Can the BHA get it right this year?

Following what many in the industry saw as a knee jerk reaction regarding the whip rules last year, it can only be hoped

Paul Bittar - The Australian has arrived at the BHA at a crucial time

that the arrival of new BHA Chief Executive Paul Bittar will herald a more considered and decisive approach to the challenges ahead.

Cheltenham 2012 threatened to cause another stir due to the sad losses suffered in the first two days of racing. However it is refreshing that time has been taken to look at the issues based on longer term statistics and a view that, whilst very sad, the deaths of horses over what has historically been a safe cross country course,  was an anomaly.  Calm deliberation by the course and the BHA has proved a positive contribution to the public perception of racing.  Changes, for they will certainly come, will hopefully reflect this and be measured also.

Richard Hughes - regretting his decision to ride in India!

The current furore over Richard Hughes’ 50 day suspension by Indian racing authorities is very strange to the British race follower as it was given for not following the trainer’s instructions – a reason which rather negates the use of one of the best tacticians in the modern sport, and seems pretty impossible to prove conclusively.  After all the trainer is hardly likely to own up to giving the wrong advice in the first place!  However the BHA is in a pretty bad place as they have to honour the reciprocal agreement to abide by bans “awarded” by foreign racing authorities.  It is perhaps lamentable that the BHA finds itself complicit in preventing Hughes’ bid on the championship and in depriving racing of a superb jockey – but there is little the BHA can do.  However this supposes that the original ruling was fair – if not the ban can be overturned and we wait to see if Hughes will go to court to challenge this further.

Racing remains a massive (and growing) spectator sport.  It also employs many and generates revenue for the government through betting taxation.  It is great news to see the government begin to plug the loophole of off-shore bookmakers avoiding the levy.  The BHA must be at the forefront of ensuring racing remains engaging and is seen as fair.  Recent action to ban trainers and jockeys who have contravened the rules of racing has shown the BHA is committed to ensuring the continued good character of this superb sport.

As we enter the flat season, let us hope the BHA shapes up for the future and shows the leadership racing needs to sustain a strong future.

Stuart Matheson is Racing Manager of Field & Country Racing.  Visit the site for more information on excellent syndicate opportunities and the superb facilities at Bolton Hall Stables.

It’s Here!!! – Turf Flat Season 2012

2012 looks like a great year for racing!

With the traditional curtain raiser at Doncaster only 1 week away, it is time to dust off the form book again.

After a great 2011 with Frankel again showing breath-taking ability, we are sure to see some excellent races in the next few months.  Those taking part will include Aidan O’Brien trained Camelot (top 2 year old in Ireland last year), Born to Sea (John Oxx trained half brother of Sea the Stars), St. Nicholas Abbey (an older horse who has threatened greatness in the past) and the highly exciting Black Caviar – unbeaten in her native Australia and due to visit Royal Ascot if the rumours are correct –  to name but a few.  Of course we also have the excitement of the Aintree meeting and the Grand National to come in the National Hunt calendar.

Our stables are no more than 90 minutes from over 16 racecourses

At Bolton Hall Stables we are gearing up as we get ready to realise a long term dream of training racehorses under

Henry Cecil's star performer Frankel. Set to take racing by storm!

license.  We already have some excellent horses in training including offspring by Hurricane Run, Motivator, Misu Bond and Cockney Rebel.  Our facilities are constantly being upgraded and we plan to install the final touches to our all-weather ménage over summer.  We will also be building up our breeding arm and expanding our cross-country fences to add some dimension to our jump training for the horses.

It has been a hard slog to get where we are now – and the work is far from over yet.  The team here are excited by the future and dedicated to our plans for the horses.  Owners will, I am sure, begin to increase as we progress into the year.

Expect to see more Field & Country Racing trained horses in the coming months

Our training and boarding fees are highly competitive anyway, but we have devised ways to reduce them further – offering up to 2 months free training simply by paying by standing order rather than retrospective invoice!  And of course because we have some of the best facilities already, we do not expect owners to pay extra for external gallop fees etc.

If you have a horse for training please consider us here at Bolton Hall Stables and contact me to arrange a no obligation chat or a very welcome visit to see us.  AND of course we continue to have a range of exciting syndicate oppurtunities – low cost and all inclusive they offer a fantastic way to enjoy racing and owning a race horse and to share the costs and experience with like minded people.

Our website is updated regularly so stay in touch with the news and if you have any questions please contact us.

Cheltenham Reaches Climax

Cheltenham reaches fever pitch

With the final day of the 2012 Cheltenham Festival now upon us, today will be memorable as the showdown between last year’s Gold Cup Winner Long Run and the public’s hero horse Kauto Star.  It is likely that this will be the last time we see Kauto Star on the track, at 12 years old he has been there, seen it and WON it so retirement is surely on the cards – it would be churlish to expect more from him.  But we all want to see this great horse bow out with a third win in the Gold Cup – although we should prefer a safe return and a deserved retirement above all else.

The festival has been a mixed blessing this year – Big Bucks extending his 16 win record, a real treasure find in Sprinter Sacre, continued record breaking by the mare Quevega, Nicky Henderson smashing the trainer’s record, and hopefully an epic Gold Cup this

Kauto Star - A real superstar in the sport goes for his 3rd Gold Cup win

afternoon.  On the flip side we have seen 5 fatalities in the first 2 days – although notably none yesterday on fresh and marginally softer ground – and the debacle of the last fence folly in the Champion Chase.

The racecourse always does a great job but questions have to be asked of those responsible for dolling out the fences and making the Champion Chase finish so confusing for the jockeys and horses – it sounded suspiciously like the stewards were making it up as they went along when interviewed about it after the event!

With regard to the fatal injuries sustained by horses, it is always sad to see this happen but we are talking about THE championship event in jump racing and therefore horses are asked to push the boundaries of mental and physical capability even more than usual.  The issue is perhaps less about what happens on the course, but more about making certain that the horses arrive at the event in the best possible condition and fitness – therefore making them better able to cope with the demands of the racing.  It is interesting to note that there were no such fatalities on day 3 ,after the watering of the course, although this is also an indication of the overall rarity and sheer bad luck that is involved in the death of horses.  This is a very emotive subject and we should embrace the subject to reduce the fatalities - but this should not mean reducing the challenges that horses face, or banning certain races.  It is about being aware that with horses these things happen.  More horses break legs stood in a field than racing on a track – and most are ponies and cobs which are treated by their owners as an extension of the family.

Running for fun - horses doing what they live and work towards.

I read a comment in the Daily Mail website asking “how many times do horses have to be whipped in training to make them jump?”  Anyone who knows horses will know you cannot beat a horse to make it do anything.  Racehorses are bred to race and everyone concerned in getting them to the track is committed to making their lives as perfect as possible in order that they can deliver their true potential.  Yes there are rogues but they are rare and easily found out.

So as we approach Gold Cup Day and we await history being made, we should all be thankful for these spectacular athletes and their jockeys.  There have been glimpses of greatness amongst the races so far, but today we should all look forward to a great horse delivering his best for us and doing it safely.

Contact us at admin@fieldandcountry.co.uk

We visit Darley’s UK Operation

The Tattersall’s sales season started last week with a large mixed catalogue , all kicked off with a pre-sales stallion parade including  Guineas winner Cockney Rebel, Hellvelyn (Coventry Stakes) and Group 1 sire of sires Sakhee.

The stallion yard at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud

Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation, based at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket also opened its doors to visitors and we were there to see some of the greatest racehorses of recent times as they paraded in their current stallion roles.  Most of the Darley stallion roster have raced under the related Godolphin racing banner.

The jewel in the crown (and the most expensive of Darley’s world-wide stallion roster) is of course Dubawi;  a stocky stallion with powerful shoulders and hind quarters.  It is easy to see why they think so much of him – having sired 7 individual Group ONE winning offspring in a relatively short time at stud – including his new neighbour at Dalham Hall, Poet’s Voice.

Dubawi - Darley's top priced, top performing stallion is watched by neighbour Halling.

Dubawi is the three time Group ONE winning son of one of the most exciting horses to have ever raced, Dubai Millennium.  It was poignant to see the grave of this spectacular race horse only yards from where his son now resides -dying of grass sickness in 2001 having only stood for one season as a stallion.  His grave is in the midst of a quiet corner of the main yard alongside the recently deceased Singspiel.

Singspiel's final resting place. He lies amongst some of the Godolphin greats.

The facilities at Dalham Hall are fantastic with sweeping driveways and high security.  The staff were very helpful and the lunch was most welcome during our visit.

Back out at the stallion boxes we were treated to further parades by Derby winners Authorised and New Approach.  Authorised gave Frankie Dettori his famous Derby win, and New Approach was trained in Ireland and owned by Princess Haya, wife to the Darley owner.

Dubawi surveys the yard in the winter sun.

Despite having been through winter, the boys looked really well and their coats gleamed in the winter sunshine.  It was good to see that new stallion Poet’s Voice (Dubawi ex. Bright Tiara) has settled well into the new regime after retiring at the end of 2011.  He will make a great sire and has the striking looks of his grand-sire Dubai Millenium.

Derby winner New Approach - another star stallion in residence at Dalham Hall.

Also on show were Halling, Exceed & Excel, Shirocco and Kheleyf – who as the lowest priced of all on show was a really fine looking animal.  For breeders with less money than ambition Kheleyf looks a real way of buying class at a reasonable price.  It is difficult to choose between them all however.  They are all top quality stallions – each able to produce real Group performing offspring.  However be warned there is a waiting list for many of them.  Dubawi has received nearly 300 nominations this year alone (at £75000 per mating) so once again the majority of mares will have to settle for second choice.

Although, for me the choice at Darley, and those on show at the Tattersall’s stallion parade, make for a wonderful range of breeding possibilities.  If the others are second choice then I could easily settle for that!

Stuart Matheson is managing partner at Field & Country Racing;  based at Bolton Hall Stables in Yorkshire and specialising in breeding and training.  They have a number of exciting prospects for sale or for syndication.

Contact them today for a no obligation chat.

Breeding Season Starts Again

Here at Bolton Hall Stables we enter the 2012 Thoroughbred Breeding season with two mares due to foal in the next few months, and with an eye on the stallion books as we make another decision on where to send the mares this time.

With a proven early sprint winner in our mare, Fangfoss Girls, we hope to have a precocious foal this time and to return to the same stallion,   Mullionmileanhour, for this next year.  The cross from two fast families should help to produce the desired result.  Our other mares have yet to be decided upon, but we have a few ideas so watch this space!

Of course breeding is never certain but careful study of pedigree is essential to at least stand a chance.  Recent visits to Coolmore, Banstead Manor (home of Juddmonte), and Darleyhave given us the chance to really look at potential sires,

Fangfoss Girls - Shares available in her breeding career

and of course the likely result with last year’s foals now yearlings.  Closer to home we have visited Hedgeholme Stud, Girsonfield and Monsieur Bond’s current residence at Norton Grove Stud.  The latter being the sire of Fangfoss Girls.

We are very excited about 2012 for both breeding and racing – and will of course keep you up to date with developments.  Our 2012 syndicates are available now – and licensed training is under way for the 2012 Flat Season.  So it is all go for 2012!

 

Windy Catterick Raceday sees end to 2011

A windy Wednesday saw Catterick’s last meeting of 2011.  Our local course is becoming quite a favourite and the hospitality of the staff is always excellent.  In an attempt to blow the cobwebs off what has been a lazy Christmas, we visited the course and had a great afternoon – even if it was windswept.  Part of the reason for the visit was to see how certain stallion progeny mature – an important subject at present as we begin to finalise breeding plans here at Bolton Hall Stables – and decide on matings for 2012.

The first race saw favourite Star in Flight romp home under Jason Maguire – winning by a margin which showed the 4 year old is set for good things in the future.  There is no doubt that the ground – good to soft, although more soft looking,  showed those horses who had stamina and fitness to cope with the conditions.  Margins of 8 lengths, with the third horses over 20 lengths behind that on three occasions either flattered the winners or showed poor preparation of the others.  In fairness, there were a number of maidens and novices on show in what was a fairly competitive card.

There were no fallers, although Malko de Beaumont from Alan Brown’s yard was pulled up with a serious injury.  What was noticeable however were the number of unseated riders.  In all but 2 races of the seven there was at least one rider who could not stay with their ride – either a poor reflection of jockeyship or perhaps the wind was stronger than originally thought!   I do not pretend to be the best rider in the world, but then I do not make my living from it – and neither do I receive £140 per race to do it.  National Hunt jockeys have a high degree of risk but to be unseated with so much regularity does the connections no favours and is a great disappointment when it has cost many thousands of pounds to get the horse ready to race – only to go pilot-less for a majority of the contest.

Doberdan, winner of the 6th race won easily of the remaining victors – well ridden by Tom Siddall and equally well prepared by Patrick Holmes.  He won by 8 lengths and was widening the gap all the way! A battle of the greys saw Shadrack and Kings Grey run a great finish in the feature race at 2.20 with Shadrack just ahead.  The impressive looking Kings Grey – pick of the paddock for the whole afternoon, was probably over-restricted with cross nose band and chifney bit  - but with minor adjustments the 7 year old will easily win in future.

The selling race produced a further win for the John O’Shea trained Cityar – although no bids even with the low price of £3000.  Although with the crowd made up of similar “Christmas Sofa” escapees it was perhaps not the best market place.  Look out for the 7 year old gelding in future – it was a worthy winner.

So as we approach a new year it only remains to wish all readers a very happy and successful 2012 – we hope to see you at the races soon.

 

Bolton Hall Stables - Home of Field & Country Racing

Field & Country Racing is based in Wensley, North Yorkshire at the historic Bolton Hall Stables.  We have excellent training facilities as well as offering boarding for mares and foals and pre-training / rest & recuperation services for racehorses.  We have a number of horses for sale with our all inclusive syndicate packages for 2012.  Please CONTACT US for further details.

Racehorse Training – North Yorkshire

Racehorse Training – North Yorkshire.