Bjorn Nielsen: Alastair Down meets a man born into oppression eyeing Derby glory
Since ducks first decided that webbed feet were the future, the Derby was run on the first Wednesday in June. But there are indeed no certainties in racing and in 1995 it was switched to Saturday.
Next weekend our greatest race will finally hove into view on Saturday, July 4. At this rate by the year 2220 it could form part of the run-up to Christmas with racegoers welcomed into Epsom by a chorus of O Come, All Ye Faithful.
And on Saturday one of the most ardently faithful of Derby devotees will be on hand when Bjorn Nielsen, owner of favourite English King,
returns to Epsom, the town that was his physical home as a teenager and has been his spiritual home every breath-drawing day since.
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Copy- 'It's tough financially and last year I said I might get a job driving a lorry instead - although to be fair I'd probably crash!'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'I had to fly back from Saudi on the day for the awards before flying back the following day but it really was a great evening'
- 'The lads often give out to me for saying what I say - but if I didn't say what I thought I wouldn't be being true to myself'
- 'All anyone wants is a pat on the back and these awards show you mean something to the yard and the people there. It's brilliant'
- 'It's tough financially and last year I said I might get a job driving a lorry instead - although to be fair I'd probably crash!'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'I had to fly back from Saudi on the day for the awards before flying back the following day but it really was a great evening'
- 'The lads often give out to me for saying what I say - but if I didn't say what I thought I wouldn't be being true to myself'
- 'All anyone wants is a pat on the back and these awards show you mean something to the yard and the people there. It's brilliant'