2015/2016 Flat & Jump Season reflections..

September 08, 2016

2015/2016 Flat & Jump Season reflections..

2015/2016 Flat & Jump Season reflections..

September has fast approached and the Flat Season has been another thrilling ride for all.. slowing down now, before the Jumps Season kicks off at Sandown November 6th, mark the diaries! This year has been extra special, since moving house last year and exploring the Ownership side of horse racing, I thought i'd take a look back... Seems only yesterday I was at Epsoms' Breakfast with the Stars event, trying to pick out the Derby winner! There have been so many highlights..

Oh, where do I begin.. well, the first step in the right direction was relocating to a historic racing town. With such a rich history all around me, it was inevitable that I would become even more involved with the racing world, supporting my local trainers in ownership for the first time, here's the story so far...

January may have been cold but the weather didn't dampen any spirits as I had already won a Jumps Season ticket to Sandown Park, my favourite of the Southern tracks. This was the beginning of my love affair with the National Hunt racing.. there is something really special about spending weekends racing even in the bitter cold, the horses, the people and the memories, big coats, faux fur & long boots!

I also had my first trip to Ascot since childhood after winning yet more tickets, (yes I really am lucky)! I can't fault the the staff, the course, I love everything about Ascot.

February soon swept in and the membership bug had struck..

March appeared, bringing more Sandown fun, the Cheltenham Festival, started my blog #TheFillyFiles for fun and I got to know some of my lovely local trainers, visiting their yards, firstly Michael Attwater to meet his horses, such a lovely yard and then over to Jim Boyle where we were taken up the gallops and saw the new prospects for the year ahead, giving me plenty to think about!

This was the kick start of my Ownership journey, after finding an exciting new, 2 yr old by Rock of Gibraltor. We had a lot of fun coming up with names for her, meeting everyone in the syndicate and enjoying the yard visits.

Moonstone Rock

Moonstone Rock working on the gallops..

The month ended winning more tickets to Ascot... yes really!!

April arrived with a lovely weekend of watching Moonstone on the gallops and a great day out at Ascot for the Prince's Countryside Fund Raceday.

Lizzie Kelly..

I never thought i'd see a 'Lamb National' but there I was cheering on lamby in blue!

Another skill I never thought i'd add to my cv was 'duck herding' but there I was in the middle of the arena herding ducks through a tunnel with the help of a sheepdog! oh the memories! I am now an honory member of the 'Quack Pack'!! Sadly no photo of me, but here's the pack I had to contend with! all but 2 escaped, i'm quite proud of that achievement, haha!

The end of the month bought with it the first Spring meeting at Epsom..

Views from the Jockey Club room balcony..

A new grey filly by Hellvelyn arrived at the stables.. we took her on, same syndicate, called her Silver Penny...

and the Jumps Finale at Sandown..

my favourite photo of 'Bristol De Mai' at Sandown...

And oh yes you guessed it.. I won a 3 month share in Zamastar with Brendan Powell and the Fiesty Filly Syndicate!

May, it's May! The phonecall I was waiting for, Breakfast with the Stars at Epsom racecourse invite..
A lovely morning spent watching the Derby hopefuls work out, interviews with trainers & jockeys and most importantly a great breakfast..:) (for more info, check my earlier blog post dedicated to the morning...)

Hugo Palmer and Frankie Dettori

Clare Balding interviews jockey, Andrea Atzeni

Beautiful June.. meant one thing, the Epsom Derby Festival... as members, this year I got to attend both Ladies Day and Derby Day, and what a lovely time it was!

Ladies Day attire...

Derby Day 2016.. started in fashion at the stables to show 'Lemondrop' my hat and get her opinion..

I think she approved :)

The Queen arrives with Prince Philip...

Derby Day attire...

Aiden O'Brien on Derby Day...

Harzand won the Derby, with Pat Smullen for the Aga Khan...

Harzand in the winners enclosure..

Her Majesty, The Queen presents the Aga Khan with his trophy...

The day continued with a lovely meal and champagne back at the stables with Jim and the syndicate, a lovely summers evening, good music and good company.... cheers!

More days racing followed, more yard visits, Royal Ascot and filming a scene on a netflix show next to Chippenham Stud in Ely, Cambridge, watching racehorses work out of all things!! my life works in mysterious ways...

The month ended with an evening of racing at Epsom with The Corrs...

July started stylishly with Ladies Day at Sandown..

entering best dressed, didn't win :( waahh!

got to love free prosecco :)

more days at Epsom, more Saturday mornings watching both the fillies work out on the gallops..

Another lovely balmy day at Sandown to see Ryan Moore ride, stable star Black Bess..

Ryan Moore on Black Bess at Sandown..

August began and the rain and filming at Pinewood studios prevented me from seeing my Moonstone Rock's first run at Windsor, she ran well coming in 6th...

But luckily, work didn't stand in my way and stop me from enjoying a night at Sandown on the 4th to see the amazing Bryan Adams play after racing.. also treated my mum to a belated birthday treat in Equus restaurant, so worthwhile, the staff, the meal everything was perfect.. met some lovely people that night too, always a bonus and thanks to Jordan Vaughan for the extra tickets... what a night!

Joey Haynes & Frankie Dettori...

This month was the start of a new share in a National Hunt horse for the upcoming season with Jamie Snowden, looking forward to new adventures.. expanding the ownership horizons...

Silver Penny has her first run, so it was all off to Lingfield for the evening, we had Pat Cosgrave in the saddle, she was a little nervous but took it all in her stride, she came 7/7.

Silver Penny in the parade ring for the first time at Lingfield..

Silver after her first run...

nope, didn't win this time!

Not one but 2 days of racing at Sandown in a row for Emirates Day, nice to see the Arabian horses...

Tadhg O'Shea

Pat Dobbs

Another stable visit.. very wet and windy morning so mostly spent hiding inside with copious cups of coffee!

BBQ and first trip to Great Shefford with my Aunt & Uncle to see their horses, Rosie Royale & High Acclaim at Roger Teals yard.. again the heavens opened, lightning, thunder ensued, did we care? I think not! what fabulous hospitality from Sue and Roger and the other syndicate members..

Roger's own gallops...

Rosie Royale, Swot & High Acclaim at Roger Teals new yard in Great Shefford..

The month ended with me taking up writing and blogging for Bet Ref Racing... betref.co.uk

September arrives quickly, my favourite month for many reasons, (but mostly because it's my birthday month) and i'm off on another road trip to Lambourn to visit Jamie Snowden's yard, take to the gallops to see the horses work out & meet the beautiful, Midnight Silver and the Foxtrot racing syndicate, followed up with a lovely lunch at The Hare afterwards...

Jamie Snowden, Lambourn

Jamie talking about Midnight Silver's season ahead...

Midnight Silver on the gallops

The Lambourn Gallops, stunning...

The big day arrived, first trip to Windsor Racecourse and first trip as an official owner, yes it was Silver Penny's time to shine, and boy did she do just that!

start the day as you mean to go on, is what I always say... didn't realise what a good luck omen this was going to be!

Was rather nervous watching her in the pre-parade ring... then it was all over to the paddock...

Silver with Lizzi, pre parade...

In the paddock...

Pat Cosgrave in the saddle once again, joined by his father, Joe, our new good luck charm! then it was time to go to post... she went in the stalls and stood waiting patiently, then she was off!

We have a winner!! Silver Penny!! big thanks to our trainer Jim Boyle, Lizzi & the staff for all their hard work... a great day and fab memories of Windsor now!

Pat, Lizzi and Joe coming back...

I can honestly say that my first year as an Owner has been rather special, i've made new friends, met some lovely people, been welcomed and made to feel at home and had a winner.. it's only September so many more good times still to come...

Up next is a trip to Andrew Balding's stables, Kingsclere to see our 2 yr old gelding who has since relocated to Julie Camacho's yard and i've since dropped out of his ownership.. a separate, in depth blog about my visit to Andrew Balding's yard is on my blog...

The month ended with the Epsom Flat Season finale, where we got the chance to see Harbour Law from Epsoms own Laura Mongon's yard parading after his St Leger Win... the day coincided with my Birthday very nicely, the free prosecco in the owners bar was an extra nice treat too, so thank you to Epsom Racecourse for a lovely day celebrating!