FERGUS WILSON, owner of today’s 1,000-1 St Leger no-hoper Maidstone Mixture and many other similar big-race outsiders, has had enough.

The retired Kent maths teacher and his wife Judith are estimated to be worth £180 million thanks to their buy-to-let property business. Their latest brainchild is to import Polish dentists to counter the NHS shortage.

Their no-hopers have left us all open-mouthed but it could soon be farewell to Fergus in big races.

He said: “I shall not even be at Doncaster. You wrote the first story about me in 1998 when I had £4,000 on at 250-1 that I would own a Grand National winner.

“I stood to win £1m but I don’t think it will ever happen. We will NOT be buying any more young horses. I always said I’d give it 10 years."

Wilson will go down in turf history as the owner who always aimed for the stars ... and seldom even saw his horses finish.

This year Wilson’s no-hopers have been the usual disaster:

CONTRABAND, 250-1 for the Champion Hurdle, trailed in last.

CONTRABAND (200-1), AZULEJO (200-1) and FUSTRIEN (250-1) all ran in the Gold Cup and were ALL pulled up.

CONTRABAND (125-1) fell at at the 11th fence in the Grand National.

MAIDSTONE MIXTURE (250-1) was last in the Derby and won a hurdle at Cartmel last month. Cartmel form usually does not work out in the St Leger.

Wilson added: “I can’t understand why people don’t realise the pleasure we get from running in big races. I don’t make the rules, I just play by them. It’s like the Olympics. It’s not winning that matters but just participating.

“I accept Maidstone Mixture may struggle in the St Leger but he is not the worst horse in the world. Next year he’ll go for the Ascot Gold Cup.”

Epsom are bracing themselves as Wilson entered two colts at the yearling stage for the 2009 Derby.

Wilson said: “They are still in France and they are both greys. They will be entitled to run.”

Ottrington (1812) and Theodore (1822) both won the St Leger at 100-1. But Maidstone Mixture would be the longest-priced winner of all-time. It would not happen even if he started during the Morning Line.

JENNY PITMAN could never have been accused of star-gazing. But now Aintree’s first lady and her son Mark are extending their Racing Club after their Flat horse Machinist, fourth in the Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood, did well for trainer Dandy Nicholls.

Now the Pitmans have moved into more familar territory. Aohna has been purchased and sent into training with Alan King.

Mark Pitman said: "The filly is unraced and the plan is to start her off in a three-year-old fillies race at the Hennessey meeting at Newbury in November. Alan recommended her to us before she had her summer break.

“We are thrilled to be teaming up with Alan, who has a high-class operation and has proved himself one of the best trainers. I go back a long way with Alan when he was assistant to David Nicholson.

“The Club has made a good start and we are hoping to have a runner next spring at the Dubai Carnival, which will be a memorable trip for our members.”

Jenny added: “Although Aohna is not the biggest filly she has great presence and believes she is a racehorse the way she struts around the place. She reminds me very much of Alekhine, who was unbeaten over hurdles before his injury at the Cheltenham Festival. If she can match his achievements we will be very happy.”

Mrs Pitman’s cheque-book secured many big-money buys in Ireland in her training days. One wag claimed that when she landed at Dublin Airport there were more people there to greet her than the Pope.

NATIONAL EXPRESS trains sponsored yesterday’s Doncaster Cup and today’s Park Stakes - just the ticket.

But the railway line will win few friends today for travellers coming from the north via Newcastle and York as the times of journeys will be increased by track works. That’s Classic planning on St Leger day.

ONE distinguished scribe finally arrived home in the early hours after Ladbrokes’ Leger lunch in London on Monday. His irate wife asked him why he was so late. “Piston broke”, he mumbled. “Story of your life”, came the angry reply.