Harry Redknapp, the former FA Cup-winning manager and reality TV star, has achieved a lifelong dream as his horse, The Jukebox Man, won the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. The victory marks a pinnacle in Redknapp's four-decade-long involvement in horse racing, a passion rooted in his East London childhood where his grandmother worked as a bookmaker's runner.
Redknapp, who grew up in Poplar in the 1950s when betting was illegal, recalled his nan collecting bets and being arrested regularly. 'It's a far cry from the East End of London,' he said. 'People forget there were no betting shops, betting was totally illegal.' The 6-1 shot triumphed in a strong field, joining legends like Arkle, Desert Orchid, and Kauto Star on the race's honour roll.
The Jukebox Man's victory came a year after Redknapp's best previous moment in racing, when Shakem Up'Arry won at the Cheltenham Festival. Reflecting on that near-miss in 2023, Redknapp said, 'I do lay in bed dreaming about him jumping the last at Kempton, taking it up and going clear.' This time, that dream became reality.
Redknapp's wife, Sandra, has long accepted his hobby. 'I think sometimes he doesn't tell me when he buys another horse,' she joked. After the win, Redknapp added, 'We've got a list as long as your arm so when you get a good one you've got to enjoy it.'
