Sunday, April 01, 2012

Racing time travel?

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Now, everyone knows racehorses go very, very fast, but when I was doing the research for my Newmarket Regency Fortunate Wager, I discovered something that made me wonder whether they can travel in time as well as over distance.

I was looking through the racing prints of the time - of which there are many -  and discovered this one by Henry Alken, produced in 1802. At first, I didn't notice anything strange. Driving around the streets of Newmarket, I am used to seeing strings of jockeys talking amongst themselves, laughing, arguing...

But... but is it me or is the rider in the lead TEXTING ON HIS MOBILE PHONE?



And even though it is the first of April, I promise this image hasn't been tampered with!

Jan Jones
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6 comments:

Joanna Cannon said...

Oh my goodness, it does look like it, doesn't it?! Great painting though, wonderful (with or without a Nokia) x

Jan Jones said...

I would SO love to write this story, Jo. But there might be a rather limited market for it...

J. Fishler said...

Zoomed in on print, had to laugh. Does look like it!

*shades of Dick Frances/Diana Gabaldon* ;)

Jan Jones said...

It really does, Jen! So funny as I see today's riders talking on mobiles all the time :)

Christina Courtenay said...

Sounds to me like it's time for you to write a time travel tale, Jan! Would make a great scene this :) Go for it!

Melinda Hammond/Sarah Mallory said...

Well spotted, Jan. Maybe a Dr Who story?