Racing diary

BRITAIN'S 500 stallions can approach Valentine's Day this Wednesday with some degree of confidence. The official breeding season for Thoroughbreds begins the day after, which means six months of assured equine l'amour for them.

For the veteran Gunner B, at 28 believed to be the oldest active stallion in Europe, the company of 25 mares is promised from Thursday to July, when the season ends.

"He's been seeing the girls and getting his motor revving a bit," said Peter Hockenhull, owner of Shade Oak Stud, the stallion's home. As one horse year equates to three of the human variety, Gunner B is the equivalent of a 90-year-old. Easy tiger.

SANDOWN PARK, which attempts to beat the weather again on Thursday and Friday, may have to rethink the "Titus Oates" nom de plume given to the tipster whose selections are carried in the track's racecards. After all, the original Titus Oates predicted to Charles II that there was a plot to kill him, which prompted the king to execute 35 innocent bystanders. No less serious for punters was Oates's return of just two winners from seven selections given in his name last weekend. The odds weren't much better than 3-1 for the double. Off with his head.

CHRIS WRIGHT, who is standing down as chairman of QPR and Wasps, still has his racing interests - and, presumably art. Wright's best known horse to date was called Culture Vulture.

THOUGH Millwall bucked the trend by rising 151 per cent in the last six months, since the start of the season in August shares in football trading on the Stock Exchange have lost about £500 million of their market value.