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'Mr Racing' celebrates 40 years with double honour

A Newcastle horse racing journalist has been honoured after 40 years of service to the sport in the region.

Doug Moscrop, racing editor at the Newcastle Journal, has had two races named after him to celebrate his long career.

The Doug Moscrop 40 Years In Racing Handicap ran at Catterick last Wednesday, and another race is planned for 3.40pm on Monday, September 9 at Gosforth Park.

Doug said: “To have these two races held in my honour is absolutely terrific.

“When you have spent 40 years in racing as a journalist at one newspaper, that is a long time and it is nice to see some recognition.”

Doug began working at the Journal in May 1962 as a general reporter after leaving the Berwick Advertiser. Three months later, Doug joined the sports team.

He said: “I went off one afternoon while at the Berwick Advertiser to a point-to-point at Kelso. I hadn’t told anyone where I was going and when I got back, I was told to start looking for another job. That is when I joined the Journal and, since then, I’ve never looked back. It is fantastic to be making a living doing something I love.

“I have many happy memories of my time at the Journal. Tyneside trainer John Bank named a horse after me a few years ago – The Moscrop Kid, which didn’t do too well at all but it was one of the best things to happen to me.

“Racing is not what it used to be. It is not as enjoyable these days. There is too much of it for me to be able to cover it the way I want – I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I’m not able to spend the time I want to on every race.

“I have always spoken my mind and stood up for punters when I thought they were not getting a fair crack of the whip. People call me up with complaints about bookmakers not paying out and I’ve always been prepared to intervene so I’ve been a bit of a racing agony uncle over the years, as well as a writer.”

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