Jockeys, still in their silks, also had to leave their belongings behind in the hasty exit and many relied on the generosity of the residents of Liverpool who rallied round and provided food and shelter for those stranded.
As the budgeteers huddle behind closed doors, it is perfectly possible that the taunts of isolationism will needle Republicans into greater generosity on the foreign-operations budget, thereby vindicating Mr Berger's way of doing things.