Smith had good reason for Players Championship 4 absence: "Meetings like this you don’t turn down"

Michael Smith was absent from the fourth Players Championship of the year. But 'Bully Boy' had a good reason for that.

The reigning world champion and his two sons were invited to Haydock Park, where a major horse race was taking place. Smith was allowed to show his World Championship trophy and there was no shortage of memories for the 32-year-old.

“I used to live around 10 minutes away from here and my new house is even closer. This is the only racecourse I’ve ever been to," he said to St Helens Star.

“Haydock Park was my first ever sponsor at darts. Back then, they set up a dartboard in the racecourse and I did like five hours of practice in there and people could come in and have a pint and have a chuck at the darts with me, so that would have been about 13 years ago. That was my first experience here.

“Whenever I’ve had time I’ll come along.”

“We’ve been really looking forward to today and I’ve got the kids with me for the first time.

“I should be in Barnsley playing a PDC event but meetings like this you don’t turn down.”