After such fabulous weather this week I was hoping for more of a downpour, as promised, last night and had spent quite a lot of time spiking the ground where I’m moving my schooling ground to and watering it as well so that any rain that fell wouldn’t simply run off. However, we didn’t get anywhere near as much as promised but I don’t think it will miss us this weekend. We do need it as the ground is cracking in the fields.
Although not a winning day at Stratford on Tuesday, it was super to see so many happy faces at our most local smaller track. The atmosphere was back and our runners were well supported. Cut And Run was making her debut for the Racing Club after we purchased her from breeder Zara Tindall recently – she’d not run for nearly 200 days so we knew she’d need the run but was ready for a run. Patrick Cowley rode and, despite dropping back to last when the quick pace proved too much for her, she stayed on really well galloping all the way to the line to eventually finish mid division and give us hope that she’s going to be competitive again hopefully soon.
Eclat Des Mottes found the ground too quick over the minimum trip for him and, although he enjoyed himself up front for the first part of the race, he unfortunately slipped slightly on a bend and seemed to lose his confidence. We remain hopeful that a race will fall in his lap sometime over the summer and his enthusiastic owners are keen to keep going with him for the time being. He had the full support of the members of our Racing Club too – it’s great how all our owners support each other and really do all become part of Team Keighley.
On Tuesday Belinda chauffeured Head Girl Jasmin and her friend Callie to the Train Station in Moreton and waved them off to Royal Ascot, a treat from us for her hard work and she had a fabulous day – she’d never been before so thanks to Ascot for making it possible.
It was Victoria Taylor’s birthday on Tuesday and husband Carl treated her to a share in a racehorse – something she only realised when he presented her with a voucher shortly after arriving here. Great excitement and the decision she now has to make is whether to go with a ‘ready to run’ horse or follow the journey from the start with one of our exciting youngsters. We helped make the experience more special with fizz, flowers and cake – what more could a girl want?! I gave them a tour of our facilities and it was a fun morning.
With Fathers’ Day this weekend, do let us know if you think we can help with a surprise for the Father/ Father figure in your life – Racing Club membership to shares – there are so many opportunities.
Sorry to hear that, after 20 years, Simon Claisse has decided it’s time to hand over the reins as Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham to someone new – huge shoes to fill! I worked as a Groundsman at Cheltenham under Simon and learnt so much from him. He has always been so supportive – from allowing me to go part-time when my Training started to take off and he seems as pleased as anyone when we have winners, especially at Cheltenham which has been so lucky for us – I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve spent so much time working on the ground there! He has always been so very helpful and will be much missed by so many of us at the Course – good luck Simon in whatever you choose to do now.
This morning Stuart and Lisa White were here to watch the horses on the gallops including Pay The Woman and Fiddledi Dee. I can’t say it enough how enjoyable it is to welcome more people back to the yard! Keep coming!
