In the Klarion Spo
otlight
W
THIS MONTH: Kingsley Klarion Editor John Scanlon
E turn the tables on our own Editor this
month by putting in the spotlight John
Scanlon, the man who is usually asking the
questions rather than answering them.
John, 54, has been at the heart of the magazine for
the past 12 years in an operation which sees him
writing stories, composing headlines, conducting
interviews, gathering statistics, reviewing books,
producing a column . . . and a lot more too! Does the
word "versatile" come to mind? After training as a
solicitor and practising in Scotland for 19 years, John
decided on a change of career and qualified as a
teacher in 2000. His initial link to MJR came shortly
before that when he contacted Mark with a view to
writing an account of a year in the life of the yard, an
idea which came to fruition with his book "Always
Trying" which was published in 2000. Mark later asked
him to take on the task of compiling the magazine, a
job he enjoys performing alongside his full-time
responsibilities as a devoted teacher.
Date and place of birth: I was born at
Beckford Lodge, Hamilton on January 3,
1958
What was your most exciting racing moment? Being at Newmarket
for Attraction's Guineas. I recall that Kevin Darley
had said "if she stays, she wins." I remember holding
my breath for what seemed like a very long time as
the field approached the bushes.
Marital status: I'm married to Mairi. We
have two children, Michael (17) who is
studying Maths at the University of
Edinburgh and Clare (15) who is at school in
Glasgow.
How, and when, were you introduced to
horseracing? The family home was in
Bothwell Road, Hamilton, directly opposite
the racecourse. I was able to watch the
horses flashing past the end of the loop at
Hamilton Park from my sister's window and
was mesmerised by the speed and flash of
colour!
A smart wee
laddie! Toddler John
in his tartan trews
And to MJR? I used to follow Mark's horses from afar and wrote to him
when I had the idea to write "Always Trying" in 1999.
What is your main occupation? I am a Primary School teacher,
though these days I feel writing the Klarion takes up even more time
than that!
If you could choose any other
career, what would it be? If age
and fitness were no bar, I'd have
loved to have been a tennis
player. Now I'd settle for being a
Racing Manager to a suitably
well-heeled owner.
A teenage John - rather
more hirsute than today
Where do you live and what
took you to that area? I live in
Newton Mearns to the South
West of Glasgow, which is handy
for my wife's family and well-situated for getting to work.
Favourite racecourse, and why? I'd have to say Hamilton Park as it
stimulated my interest in racing; down south I like York, Doncaster and,
whisper it, the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket - I really don't see why
it is getting such a hard time in the press at the moment.
Least favourite? Ascot. User-friendly it is not. Have never felt
comfortable there.
What is the last film you saw and film you would most
recommend? Strangely enough the last film I saw was "Chariots of
Fire" when it was re-released prior to the Olympics. My favourite film
of all time is "The Mission", starring de Niro and Irons, as Jesuit priests
caught up in the politics of South American colonies.
What were your best, and worst, subjects at school? BestFrench/English Worst - Art.
Are you superstitious? No.
Two people you would most like to be seated next to at a dinner
party? John McEnroe and Gabby Logan.
Do you have any pet hates? The faux sentimentality which has overtaken the British news media in
recent years.
Favourite singer/band? Josh
Groban, Nanci Griffith, Professor
Green, Scala & Kolacny Bros.
Favourite actress? Nicole Kidman.
Favourite actor? William Shatner
in 'Boston Legal' as Denny Crane.
Favourite author? Philip Pullman
and Lissa Oliver.
What pets do you have? A Cavalier
King Charles spaniel named 'Tricky'.
John and Mairi on their
wedding day
What kind of car do you drive? Honda CR-V.
A restaurant that you would recommend? The Witchery
by the Castle on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
What would you choose as your last meal? Fish and chips!
What is the best horse you have been associated
with? I had a share in a juvenile by Contract Law
back in the 1990s. His name was Tam Tain and he was
trained by Linda Perratt at Cree Lodge . . . in all truth,
'best' is not an adjective you would have associated
with him but he may well have been a champion Polo
eater.
What is your favourite drink? Peroni; whisky and ginger
ale.
And the best MJR horse, if different from above?
Shamardal.
What would be your 6 desert island discs and one possession you would like to have on your island? Can a pet
be a possession? If so, I'd take Tricky. Six tracks are hard to
pick - at the moment I'd go for the following: Read All About
It - Prof. Green; Human - The Killers; America - Razorlight; Mi
Mancherai - Josh Groban; Boots of Spanish Leather - Nanci
Griffith; The Blower's Daughter - Scala & Kolacny Bros.
What are your racing colours? Emerald green with
mauve chevron and armlets, emerald green cap.
Why did you choose them? I had a favourite jacket
at the time in a combination of those colours!
What is the best name you have given to a horse
and why did you choose it? One of the shareholders chose the name 'Tam Tain' after a hill in the
Kilsyth Hills, near Glasgow
Choose one race to have replayed on TV. The
brave effort by Mister Baileys in Erhaab's Derby of
1994.
What station is your radio tuned to? Radio 5 Live - for
Nicky Campbell on the morning show.
What cds do you currently have in your car? I've just
cleaned it out!
Who has had the biggest influence on your life? My parents.
What was the best advice you were ever given? My father
crushed my football ambitions when I was 15 or 16. "You're
one-paced," he told me. Harsh, perhaps, but true.
Tell us something about yourself that we probably don't
know.
A proud Hamiltonian, my favourite Premiership side is
John’s most exciiting racing moment: Attraction stays the mile to win the 1000 Guineas in 2004
Wigan
because James McCarthy and James McArthur are
The race you would most like to win? Definitely the Prix de l'Arc de
former
Hamilton
players!
Come on the Latics!
Last book you read and book you would most recommend? Other
Triomphe.
than for reviewing purposes, the last book I re-read was 'Wild Ride' by
Do you have any regrets or things you would like to have done difWhat is your favourite holiday destination? As a family we spend a
Anne Hagerdorn Auerbach. I would recommend Philip Pullman's His
ferently? Plenty, but will keep my own counsel on them.
lot of time in St Andrews, but I love the French and Italian Rivieras.
Dark Materials to anyone who has still to read it - an incredible feat of
Do you have a racing hero, human or equine? Over the years, and
imagination and storytelling.
Place(s) you most want to visit? I'd love to visit Rio in 2016.
pre-MJR, I was hugely fond of an old sprinter called Vilgora, a Hamilton
Favourite TV programme? Coronation Street!
What is your favourite sport outside racing? Tennis, football,
specialist, and after meeting Criquette Head I was very fond of the filly
running and rugby.
Hatoof, who I think won the Champion Stakes for her.
www.markjohnstonracing.com
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Other recreations? What other recreations? Writing the text of stories
for teh Klarion and keeping abreast of all the winners for the Klarion
Update doesn't leave time for any!
What schools did you attend? John Ogilvie Hall (primary) and St
Aloysius' College, Glasgow.
www.markjohnstonracing.com
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