Another stunning autumnal morning and most of the horses doing two routine canters today. No runners although plenty of debate about which entries to take up over the next few days with a few of the horses so plenty of time on the phone to owners.
No visitors this morning but our dentist Tom Siddall was in and is working his way through the team. Tom does such a great job and is fascinating to listen to and will happily explain what he is doing. He’s another important small cog in our ever increasing wheel and knows us all well as he rode a few winners for us too before he retired.
Talking of jockey retirements, I was reminded this morning that it was 7 years ago today that Jimmy Derham suffered a career ending injury whilst riding Tri Nations for us at Uttoxeter. A winner of 4 hurdle races before he joined us including once with Jimmy, the combination went on to win again for us at Newton Abbot and in 8 races together, and 28 races before the Uttoxeter race, Tri Nations had never fallen. Indeed it was his only fall of Tri Nations career and just shows how, in a split second, a jockey’s life can change forever. Jimmy was a complete horseman and is one of the most enthusiastic and effervescent people you could meet. It it’s such a shame he was forced into early retirement through injury and it’s a stark reminder of the dangers jockeys put themselves through regularly for the sport we all enjoy so much.
The weather is an obsession of every trainer I’m sure and, as well as looking at all the various racecourses that I want to run horses at this week, I’m also looking at the forecast for a week on Sunday as it is our Annual Owners’ Day. Another reminder to let us know if you are coming if you haven’t already please. Just drop Belinda an email.