A disappointing evening last night at Windsor for Mark Allen, Sandra and Howard Fine and their friends and family who had gone to watch Bay Dude have his second run. He’d run a decent enough race on his debut on 1st July at Windsor under George Wood who liked him and assured us he has a future ahead of him. Unfortunately George wasn’t available yesterday. Robert Winston was booked to ride instead but when he got to post on him he felt he was too keen and buzzed up to race and asked for him to be withdrawn and he trotted him back. I was very relieved there was nothing wrong with Bay Dude but very surprised at the explanation as to why he was withdrawn. A long way to Windsor for that to happen and we were all very disappointed.
Members of the Racehorse Syndicates Association here mid morning for a meeting in our Owners’ Room – a perfect place to host a meeting with a fully functioning kitchen next door, views across to David Nicholson’s old gallops and our turnout paddocks and plenty of parking.
Maggie Turner, our physio, and Nick Partridge, our Farrier, in this morning – Maggie’s visit was planned, Nick’s was due to a lost shoe – both so reliable and part of our team who are prepared to go over and above what would normally be expected and often put themselves out to ensure our horses are looked after so well.
This afternoon Ash went to Gatcombe Park to collect HRH The Princess Royal’s ‘Chequered View’ and bring her back into training. She’s had a good holiday and they have done plenty of work with her at home so she’ll be ready to crack on with.
Two on their holidays from today are Freddie & Harry who finished this afternoon for the summer. Whilst I was having a stressful evening at Windsor they were thoroughly enjoying their Temple Guiting School Leavers’ picnic in the school field. Always a fun night in idyllic Cotswold surroundings looking across to the hill of Jackdaws Castle and where they say goodbye to the children moving up to secondary school. It always ends with a ‘Dads vs Lads’ Football match until light stops play – the lads won again last night!