Cilmery Races 2013

Finishing races is important, but racing is more important. Dale Earnhardt 

The person that said winning isn't everything, never won anything. Mia Hamm 


It’s over for another year! The third running of our local race meeting couldn’t have been blessed with better weather, and as I looked out across the track from our temporary stables at all the cars lined across the bank and the huge crowd stood in the sun between the bar and bookies, I couldn’t help but feel that we were finally seeing the fruits of our labours. For this is the meeting that The Boss, Mrs B and myself help to organise (for our sins). I’ve made reference to it throughout my posts for some time, always holding off explaining our involvement fully in case the weather decided to interfere and we were forced to abandon (a constant threat for all grass track race committees). Thankfully, mercifully, last night probably couldn’t have gone much better (naturally there were a few kinks that will hopefully be ironed out for next year, but we really are trying our best). Now, the day after, I can look back at it and say that I did actually enjoy myself on the night!



Background: The Boss was getting fed up of having to travel an hour/an hour and a half every week just to race (excluding Boughrood which is roughly half an hour away), and had identified a field on his son-in-law’s farm that he felt would be suitable to run a meeting on. Somehow he managed to convince Kevin that this was a good idea, and the committee was formed. The first meeting was run in June 2011, and I helped as much as possible on the day. As far as turnout was concerned, we had a bumper crowd and the racing was a great spectacle, however several issues were identified and certain things were changed for the following year.


I was invited to join the committee in December 2011, and one of the first things we did as a committee was agree to run heats and a final at the second meeting in 2012. Last summer we were very lucky to get a dry evening for the racing, however due to the terrible weather in the days leading up to the meeting we lost out on some local spectators as there was shearing that needed to be done! The track also suffered slightly and we just managed to get the racing finished before the heavens opened again. As I said, we were very lucky as the grass meetings both the weekend before and after were both cancelled due to the inclement weather. Last year we ran handicap heats and an open preferred handicap final, which the BHRC were not in agreement with (although they advertised it on their website for three weeks before ringing Mrs B two days before the meeting to say we couldn't run the races in this format). It turned out that there was no rule against this format and it went ahead, with Howards Contender getting up from the 10 hole to beat Another Toto (drawn 9) in a very close finish. Despite the competitive racing and good finishes, there was some talk after the meeting that Grade 2 horses (those drawn 1/2 on the gate) could never beat a Grade 9 or 10 horse (drawn 9/10 on the gate), although if the people who criticised it had been at the meeting and seen the job that Howards Contender had on his hands to actually win, perhaps they wouldn't have been so quick to slate it.

Fast forward to this year - due to the workload it was decided to ask a couple more people to join the committee. Stephen, a local lad whose parents run the pub in Cilmery and who is interested in harness racing as a spectator/punter, and Geannette, the driver Jamie Davies' sister, were both asked to join and both accepted. The overall format was agreed to be the same as last year, however the heats would be for Grade 1+ horses, and the top ten handicapped horses that entered would be removed from the heats and run in their own £1000 preferred FFA. This was on top of the £1000 open preferred handicap final.

We had over 100 entries, which were split into two qualifiers, three maiden races, one novice race, five heats, a PFFA and a final. Yesterday Smarty and me got to the track at 10am, pottered about for the morning down the track and in the house (Julie, Geannette and me were on sandwich duty for the sponsors tent), had lunch in the garden and then I sorted numbercloths before sitting on the gate for an hour to catch the lorries arriving. As always, Trefor Morgans was the first one in; 1:45pm he arrived, with the first qualifier due to go off at 5pm! Mervyn (Sammy, Bongo and Hamish's owner) and Geraint (Julie's husband) took over once The Boss and Julie came back from the yard with the horses, and we set up camp in Kevin's block of stables just above the track.

Mac was in the first race drawn 3; the two horses inside him started badly and getting to the first corner he was clear to take the inside rail...and then he galloped. Not just a skip, or a stumble, but full on galloping. I could see The Boss trying to get him back but he was fighting it and I am genuinely surprised he didn't snap his hobbles. In the space of an eighth of a mile he'd gone from first to last. He half-rallied but the same thing happened again on the second lap and that was his race truly over. The Boss came back up 'the chute' (our own private roped off walkway back to the stables) and said something didn't feel right; Mac hasn't done anything like that on the track before so I knew too that something was up. I washed him down with the help of my apprentice, Meg* and set about quietly harnessing up Sammy and Jingo ready for races six and seven.

*Meg came on the visit with the Pony Club and took a real interest in the horses and racing. Instead of coming to the races and just watching she was keen to help me with the horses, and I won't turn down an extra pair of hands on a busy evening! She's also coming to Allensmore on Sunday with us, so she must have enjoyed herself!

The Boss was out with Sammy in race 6, drawn two on the gate. He couldn't get to the front like last year, but sat patiently in second for the biggest part of the race before trying to challenge down the back straight on the second lap. He was unable to pass the leader and was pipped on the line by a head to not qualify for the final (first two horses from each heat qualified). Still, a good run and still a few weeks from 100%, plus a rosette meant that we were relatively pleased. Sammy doesn't run badly, it's not something he knows how to do, and he didn't let us down at all. It was all systems go then to get Julie out for race 7 with Jingo. He was drawn three on the gate but as I was busy washing Sammy and walking him up and down the lane I missed the biggest part of the race. The commentator wasn't overly loud or enthusiastic so I couldn't hear where Jingo was placed, but as they headed down the back straight away from us for the second time I could see the back horses through the trees and Jingo wasn't one of them! That's when I heard Ray Jenkins say Woodstone Jingo was in the lead - I threw a sponge at Meg and pelted it up the lane and into the field. The track came into sight just as Julie and Jingo crossed the line in front of Stevie Lees, and I may have whooped and cheered and shouted Jingo's name at the top of my voice, and done a little dance on my own! I ran to let them back up the chute and saw some more of the Pony Clubber's who'd visited, and they were all so excited to see that Jingo had won (after having sat in the sulky behind him on the yard).

Woodstone Jingo winning his maiden - photos courtesy of Graham Rees

I didn't have much time to celebrate with Julie as Hamish was straight out with The Boss in race 8. He was also drawn three, and although he ran well for the first lap and a half he faded coming up the home straight to finish. The Boss said he had little steering as Hamish has started clamping down on the one rein again, so it's back to the drawing board with him. A shame really, as he ran so well at Walton last week.

Once all my boys were washed, dried, walked and had had a drink, I headed straight to the bar :) figured I deserved a drink too, after running around like a headless chicken all day in the sweltering heat. Smarty was working away bookmaking and I found my friend Emma so we could watch the PFFA and final together. Alan Haythornthwaite drove a calm race to win the first £1000 prize, and then Sarah Allen and Huw Thomas fought it out with Elysium Lightning and Wellfield Earl in the final, but Huw had more horse coming up the slight incline and took the £1000 for Roy Sheedy with Early Wurly. You may recall one of my posts where I went to stay with Rachel, and I rode Earl for about three hours (and subsequently couldn't walk properly!). I'd like to say that ride had some impact on his performance, but it didn't and I'm just content to say I've ridden the Cilmery heat and final winner!

Full results:

Race 1 - Maiden
1st Blackfield Bling
2nd Hilltop Skipper
3rd Blue Bear
2.17.4  2 1/2 & 1L

Race 2 - Heat 1 Grade 1
1st Elysium Lightning
2nd Ontop Girlcharmer
3rd Billy Elliot
2.12.5 neck & 1L

Race 3 - Heat 2 Grade 1
1st Sams Teatime
2nd Ontop Wye Preach
3rd Hurricane Howard
2.13.9 head & nose
All three trained by Stevie Lees - winner driven by Stevie, second driven by Chris Nicol & third driven by Stevie's son, James

Race 4 - Heat 3 Grade 2 & 3
1st Wellfield Earl
2nd Caenwood Slipaway
3rd Gingerman
2.11.7 1 & 2 1/2L

Race 5 - Heat 4 Grade 3 & 4
1st Ladyford Desire
2nd Brywins Unicorn
3rd What About Me
2.12.4 head & neck

Race 6 - Heat 5 Grade 5 & 6
1st Krakatoa
2nd Ffynnon
3rd Dark Fox
2.09.8 4L & head

Race 7 - Maiden
1st Woodstone Jingo
2nd John Dillinger
3rd Wellfield Willy
2.11.3 3 1/2 & 4L

Race 8 - Maiden
1st Stuttgart
2nd Brywins Jewel
3rd Ynyston Lucky Cam
2.15.6 5 & 3/4L

Race 9 - Novice & Grade 1
1st Hanna Montana
2nd Caenwood Dafydd
3rd Rhyds Jigsaw
2.14.6 head & head

Race 10 - Preferred FFA
1st Brywinsmagicpotion
2nd Camden Casanova
3rd Rhyds Fivestar
2.06.7 3 1/2 & 1/2L

Race 11 - OPH Final
1st Wellfield Earl
2nd Elysium Lightning
3rd Ladyford Desire
2.10.7 3/4 & 1L


A quote for Wellfield Earl - Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character. John Wooden 

Well done to connections of all winning horses, and thank you to all those who helped and contributed to make Cilmery Races such a success! See you all there next year!

Over and out,

Sarah (#1 [tired] Groom)

We have rosettes!

It's all change again at the yard.

Just when I think things are settled (we have name plates outside each stable, that to me means horses are here to stay), I turn up at the yard to find that Laddie has gone to spend the summer in Gloucestershire, and in his place is a filly of Wesley's who may be with us a week, a month or the whole summer (nobody knows!).

So it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to Lily The Pink, or Pinky:

Pinky is a three year old filly by Immortalized (same sire as Maverick and Olympic) out of the Splurge Hanover mare Talavary Splash. As you may have noted from the photos, Wesley likes to take off his horses forelocks, which now makes sense as to why he was so keen for me to get rid of Big Mac's! I wondered why he was egging me on the whole time...

Anyway, all I've noticed about her so far of any note is that she has a terrible habit of scraping the floor by her door whenever she's not getting any attention/it's feeding time. It reminded me why I prefer working with geldings (although Melinda is the exception, as she's turned into a lovely young lady). 

In other news, the shavings are working a treat; mucking out is now a breeze. This has resulted in two drawbacks though - firstly, I'm not getting enough physical exercise (therefore I must eat less cake) and secondly I'm not at the yard for as long. You may think this is a good thing as I have more free time, however as I'm paid by the hour it means I'm diddling myself out of money! There MUST be a way to drag the job out for longer...

On Wednesday I met The Boss and Julie at Walton racetrack, in Evenjob. I had to work during the day but as the first race was at 5.30pm I was able to get there before the draw had taken place and the qualifiers had been run. They had brought Jingo, Big Mac and Sammy, and Mervyn had brought Hamish in his box. Due to the number of runners the maidens were split into two divisions, so we were lucky that Julie could make it and they'd remembered the second sulky, as Jingo and Big Mac were in the same race. They were to run in the first, Hamish was in the second and Sammy was in the eighth and final race.

Cue the first race - I sent Julie out on Jingo first and then The Boss out on Big Mac. Mac was drawn three on the gate, and Jingo tucked in on the rail drawn six. The rain had poured down about an hour and a half before the racing started, and the track had become very slippery. As a result, The Boss chose not to go out of the gate too fast, although Mac challenged the inside horse for the lead into the first bend and subsequently for the rest of the race, stuck two wide the whole way. Jingo remained on the rail throughout however coming into the last bend on the first lap his legs almost slipped from under him and he lost a lot of ground. Sensibly Julie sat quietly and let him find his feet and then paced along quietly at the back of the field. Mac refused to give in and fought the leader the full race, but unfortunately the extra ground covered by travelling on the outside cost him and he managed a respectable second place. Julie let Jingo go coming up the home straight to finish and passed a number of horses, catching the eye of my other half and pleasing Julie at the same time. He came back to the lorry full of beans as he hadn't had the chance to tire himself out fully.

The Boss returned triumphantly and claimed that he'd always told Julie he was on the better horse! It was then that I heard the announcement over the tannoy that McKelvie is for sale :( after his impressive (and surprising) run, I really hope he isn't sold because I think we could really have some fun with him, especially as it's Cilmery coming up next week. Obviously the run hadn't taken enough out of him either as he proceeded to spend the rest of the evening bucking and kicking by the side of the lorry. All he needs to do now is unleash this fire on the racetrack next Wednesday :)

It was all systems go in the second then as I sent The Boss out on Hamish. His last run was below par considering his impressive runs last summer, however as I washed Mac down I could hear the commentator saying he was sat in second place and running on well. When The Boss came back with another blue rosette I couldn't have been happier! Hamish had raced and raced well, and we were all very pleased with him especially considering the track wasn't suited to his low-action.

There was a long gap to Sammy's race, so I took a few entries for Cilmery races and passed them on to Mrs B who was camped out by the secretary's box. Time flew by and before I knew it the eighth race was upon us. Sammy was drawn one off ten yards behind a horse known for flying out of the gate, however he couldn't quite manage the almost impossible task of catching the gate horses and he finished in fifth, not fading but not going forwards either. Hopefully he'll be off the gate next week for the first time this season and we'll be treated to his usual tenacious attitude!

I then hit the road to Scotland with Smarty to attend a funeral the following day, so I wasn't returning to the yard for the remainder of the week. 

Whilst up in Scotland I attended another race meeting at Haugh Field, a lovely grass track in Stirlingshire. I clerked for Smarty and the partnership worked like a treat again :) the racing was good but I must admit, I think our grass track racing down in Wales/English borders is better! It helps that I know the horses down here anyway...

Full results from Walton (12th June):

Race 1

1st Blue Streak
2nd M C Kelvie
3rd Ithon Kiwi
2.13.8 2 1/2 & 3 1/2L

Race 2

1st Vyrnwy Terror
2nd Bucklands Foxy Boy
3rd Blackfield Bling
2.14.3 3 & neck

Race 3

1st Mill Road
2nd Wellfield Elvira
3rd Frisco Mick
2.12.3 4 & 1/2L

Race 4

1st Hurricane Howard
2nd Ystwyth DT
3rd Wellfield Alfie
2.12.4 1 1/4 & 1 1/2L

Race 5

1st Afan Sir Ivor
2nd Wellfield Wally
3rd Rhyds Panache
2.12.5 1 1/2 & 3 1/2L

Race 6

1st Wellfield Ghost
2nd Ithon Ghost
3rd Wellfield Rocky
2.08.9 3 1/2 & 5L

Race 7

1st Wellfield Ernest
2nd Meet N Greet
3rd Young Will
2.11.9 1 1/4 & 1 1/2L

Race 8
1st Meadowland Tom
2nd Brywinsthatslife
3rd Rhyd N Write
2.10.5 3/4L & 1L

So there we have it, less than a week until Cilmery races and what is, for us at least, one of the most important meetings of the season. All systems go to get the track up, racecards printed and food for the sponsors tent prepared!

Over and out until after Wednesday,

Sarah (#1 Groom and Clerk extraordinaire)

Pony Club Visit

Now that a week has passed and the trauma of giving a talk on harness racing, a subject that I am a mere novice on, has finally subsided I think I can look back on last Friday's visit and say it was actually one of my better ideas.

On Friday 31st May, the yard was visited by the local Pony Club. I invited them following a discussion with The Boss and Mrs B over our customary tea and cake. My initial idea, in order to promote Cilmery Races (full post on this topic to follow) and showcase harness racing in general, was to invite the Irfon & Tywi Pony Club (which I myself was a member of some years ago) to the race meeting on Wednesday 19th June. Once there, I planned to demonstrate the harnessing up process, and then invite them to watch the racing and perhaps present one of the winners with the headcollars that we've bought. The Boss pointed out that we would probably be running around like headless chickens trying to get horses ready and onto the track, and would therefore not have time to give them a talk/demonstration on the day, and he suggested that we invite them to the yard instead at a convenient date prior to the meeting and then give out free tickets to those who attended. This suited the PC down to the ground, and it was arranged for them to come over to the yard at 5:30pm on the 31st May. On the evening we had eight PC members and five parents in attendance.

I began the talk by introducing myself, the central cog in the whole machine, then The Boss, the glory-hunter and showman, Mrs B, the unofficial boss and one who tries to keep us on the straight and narrow, and Julie, the second driver and challenger for The Boss' glory. We then moved out of the sun and into the shed to introduce our audience to the team. First up was Melinda, then Sammy, Jingo and Laddie (I had to explain that Laddie isn't a tiny racehorse but a yearling whose mother was trained and raced at the yard a few years back and now he lives with us), then came Big Mac, Maverick (on boxrest) and finally Bongo. We were frank with them, I must admit. The Boss touched on the pitfalls of the current handicap system and how it adversely affects Sammy as a G5 on a circuit with few G5 horses for him to race against, often with him off ten yards behind G4 horses. We had to explain the injury that has caused Maverick to be on boxrest, and our hopes that he would recover enough to race in the future, and The Boss even admitted how difficult it had been to break Bongo. We then answered a few questions, including questions about the optimum size for racehorses, the ages they can race at and the breed as a whole. I touched upon the world record for a mile and also the British record, as well as the action that the horses use (pacing not trotting). Everybody who attended had been harness racing before; most of them had stayed after the showing/gymkhana/jumping at the annual local show, where Wales & Border Counties race in the afternoon.

We then moved back outside and I talked them through a basic set of harness. I was helped by my able assistant Thomas, who held up each piece of harness in turn for me while I gave a brief overview of what the equipment was called and what its purpose is. We discussed additional pieces of tack, as well as different blinkers and overcheck bits on the three bridles we had laid out.

Jingo then made himself very popular by standing to have the harness put on in front of the group (one parent was overheard saying 'oh I could just take him home' - Austin if you're reading and you decide to sell, we'll track that person down!). The jog cart was hitched on and while I dashed to harness Sammy up in private, Julie and The Boss held Jingo steady in the cross ties whilst a number of the PC members had a sit in the cart. The Boss told me there was a queue and a few of them had a go, however they all said 'no' when he jokingly asked if they'd like to take Jingo up the track! Once Sammy was ready we sent The Boss and Julie up to the track and we followed behind on foot, taking in the view and discussing the purpose of the walker which can be seen on the walk up.

Once up on the track we stood in the middle and watched the two horses warming up quietly for a few laps. It was now that I explained the basic training regime for the horses, and how it varied depending on each horse's requirements. I further explained that nearly all tracks in the UK are left handed, however each horse is jogged over an equal distance in both directions in order to keep muscles balanced and equally developed. Both horses pulled in for me to put their overchecks up and then The Boss decided he would show off Sammy's speed by whizzing around the track. The group enjoyed the show, and I described the sorts of speeds these horses can get up to on the racetrack. After a couple of laps of blatant showing off, the horses warmed down and we followed them down to the crossties to watch them being washed. The group all agreed that the horses live quite a good life, as none of their own ponies get a hot shower after they've done any work, which is something our lot are treated to on a daily basis!





Colin & Dark Fox





 

Julie & Woodstone Jingo



Once the horses were back in their stables, we answered a few more questions and everyone had a cup of tea or a glass of squash and a biscuit. On a final tour of the stables I asked the members which horse they liked the best, and the results were mixed. Jingo was naturally the favourite on the evening, due to his impeccable behaviour with the children and his gorgeous face, Sammy and Laddie also had fans but most surprising of all was Big Mac, who acquired a new fan in his fan club! It may well be his first...

Mrs B handed out the complimentary tickets and drummed the race date into the group, and we hope to see as many of them there as possible on Wednesday 19th June. A good time was had by all I have since been assured by the PC organiser, and after they'd all left and the horses were fed I could finally relax!

Fingers crossed now that they make it on the evening, as I think they will be impressed by the spectacle, particularly with the promise of some top quality horses coming to the meeting.



Over and out for now,

Sarah (#1 Groom and Tour Guide)

I have a tan!

Howdy!

Apologies for the lack of blogging over the last fortnight, the first week was a touch quiet and then things kind of went a bit mad this past week! I have however now found the time to settle down and update you with all the goings-on from the yard.

As I said, the first week after that sunny Sunday in Leominster was quiet. When I arrived at the yard on the Monday evening The Boss wasn't there, as him and Wesley had been to take Eryn and Olympic to their summer residence a few miles away. Upon their return they teased me a bit (as per usual) about anything and everything, and then Mrs B brought BJ in so that Wesley could take him home for good. Derek's owners had also been to collect him so the mass exodus has begun! We wish him the best of luck racing with Wales & Border Counties this summer, as he showed a lot of promise at home and was a lovely character to have about the place. Happy pacing The Fuffer Man!

Next came the big move: Bongo was moved down to the bottom foaling pen, next to a box-resting Maverick, which meant that when we moved Melinda down to the bottom shed, all 7 horses were in the same building. Trust me on this, having them all in one place makes my life a lot easier!

By Thursday we found out that Ammanford had failed to get enough entries to put on a race meeting on Bank Holiday Monday, due to possibly the number of horses from down our way heading up to the two day meeting at Appleby. The Boss and Mrs B therefore decided to make a holiday out of it as well by heading up there so I was asked to feed the horses while they were away - clearly I did such a fantastic job the last time that I was the first choice! (Or it had something to do with both their daughters being unavailable for the weekend...)

Sunday evening and Monday morning I popped over to the yard to give the horses their feed, chuck some hay in for them, check on the dogs and feed the chickens (something I find rather traumatic as I don't like chickens). You'll be pleased to know that I managed to keep them all alive! On Monday I drove down to my friend Emma's to see my girl Star, and we took her and Beama out for a long hack around the countryside and forestry, and much like two kids we spent a lot of time racing each other! We managed to get caught miles from home in horrendous rain and by the time we got back to the yard the only item of clothing I was wearing that wasn't wet was my socks! Thank goodness for Helen's tumble dryer and the wood burner!

When I arrived back at the yard on Thursday evening after work, I couldn't believe how tidy the place was! The local Pony Club were due to come over the following evening for a talk and demonstration that I may or may not have suggested as a good idea. It had resulted in Mrs B telling The Boss he needed to clear up the yard, and to be fair he'd done a cracking job! The place was spotless. To make matters even better, the shavings that he's promised me for the last two months have finally been delivered so all horses are now on shavings instead of the dreaded straw! No dust and soooo much easier to muck out and create a deep litter system. Thursday evening was spent filling Maverick and Bongo's stables with the shavings (as the rest had already been done by The Boss), and generally sweeping up around the stables before I headed off to prepare my talk.

On Friday evening I arrived at the yard completely unprepared and totally nervous. It hit me that I was about to give a talk to some young people on a topic that I am most definitely not an expert! I didn't have long to worry about this as the Pony Club members from the local Irfon & Tywi branch arrived shortly after me. I'm currently awaiting photos that were taken by one of the members, so I'll write a whole separate post on that event rather than include it here. Suffice it to say for now the event was a success and a great time was had by all (including me!).

And that brings us to today, Sunday 2nd June. I am not long home from the third and final meeting at Leominster, which was as sunny and warm as the last time we were there a fortnight ago. Julie couldn't make it today so The Boss took back the drive on Jingo, and I was pretty much flat out until after the second race! Mervyn had brought Hamish (Bucklands Foxy Boy) who was to run in the first maiden, Big Mac was in the first qualifier, Jingo was in race 2 and Sammy was in the last race of the day. Things were a bit manic getting horses out onto the track and then washed when they came back before the next one was ready, but we somehow managed it!

Mac went off like a scalded cat in his qualifier, running lengths clear during the first lap and then getting pipped on the line in the fastest qualifier of the day (2.13.3). The time is well within qualifying time but as he qualified last time out this run was really an attempt to sharpen him up and work him out a bit. Hamish ran in the first race, however he still requires some more fittening work and blew up just before the 7 furlong mark. Jingo then came next and ran a blinder to finish second behind Epynt Sophie, after having been drawn 6 (inside on the second line) and having to come three wide down the back straight and two wide on the last two bends to get round the traffic. There's a few wins in there somewhere!

After Jingo we had a long break where I ran a few errands for different people, and before I knew it Sammy was due out on the track in the ninth and final race. He was drawn 1 off 10 yards, which he hates, but luckily Meadowland Tom was drawn 1 on the gate and set a fast pace from the off, allowing Sammy to follow him through and settle in third for much of the race. Unfortunately he too needs a bit more fast work and he faded towards the end, however we know Sammy knows what he's doing so we're not too disheartened.

So we came home today with just the one blue rosette, but when there's 9 or 10 horses in a race and only one winner, any rosette is very much appreciated!

Full results from Leominster:

Race 1

1st McCoy
2nd Hilltop Control
3rd Evenwood Lipstick
2.09.5 9L & 1L

Race 2

1st Epynt Sophie
2nd Woodstone Jingo
3rd Ynyston Lucky Cam
2.10.9 3L & 1/2L

Race 3

1st Caenwood Dafydd
2nd Blackfield Bling
3rd Hasty Katie
2.13.9 5L & 1L

Race 4

1st Sams Teatime & Lakeside Pan
3rd Rhyds Jigsaw
2.09.7 dead heat & 3 1/2L

Race 5

1st Jango Fett
2nd Daylon Dream
3rd Limelights Frankie
2.09.8 5L & 2L

Race 6

1st Afan Sir Ivor
2nd Brywins Jasper
3rd Lakeside Ideal
2.08.2 2 1/2L & 4 1/2L

Race 7

1st Wellfield Earl
2nd Gingerman
3rd Mewithforsure
2.08.3 3 1/2L & neck

Race 8

1st Ithon Ghost
2nd Rudd Hanover
3rd Llwyns Hall
2.07.9 1L & 1/2L

Race 9

1st Brywinsthatslife
2nd Meadowland Tom
3rd Frisco Havago
2.07.6 1L & 1L

Over and out guys,

Sarah (#1 tanned Groom)

Dark Fox

A horse never runs so fast as when he has other horses to catch up and outpace ~ Ovid

The spirited horse, which will try to win the race of its own accord, will run even faster if encouraged ~ Ovid

If you haven't realised yet how special Dark Fox is, then here's a whole post dedicated to him to demonstrate it!

Dark Fox, or as he's known to all his fans, Sammy, is a bay gelding by Gothic Dream out of a mare called Venture Lady. We started on this journey together back in 2008, when Sammy was a three year old embarking on his racing career, and I was a university student in need of a summer job. I couldn't have asked for a better horse to learn the tricks of the trade on; he has been the consummate gentleman from day one.

On our first day at the races together he was the only horse we'd taken, and to be honest The Boss probably didn't need my help harnessing him up. I was probably more nervous than Sammy about the whole affair. I'd never been to the spring Tregaron meeting, nor had I ever arrived at a race meeting and parked in the paddock. There were so many lorries and horses and I didn't know a soul! Sammy on the other hand took it all in his stride. He ran in a qualifier, and only four weeks later he won his first race, a maiden at Walton.

Sammy is now 8 and is starting this season in Grade 5 in the handicap system (I believe at one point he was a Grade 7 horse). As of today's date, he has so far run 71 times, winning 9 times and being placed on 36 occasions. His owners, Mervyn & Isobel, have been so lucky as Sammy was their first racehorse. They absolutely love watching him race and they are great supporters of the sport. If Sammy runs well, no matter where he finishes, they are happy. It's seldom that Sammy doesn't run well, because he is honest, genuine and focussed on the job entirely.

Sammy is probably the easiest horse to work with that The Boss and I have ever come across. He is a true professional; he doesn’t waste a drop of energy before a race, very often falling asleep whilst tied to the side of the lorry, but when I put the overcheck up and The Boss takes him onto the track he gets down to business! He pretty much pulls The Boss’ arms out; he doesn’t think he can ever be ‘too close’ to the start car (he once even tried to duck underneath it at Tir Prince because it wasn’t going fast enough!) and if he’s in front by the first bend then it’s pretty much game over. There is one thing our Sammy doesn’t like and that is being passed when he’s in front!

The list of his quirks and habits are endless, and even though I have only spent four months out of every twelve with him for the last five years I feel like there’s nothing he could do to surprise me now. For a horse that is so laid-back at home and at the races he’s surprisingly high maintenance – he won’t pee anywhere except his stable (he runs off the lorry when we get home from the races because he’s bursting), he won’t travel on his own, he has to travel at the back of the lorry regardless of how many horses we have on, he won’t eat his breakfast on a race day, he blows his belly out when I do his girth up and he’s really funny about having a bridle put on as he doesn’t like having his ears touched (he suffers from warts in his ears). But other than that, he’s easy peasy!

One of my best memories of Sammy is his win at Cilmery races last summer. Cilmery races is organised in the main by The Boss and Mrs B, with the first meeting held on their son-in-law's field in 2011. I joined the committee in 2012 and last year was another fantastic meeting, with our first final won by Howards Contender. Anyway, this is not an advert for Cilmery races (that could be another post...), this is about Sammy. The Boss hadn't been very well in the few weeks leading up to the meeting but he's not one to give up his drives easily, and he came home in front of the home crowd several lengths clear with Sammy in one of the heats. He said himself that as he was leading down the back straight for the final time he was waiting for them to catch him...and they never came! Like I said, once Sammy's in the lead he doesn't take kindly to being overtaken, and he seems to dig deeper than ever to stay in front. He's got the heart of a lion and I absolutely love the bones of him.

This season he's been trained under saddle by Mervyn and a friend of his, so he's come back to us semi-fit. He helped Julie regain her saddle licence at Leominster and should she decide to compete in the saddle races this summer then he may well be the horse she rides.

Here's some photos of our boy Sammy, just so you can see what all the fuss is about:

Leading Sammy on to the track at Ffos Las in 2010

Winning his heat at Cilmery, June 2012

Settling in to his stable, May 2013

Action shot of the mighty Dark Fox