York crowd cheer popular veteran Mick Easterby double
BBC Sport
13 May 2011
Crowds at York's Dante Festival cheered popular veteran trainer Mick Easterby as the Sheriff Hutton handler saddled two winners in a row on the final day.
Easterby took the Ralph Raper Memorial Stakes with Thirteen Shivers before Then Hoof It, who won at York last year, won the Sportingbet.com Stakes.
"I'm so pleased, the owners are such nice lads," he told BBC Radio York.
"Hoof It is an improver," said his son David Easterby. "The Wokingham's probably his next race at Royal Ascot."
There were huge cheers from fans as Easterby, who bowed in response, climbed the podium to receive the first of his awards for Thirteen Shivers' win.
"The horse's owners are all lovely lads. One's an electrician, one's a plumber, one's a bricklayer, and one's a butcher.
"We meet in the local pub, discuss the horse and they drive me barmy. They argue and carry on so I just say please yourselves what you do.
"I'm a pretty good trainer, aren't I? Look after your customers and they'll look after you, that's the thing."
Easterby then predicted that Hoof It would "run a big race and will probably win" . . . and he did, at 7-1.
"It's nice to have a double at York," added Easterby Jnr, his assistant. "Dad bought Hoof It as a foal. There are only better things for him."
