapp is not a casual owner; he’s a dedicated fan who has weathered numerous disappointments. The highlight of his ownership journey thus far was the win by Shakem Up’Arry at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. this triumph softened the blow of The Jukebox Man’s narrow defeat at the same meeting, where the horse led over the final flight only to be overtaken. “I do lay in bed dreaming about him jumping the last at Kempton,taking it up and going clear,” Redknapp admits,but acknowledges the heartbreak of nearly succeeding at Cheltenham.
The King George VI Chase: A Champions League challenge
The Jukebox Man is currently considered a 6-1 shot in what is being described as a especially strong field for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. Redknapp compares the challenge to competing in the Champions League, acknowledging the formidable competition while maintaining hope. “You look at the teams that are still in it and you think, my God, but you still think you’ve got a chance and you’re dreaming that you could go all the way and win it.” he emphasizes that his horse has a genuine chance, particularly if he continues to improve as trainer Ben Pauling believes.
Redknapp’s wife, Sandra, has grown accustomed to her husband’s passion, even joking about his frequent horse acquisitions. “A guy on the TV said, ‘Harry Redknapp, he keeps buying horses and he never buys a bad one’, and Sandra fell off the settee laughing,” Redknapp recounts.Sandra will be present at the races on Friday to watch The Jukebox Man compete, hoping for a repeat of his Grade One win over the King George distance from the previous year. “He’s not favourite, but he goes there with a chance, and if he’s improving like Ben thinks he is he’s got a real chance.”
