And They’re Off!!!!!

Amalla Cat our new racehorse we have purchased with 4 others in Tapalque. Its in training and will run its first race in 4 months at the Tapalque track.

My son Dale on La Margarita in Nov - he left to soon to see our race horse but I am sure he will be putting a bet on it!




My parents for a while lived on the back of Kempton race track in London. We had a secret route where we could get in free and we often did. We packed a picnic and settled in on the grass and watched the likes of Desert Orchid valiantly win his races ( he was one of England’s most famous race horses ) . I often said to my son “one day son we will own a race horse” He must have heard it a million time and always nodded his head in agreement but probably doubting every word. After all I was a poor rock and roll musician having a great life style but not earning a great load of cash.
As he got older I still mentioned it to him when we went to a race meeting and he still gave me that resigned look as if to say ok ok let me know when it happens.
Fast forward a number of years and I am living in Argentina after hanging up my trusty telecaster and buying La Margarita ( see rock and roll wasn’t that bad for me!).
About 6 months ago we noticed that very near La Margarita some road widening was taking place on a dirt road near us - it was a mystery what it was to be . One of our gauchos Carlos who works on La Margarita sometimes said that it was going to be an small airport . He sounded pretty convinced even to the extent we stared to look to see how much it would cost to bring a light aircraft to La Margarita - after all maybe Sir Keef would pop in. As the months wore on we were all convinced that Carlos was right . Then one day I passed it and saw what looked suspiciously like starting stalls . Ummm not sure that airports have those I thought and headed into town to ask the Town Hall to solve the mystery . Yep it wasn’t going to be the new Heathrow it was going to be a race track . A few weeks later one Sunday sure enough the first race meeting took place and we eagerly went to it . What a great event it was - gauchos galore eating choripans( sausages rolls Argentine style and drinking mate Argentine traditional drink ) It was fabulous and what made it all the more fantastic was that Raquel who works for me sometimes her son had a horse running and yep you guessed it only went and won - perfect day. If you are on La Margarita make sure you pop along you will love it - its traditional rural Argentina at its best full of gauchos in all their finery - no four by four motor bikes here - the horse is god ( well apart from Maradona) and it shows. Held every last Sunday of the month its not to be missed
Now my son is on La Margarita next week as he makes his way to a new life with Katie his long standing girlfriend in New Zealand . This time he wont hear me say that one day we will get a horse- no he will hear me say “Dale my son I just bought a race horse” . I had been taking to one of my Argentine friends in Tapalque who often used to ask me if a good race horse came up for sale would I be interested in being a part owner - you bet I would . Just before I left Argentina to go to the UK for the famous wedding he rang me . “Tenemos un caballo” he said and we are all meeting later today to buy it could I come . Firing up the land rover I headed into town and within 2 hours the deal was done . I am not sure which part of the horse I own but who cares the Derby here we come . I will take pictures if it and publish them on my next blog - all we will need then Johnny Francome to ride it ( was top English Jockey)

I cant wait to see my sons face - better late than never as the song goes.
This is David Cummings alias The English Gaucho off to the the library to get a copy of Horse Training for Dummies
Hasta Pronto

Coincidence or Destiny Again

A happy ending for Uruguay


This subject is a little bit like Corrie for me Gaynor since I always come back to it one way or another. Lo and behold here we are again and once again you have (well you don’t have to but it could be fun) to nod or shake your head as you find it if only out of sympathy for me !! Just to say here that there is one false fact in this blog just to see if you are paying attention!

Today (18h Nov 09) I am on my way back from Montevideo where I was doing a bit of business. In fact we have sold a small plot of land there. I owned it with Ed and Brian . Since I was on La Margarita I left Ed to sort out when we signed and what day we travelled - he could have picked any day out of six weeks and he knows nothing about football . Now almost exactly to the day four years ago I was in Montevideo with Gaynor , Brian and Nigel to see a football game. Nigel worked for me and being an Aussie he wanted to to see Australia play their penultimate World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay in the Estadio Centenario the historic Uruguayan stadium where the match was to be played. Gaynor was over the moon at being able to get away from all the well stocked shops in Buenos Aires! We were only to happy to join Nigel and arrived in plenty of time for the match. The Aussies were up against it but they fought really well and went home with a well deserved draw and we had loads of fun being Aussies for the day. A week later in Sydney they broke the hearts of the Uruguayans were they won the replay game and went through to the finals in Germany where they excelled themselves . The poor Uruguayans were left with the task of rebuilding their spirit for a try at the South African World Cup Finals . I always felt a little bit guilty not giving Uruguay more support .

Now how about this - is it coincidence or destiny? Remember I had left Ed to sort out all the travel arrangements’ to come here to Uruguay and he doesnt even know that England won the World Cup in 1966 ( umm not a good example I grant you!) - well imagine my surprise when I heard that Uruguay were playing their last World Cup qualifying match that evening on the very day we were to be in Montevideo to sign the land contract . Having won against Costa Rica in Costa Rica the week before by a goal all they had to do was hold that lead in Montevideo. They were deserved favourites to win but would they do it? . It was great for me - I like Uruguay and the people are very nice and this time my cheering would be for Uruguay . Twenty minutes into game and it looked fine - Costa Rica had picked up five yellow cards and it was odds on that Uruguay would be in the finals. It all looked over in the second half as Uruguay brought on a player they call El Loco. One of the Uruguayans guys I was watching the game with explained that he is loco with his head and it’s the only way he scores . He duly obliged as he drilled a great goal into the net with his head. It looked all over but not according to the Costa Ricans who wanted to ruin the party and two minutes later against the run off play they put the ball in the Uruguayan net . Oh no was I here to watch Uruguay’s hearts get broken again . Thankfully after seven minutes of extra time and a lot of suffering by us Uruguayans! were thankfully thorough - justice was done - Nos vemos en las finales chicos!!
OK was it coincidence or destiny I was here in Uruguay almost exactly four years after I had last seem them lose a desperate battle to get into the World Cup finals - this time it was a much happier ending. I for one am not sure but I like to think it was destiny for me to be in Uruguay when this game as played . Que tengan suerte en El Mundial Uruguay.

This is David Cummings alias the English Gaucho heading back to La Margarita with Uruguay’s cheers ringing in my ears

Hasta Pronto

The Times they are a Changing

1)Guest from all over just back from riding out (14.11.09)
2)Cows are just where I left them!


When Bob wrote that song he could never have visited La Margarita. I have been away for a few weeks in the UK for the wedding of my mates. I flew back about ten days ago and came straight to La Margarita and nothing has changed since I left. Ok I know it’s only a few weeks but in days when minor celebs can get married and divorced in that time its loads of time. Everything was the same here, I swear even the cows seemed to be laying down in the same place as when I left. It was great coming back here. We had some great guests come down to visit La Margarita from all over including Holland, Australia, UK, and the USA. They did the usually things, they rode horses, walked in the park, swam in the pool and in the evening drunk great wine and chatted and laughed with each other over dinner Something’s are bound to change but some things thank goodness don’t - that’s kind of reassuring to me - the fact that here on La Margarita things will always be the same - well at least I hope Bobs prophecy doesn’t come true here cos we like it just the way it is
This is David Cummings alias the English Gaucho off to walk with Fido and Jack and watch their vain attempts to catch hares.
Hasta Pronto
David

Keeping on Running!

( Another shot from Brians stag night)

When I was staying in Brighton to do my best man duties at my mates Brian and Gaynors wedding last week I saw a poster advertising the musical merits of a once famous group called the Animals. Now I knew lots of their old tunes such as House of the Rising Sun , Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood and the glorious We Gotta Get Out of This Place . I snapped up a couple of tickets and the Friday before the wedding off we set in search of some nostalgia. Entering the place it was clear to see that this audience was getting on a bit but cheer, shout and sing-along they did. As the famous (in their era) group came on it was like being sent back to the swinging 60s. Opening up with I’m Crying the whole place was suddenly rocking and this aging audience was suddenly 16 again. It was I have to say bloody enjoyable. As the band were wrapping up their last song the singer ( not Eric Burdon sadly but without doubt his replacement is very very good ) started to tell us about how many different talented artists had trodden the boards with them over the years and he reeled of an impressive list of names . He said that this particular night he had some one really special and as soon as he entered he would need to no introduction . I half expected the wonderful Sir Keef Richards La Margaritas favourite son, to saunter on with fag hanging on to the edge of his guitar , whisky in hand and a grin on his face - after all he only lives down the road I am told . Sadly its wasn’t the great one , instead a greying old bloke with long hair and a small stoop with a pullover on entered the stage and started to tune his guitar. All the time the singer of the Animals was waxing on about no introduction was necessary for this giant of a musician . Ummm it was for me, I didn’t have a bloody clue who he was but then he stated to play his guitar A D A D A D E7 and then he was off “Keep on running keep on hiding ,one fine day I’m gonna be the one to make you understand “ Ok if you are under 45 you may not know who he was but if not you will likely know it was the fabulous Spencer Davies. He was without doubt an icon in his day and the brother of Stevie Winwood to boot - a talent indeed. Here he was looking this night like he was modelling for Saga holidays but oh when he played and sang he looked like he was 20 again. What a night it was. I loved it and you would have too if you had been there - not sure what Maria made of it all but she did manage a verse of the House of the Rising Sun - albeit in Spanish! Hats off to all those old dudes ( me included )who come out to sing at the top of their voices to those old groups who still keep treading the boards -it was without doubt a night to remember . Bet their teachers who said to them “listen to me it wont last this music then what will you do it will be back to the factory “ are eating their words now big time!

This is David Cummings alias The English Gaucho off to search for my old trusty old Stratocaster -- now how did it go A D A D A D E7 Keep on running……………
Hasta la Vista soon gonna be back on the lovely La Margarita and to be truthful I cant wait Lalo our resident gaucho has now opened the pool yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
David Cummings