Philharmonic orchestra fails to speed horses

Philharmonic orchestra fails to speed horses

LONDON — Fiery horses and a cloud of dust, but no hearty “Hi-Yo Silver.”

A British horse-racing track said Thursday it asked the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to give a recital at its finishing post, hoping to wow spectators and spur the animals to quicken their pace.

Kempton Park race course, just south of London, staged the unique event Wednesday, as the orchestra played the “William Tell” Overture, the “Lone Ranger” theme song, during a horse race.

Organizers said it was the first race staged with a live soundtrack.

Hopes that the music would encourage a speedier race were dashed — winning horse Action Impact covered that one mile, three furlong course in two minutes and 20.34 seconds, more than two seconds off the record pace.

Today’s birthdays

Singer Mavis Staples is 70. Actor Ron Glass (“Barney Miller”) is 64. Folk singer Arlo Guthrie is 62. Bassist Dave Smalley of The Raspberries is 60. Singer Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys is 55. Banjo player Bela Fleck of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones is 51. Drummer Shaw Wilson of BR549 is 49. Country singer Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts is 39. Actor Adrian Grenier (“Entourage,” “Cecil B. DeMented”) is 33. Actor Thomas Ian Nicholas (“American Pie”) is 29. Singer Jessica Simpson is 29.