The Jimmy Wright Memorial Stakes opens the Derby night card

Jimmy Wright Memorial Stakes

Jimmy Wright never trained an English Derby winner; his Droopys Verve finished runner-up to Dorotas Wildcat seven years ago. 

But the first race on Saturday’s Derby card will be staged in memory of the quiet ‘Fifer’ who lost a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease, four months ago. 

There will naturally be sadness at the loss, but, as Jimmy would want, there will also be a funny story or two, told in the exec box hosted by John Mullins and Brendan Keogh. 

Rab McNair still thinks about his best friend every day and was absolutely gutted when an injury to King Memphis ruled out the participation in the memorial race. 

Rab said: “I would speak to Jimmy and Angela nearly every day and it continues to hit me really hard. We were best friends for over 30 years, back to our flapping days, and we could go on holiday together as a foursome. 

“To be honest, I was hoping that his home track Newcastle would have done something to remember Jimmy, so great credit to Towcester for this race. 

“There is a party of four travelling down for the night, including Angela, and there will probably be a few tough moments.” 

But there will be no shortage of stories to retell about Jimmy and his acid sense of fun. 

There was the night that Rab and Jimmy both had runners at Shawfield and Rab challenged the former Leeds and St.Johnstone winger to a race to the pick-up. 

McNair claims to have been in front when Jimmy clipped his heels sending him sprawling into the Scottish mud. 

“The bastard” chuckles Rab. “To make it worse, it was in front of the whole crowd who gave out a huge roar. They didn’t stop cheering and even started a Mexican wave”. 

Rab left it 20 years until the two couple were on holiday and Jimmy found himself between Rab and the swimming pool. 

Rab produced a shoulder charge that would have gone down well at Elland Road, and Jimmy, clothes, phone and money, all ended up underwater. 

Most of the time though, Jimmy Wright’s sense of humour was more subtle. 

Rab recalls their regular Facetime calls which all had one thing in common. 

He said: “Every time I called him, he always seemed to have the same trophy in the background behind him. 

“I never noticed at first but it was every call. No matter where he was, there was the trophy in the background.” 

After several months, Rab could contain his curiosity no longer. 

“Jimmy what is that trophy behind you?” 

At last!  

Jimmy produced a huge grin. 

“That would be the trophy (the 2019 Trainers Championship meeting) that you have never won, Rab.” 

The Jimmy Wright Memorial Stakes takes place a 5.44pm, with the John Mullins-trained Wrighty running from trap four. 

He couldn’t – could he?