You won't believe this!

I think I may be out of a job! Panic not dear readers, I haven't been sacked on capability grounds just yet, however in my absence over the weekend The Boss had one of his most successful days racing and certainly what could be the best day of our 2013 season!

To set the scene, on Saturday morning I travelled up to York Harness Raceway to clerk for Smarty; we had a good day and the racing was brilliant. Rather than give you a blow by blow account of the meeting, I'll just direct you to the full results (otherwise this post will end up being a bit results-happy!). Results from the meeting can be found at http://www.bhrc.org.uk/raceresults.php?Track=York&TrackID=YK&RaceDate=2013-06-29

Anyway, as Smarty and me were already up in Yorkshire we'd decided to stop over in Green Hammerton and travel to a trot in Cullingworth the following day. On Sunday morning before we left the area, we called in to see Mick Welling's horses. Mick is the owner of York Harness Raceway and in the last couple of years has spent a lot of money improving the site and its facilities, as well as importing some very well bred American mares and stallions. We took a good look at his mares who were running with one of his stallions, Pro Bono Best, and whilst there the man himself turned up and insisted on giving us a guided tour of the horses. After deep discussios with Smarty about the mares' pedigrees and offspring left back in the US, he took us to see his yearling colts that are being prepared for the sale that he holds at the track in October.

Last October, on sale day, my friend Emma and me went to see Mick's mares and foals at the end of the day. Whilst there I came across a lovely colt who, unlike the other foals, didn't seem remotely scared of us. When every other foal darted to its mother's side to hide from the 'monsters' that were Emma and myself, this fellow wandered boldly over to me and stood to let me handle him. By the time we left, Emma was picking all four of his feet up while I stroked him. We wandered around the field and he stuck to me like glue, following me around patiently so that he could be stroked whenever we stood still. I fell in love that day, as not only was he blessed with a wonderful temperament, but he was the most eye-catching foal in the field. I named him Frankel, and here we are on that day:

As I work for STAGBI, I knew when the mark ups came in with the registrations that I would find out how he was bred, and what Mick had called him. I had notions that if I saved my pennies (that are supposed to be for a house deposit), that maybe I could buy him as a yearling at the sale and train him with Smarty. That idea dissipated rather quickly when I found out that he was by Cambest out of the Artsplace mare Lola, and had come into the UK inside his mother's belly from the USA. A full Yank! There is no way I can ever afford him, but the one upside is that I clearly have an eye for a good horse! His official name is Alexander Camden, but to me he is still Frankel. On Sunday I had the pleasure to see him again, and he is just as charming now as he was then, despite living with seven other colts, all of whom appear to have caught up with him in size.

Unfortunately Smarty wasn't allowed to stand as a bookie at Cullingworth (the powers that be don't believe in giving the next generation a chance), so we enjoyed the day by watching the racing together and having our own tipster competition. I had been texting the York results the day before to Heulwen Bulman in order for the Ceredigion (Aberystwyth) card to be completed with new prize money ready for next weekend, and was doing the same at Cullingworth, as well as getting results from Anthony Fettah from Ammanford to forward on as well. When the first text came through from Ammanford I went into minor shock: McKelvie had won. Big Mac had won a race. My Macca, the great big giant lump of horse who seems to get himself cast every other day and always looks a bit hard done by (he really isn't), had won his maiden race at Ammanford, just a week after throwing away a race at Allensmore. I did a little victory dance at Cullingworth, safe in the knowledge that few people knew me, but also a little disappointed that I'd missed seeing it in person.


McKelvie winning his qualifier (a test run to see whether he galloped)



McKelvie winning the first race by a short head, having travelled two wide the whole race

Half an hour later the results from race two came through. Hamish, or Bucklands Foxy Boy, had won race two. A double for The Boss! Cue victory dance number two! Little Hamish, the poor fella who'd been scratched the week before following a bout of colic, had won his maiden! 'That's it', I thought, I can never go racing again. I'm a bad luck charm.

Bucklands Foxy Boy winning the second race - a double for The Boss!

No sooner had I decided that my racing days were over when the results of race three came through. This is when I had to find a chair to sit down on, because I couldn't cope; Jingo had won the third race, his novice race, in the hands of Julie. So impressed was Anthony with him that he'd send the fractions (quarter, half, three quarter and mile times). Jingo had completed the half in 59 seconds, and had pulled up in 2.02.3, eight lengths clear of the second placed horse. The first three races had been dominated by our yard! It was only Sammy left to run for us then, but unfortunately he couldn't make it the dream day and he was unplaced.

Woodstone Jingo winning race three with Julie

I rang Mrs B once we were on the road back to mid Wales again, just because I was so pleased and excited. Days like Sunday make up for days like last weekend; when things are going wrong you begin to lose heart, especially when you know the horses are capable of better things. There's been years in the past where we've known that some of the horses in the stables aren't going to cut the mustard, but this year I can honestly say that I've looked at every one of them and thought 'yes, you can win a race at least', and that includes the two we haven't had out in qualifiers yet. It's nice to have that belief rewarded, particularly I must admit with Big Mac who isn't your typical sort of racehorse.



Big Mac and Jingo, winners together



I went over to the yard yesterday following an appointment with my osteopath. Due to her being a ninja who likes to hurt me, I wasn't able to do any mucking out in case I upset the work she'd done on my back and neck but I was desperate just to see the boys. Hamish had gone home with Mervyn but Jingo and Mac were stood down in the foaling pens making faces at each other. I suspect Jingo was taunting Mac by telling him he'd run faster the day before! The Boss assured me that despite not being placed, Sammy had run much better and with the same gusto as last season. He was drawn three off ten yards so The Boss had pulled him to the back and then let him go to finish, just to make sure he was capable of doing it. This is encouraging to hear and hopefully the old boy is back on form!



The only other news to report from the yard is Laddie and his injuries. The Boss continues to treat the damage on his lower leg (which I have now seen) and the smaller flesh wounds at the tops of his legs. Laddie stands like an angel to be treated, and then immediately reverts to being the world's biggest horse (in his head) the minute The Boss leads him back to his stable. He seems pretty upbeat and happy within himself, all things considered. It's going to be a long road, but when horses like Foolaround and Infinatey suffered similar (and probably worse) leg injuries as youngsters, we know there is hope for the little guy yet. And now that I've seen his sire (Pro Bono Best), I completely understand where his diminuitive stature originates from!

In my final news, it was another victory for a previous member of the team. The Fuffer Man won a nursery race again on Saturday, when Wales & Border Counties visited Ammanford hard track. He really is getting to grips with this racing malarkey. One more picture followed by the full results from Sunday's meeting:

The Fuffer Man, aka Derek, driven by owner Mark Evans

Full results from Ammanford (30th June):

Race 1

1st McKelvie
2nd Brywins Velvet
3rd Ontop Dragon Blood
2.05.5 sh head & 2 1/2L

Race 2

1st Bucklands Foxy Boy
2nd Peterstone Senator
3rd Ithon Kiwi
2.04.4 1 & 3/4L

Race 3

1st Woodstone Jingo
2nd Wellfield Elvira
3rd Giggs
2.02.3 8 & 2 1/2L

Race 4

1st Ystwyth DT
2nd Wellfield Alfie
3rd Ynyston Seelster
2.03.7 10L & 1/2L

Race 5

1st Rusharound
2nd McCoy
3rd Vyrnwy Terror
2.01.7 3 & 1 1/2L

Race 6

1st Blue Incredible
2nd Rhyds Panache
3rd Wellfield Ghost
2.00.8 1 & 1/2L

Race 7

1st Any Dream Will Do
2nd Luck Matters
3rd Rudd Hanover
2.01.8 neck & 1/2L

Race 8

1st Talavary Activator
2nd Hilltop West Art
3rd Lyons Stallone
1.59.8 1/2 & 4L

Over and out

From a slightly in pain but VERY chuffed Sarah (#1 Groom)