Here’s why we wait patiently for Godot

It waits, like a tatty tramp, as the Doom-spraying, snake oil-flogging, non-tax-paying religious industry has its prayers answered. The heavens spoke: “Gather thy flock together and spread the Covid … uh sorry, Word.”

Godot was originally meant to pitch on TV on Tuesday. No luck, she was arguing with some rural tribal chiefs. So, Wednesday then? Nope; now it’s Thursday. You reckon?

As we wait, hope and nerves start to fray. So, it’s a good time to remember what it is that makes us so keen to race once more. Here are some random quotes about the weird and wonderful game:

“The racetrack is an inherently amazing place, rich in language and personality, sometimes beautiful and sometimes sordid, always unpredictable. Racing is a business, an art, an athletic contest, a moral and spiritual test.” – American author Jane Smiley

“Horse sense is the thing a horse has which prevents it from betting on people.” – Hollywood star WC Fields

“Too much puritanical purging and cleansing and child-proofing, however well-intentioned, can seriously damage the allure of horse racing, which depends at least to some extent on the forbidden-fruit effect, the sense of indulgence in illicit pleasure.” – Anthropologist Kate Fox

“The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears.” – Arabian proverb

“God forbid that I should go to any heaven where there are no horses.” – RB Cunninghame Graham – Scottish journalist, adventurer and politician

Question before a race meeting: “Are your horses trying?” Answer: “Very!” – Apocryphal tale attributed to many trainers.

“This feels better than sex!” – Late South African mining magnate and racing fanatic Graham Beck in the winner’s circle

“Royal Ascot celebrates the noblest of English obsessions: class, animals, the monarchy and furtive sex.” – Journalist Tania Branigan

“It is not enough for a man to know how to ride; he must know how to fall.” – Mexican proverb, with wisdom for both jockeys and punters

“A horse runs with his lungs, perseveres with his heart, and wins with his character.” – Italian racehorse breeder Frederico Tesio

“The sight of that pony did something to me I’ve never quite been able to explain. He was more than tremendous strength and speed and beauty of motion. He set me dreaming.” – American author Walt Morey

“The [racing] life is halfway between appalling and so enviable you wonder why everybody doesn’t do it.” sports writer Simon Barnes

“Horse Chestnut was different to anything we’d seen before. He had the looks of an experienced champion, a quiet temperament and a big, smooth stride.” – Trainer Mike de Kock on first setting eyes on the two-year-old who went on to become what many pundits believe is the best thoroughbred to have raced in SA.

“A man on a horse is spiritually as well as physically bigger than a man on foot.” – Novelist John Steinbeck

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