We didn’t think it was possible to have bigger fans of Bel Esprit than the mob at Eliza Park, but Brian Donohoe gives us a run for our money.

Brian, who is a great story in his own right as the founder of Donohoe Ice and a former Chairman of selectors for the Essendon Football Club, was a part-owner of Bel Esprit : only the second horse he was involved with.

Taking an avid interest in all the comings and goings of his pride and joy, the passion didn’t end when Bel Esprit retired to Eliza Park after his stellar racing career.

Indeed, apart from owning several of the Bel Esprit progeny (including recent winner Spirited Halo), Brian has kept records of every Bel Esprit runner … literally.

Compiling a scrap book which contains everything published about Bel Esprit and his progeny, Brian has manually entered every run by a son or daughter of Bel Esprit into a spreadsheet – all 664 of them.

What’s more, he has sliced and diced those stats in every way imaginable : the complete story.

As a result, Brian is managing the Bel Esprit blog which you can view by clicking here.

The blog is only in its infancy (kicking off less than a week ago), but Brian will be adding to it regularly and welcomes your contributions. If you’d like to have your say or have any questions relating to Bel Esprit, send us an email – info@elizapark.com.au - and we’ll forward it on to Brian.