'I was well connected and I've never made any bones about it - but that opportunity only takes you so far'
Ralph Beckett discusses the perilous days of the past and his prospects for York
![Ralph Beckett on the gallops at Kimpton Down Stables in Wiltshire 13.8.24 Pic: Edward Whitaker](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2F04f4a8078d0c-horse-racing-ralph-beckett-portrait.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Baseball caps tell a story, I've come to believe. At least racing ones do, the ones with the horse's name on the front and a key date or factoid that commemorates its status in the equine pecking order.
I remember visiting Ballydoyle with a bunch of other hacks, way back when, and as we left the freebie caps were handed out, advertising the Coolmore stallions du jour. Some were rationed, but if you wanted a One Cool Cat you could have as many as you wanted. In fact, if you tried to sneak off without one, the woman in charge of cap allocation politely hurled a few in through your car window.
In 2009, One Cool Cat was sold to stand in South Korea. My caps remain unsold on eBay.
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