We took Harry and Red to the races but only ended up running Red. Luckily they were both in later races so we were able to watch the first horses run and see how the new fences and new lay-out ran. Not terribly well I'm afraid to say - just too many fallers and unseated riders, the fences were very big and stiff and caught a lot of horses out. It's such a shame as the Atherstone have spent a lot of money on the new fences but they are simply not the right design - they are big and very slopey but thick on the top, so they encourage horses to hurdle them - brushing through the top, which they can't do as the tops are very stiff, therefore causing them to fall. Our jockey, Peter, got caught up in a horrible incident in a previous race, where two loose horses were running against the flow and ran headlong into the oncoming horses, cannoning into Peter, and causing his horse to do a cartwheel, luckily, nothing was seriously injured but Peter was very battered and it seemed unfair to put him on Harry - a chancy jumper at the best of times, and risk another battering. So - very nervously we entered Red, with Ed on board and they both did a wonderful job. Red jumped beautifully and was going really well, looking as though she was going to be third when she hit some soft ground on the home straight and Ed said she made a noise - he got her home in a very respectable 5th place, just beaten by a short head for 3rd and 4th. We were delighted as this is the first time she has finished since her wind operation, and it can take a couple of runs before it begins to work. On firmer ground she will find it much easier and hopefully be able to finish more strongly. Ed was so excited after the race he couldn't stop talking!
Jay was able to come and brought her very posh camera so hopefully I will be able to put some photos on the blog when she has downloaded them for me.
It was a lovely sunny day and we all had a picnic around the horse trailer after the racing, we had Lucy and Ellie to help, and Red won 'best turned out' - Ellie is brilliant at plaiting tails and turns a horse out beautifully.
There was a very sad loss of a lovely old horse called 'Move Over' who ran a cracking race in the Ladies but then came back to the lorry park and had a heart attack. Ruth, the owner, was devastated., and it upset the girls as it happened right besides our trailer. he has been an absolute star and really loved his racing. Thankfully he didn't suffer and although it was very sad, it was a good way for him to go, as he hated 'happy hacking' and only wanted to race. he would have been thoroughly miserable in the field doing nothing.
In the evening we went to The Royal Oak at Eydon for a steak, and a tearful Ruth came in, so we had a chat with her and hopefully made her feel better as Doug was there when he died and was able to reassure her that he hadn't suffered at all.
This morning we had an early start as Rowan phoned last night to say that he was schooling a horse around the race track and would we like any of ours schooled - it seemed the perfect opportunity to take Harry over those big fences at a slower pace and see whether he could do it or not - we also took Dream as we have entered her for next week-end.
They both schooled really well - Dream better than Harry as she is a complete natural, whereas Harry most definitely isn't (but he tries very hard!) The good thing is that he is learning, and getting better.
In the afternoon, after doing all the office work, Jay and I went for tea at my parents. They have very kindly given me some lovely plants for my birthday and they needed picking up. As it was such a gorgeous day we sat in the garden. after which our week-end visitor, Geoffrey, was returned to his owners, Joe and Sophie, as Sophie had ran in the Marathon yesterday and spent the night in London - she did brilliantly. 26 MILES!!! Well done Sophie.