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Get in touchYou might feel sure that a horse is not a Flamingo, a Polar Bear, a Tomato, a Teapot, a pair of Bootlaces, a Taxidermist, a Rat Catcher or a Flea but you’d be wrong. Racehorse owners often give their horses bizarre names that would seem to make success impossible. Luckily, thoroughbreds are able to defy such handicaps. A Spaniel has won the Derby (1831), a Crow the St Leger (1976), a Butterfly the Oaks (1860) and, difficult to imagine, Oscar Wilde the Welsh National (1958). It’s bonkers. Bonkers won at Southwell in 2002. Over the centuries there have been hundreds of thousands of different names bestowed or inflicted on racehorses and in Fifty Shades Of Hay, David Ashforth has picked out a selection to baffle, surprise and amuse in equal measure.
"The wittiest man writing about racing has provided the punter’s perfect bedside compendium." Robin Oakley, The Spectator
"...witty and erudite, as you would expect, and I can’t stop leafing through it." Tony Paley, Racing editor at The Guardian and The Observer
"Despite the fact that this book deserves to be on every coffee table, it also deserves to be read from cover to cover — it’s fascinating, laugh out loud funny and very, very clever." Gemma Redrup, Horse & Hound
Processing time is currently 1–2 business working days from completed order.
Orders containing in-stock products, received before 12 noon Monday to Friday, will be processed and dispatched the same day. Orders placed after 12 noon Monday to Friday will be dispatched the next working day. All orders are fulfilled by Royal Mail.
Orders that contain pre-order products will be shipped separately at no extra cost to UK-based customers. In-stock products will be shipped in line with our delivery terms above.
Pre-order products will be shipped on their individual release date, which is shown on the product page and directly underneath the ‘Pre-order’ button prior to purchase.
You may receive shipping notifications for orders that contain pre-order products, but these notifications only apply to the in-stock items in your order.
If you live outside the UK and wish to purchase both pre-order products and items that are currently in stock, please place these on separate orders. Due to international shipping regulations, we are unable to split a single order for shipment to customers outside the UK.
If multiple products in one international order have different release dates, the entire order will only be shipped once all products are available. This ensures that all items are sent together in a single shipment.
EU customers can enjoy a hassle-free shopping experience with all taxes and duties paid at checkout. For orders under €150 (excluding shipping and taxes), all VAT and customs duties are included in the price at checkout. No additional charges will apply upon delivery.
Please note: Some EU destinations may charge a handling fee upon delivery. This is beyond our control and must be paid by the customer in order for the product to be released by customs. Please check with your local customs authorities for more information.
For shipments to the United States, an additional 10% tariff surcharge will be included at checkout to cover US import duties and taxes. This charge is calculated automatically during checkout.
The customer is also responsible for any additional customs duties, taxes, or handling fees that may apply once the goods arrive in the US. These charges are beyond our control and must be paid directly to US customs authorities.
Please allow additional time for US shipments, as customs processing may take longer due to tariff clearance.
Shipping charges to the EU and other international destinations are calculated based on current Royal Mail shipping rates. These fees are automatically calculated during checkout based on the weight, size, and destination of your order.
For any questions, feel free to contact our customer support team at shop@racingpost.com.