THE RACING POST TUESDAY AUGUST 30th 2011

THE RACING POST TUESDAY AUGUST 30th 2011

 RACING POST WEEK MONDAY AUGUST 29th to SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 4th 2011

STARTING TO-DAY, DON’T MISS IT.

DAVID ASHFORTH kicks off a fascinating five-part series today, recalling the fearless exploits of John Mort Green the flamboyant Australian who landed a famous coup on SEA-BIRD in the 1965 Derby.

“FLOATS LIKE A BUTTERFLY STINGS LIKE A BEE.”

“HE WAS called The Butterfly because he flitted around the betting ring, from pitch to pitch, chasing the odds, watching who was  betting, on what, for how much, ears open. Either that, or it was the incident with the Japanese girl in a cocktail bar in Tokyo. She became upset when John Mort green spoke to another girl. “You no good you butterfly,” she said.

“The Butterfly flitted around the world , full of colour and life, stories and sayings and poems. ‘Inflate my ego gently, tell them heaven sent me, I’m not in racing for the bread, I’m in it for the gravy.” And the champagne, the girls, the Rolls-Royces.

“Mort, rather than John or Green was born in Brisbane in 1929, the son of a bookmaker Thomas Mort Green. Mort worked for his father, listening, watching, learning. ……

IN TOMORROW’S RACING POST, our great series continues as Julian Muscat charts the compelling punting career of Alex Bird, universally acknowledged as the photo-finish king.”

THE GREAT TICKET GIVE AWAY . “Another chance to see FRANKEL for free on Qipco British Champions Day with ten pairs of tickets to be won.

GREAT MEMORIES relive a classic Irish Champion Stakes encounter from the past.

TODAY’S RACECARD'S Epsom, Ripon,Goodwood, Wolverhampton and Southwell