Oh dear! The moody mare (Dove) disgraced herself today by refusing to race. She went down to the start looking as though butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, happily did a few circles until the starter stopped her to tighten her girth -well, that gave her all the excuse she needed and she just stood there looking mulish. The others jumped off and it was one of those 'Hamlet moments' when Will should have got a cigar out and quietly observed the disappearing horses. Poor Doug was at the start with her and he said that he could tell that there was no way she was going to go. Unfortunate as everyone was saying that they had never seen her looking so fit, the ground and the course would have suited her perfectly and it was a wide open race. The mardy biddy is now going to be put in foal. We may try and race her one more time then as we noticed that when she was pregnant last time (after she refused to race three years ago) she was so much easier to do anything with. Hormones.....
However, I should say at this point hat she has given us enormous fun over the years, we managed to get her very cheaply as her last trainer could do nothing with her, and we have had our 'challenges' but she has won six races with us and is one of the toughest mares you could come across. At times like this you just have to stand back and admire her indomitable spirit which she allowed us to harness in the right direction occasionally giving us massive enjoyment and reward
It made us feel slightly better when in the next race the hot favourite (that would have cost 20 times more than Dove) with the top jockey (Richard Burton) on board also refused to race. It was a great day though and we really enjoyed being back in the pointing field.
I am going to be away for the next few days as I have to go to Newmarket to do the final part of my trainers licence. Harry runs tomorrow at Plumpton so Doug is completely in charge and I will be having problems concentrating during my lecture on 'health and safety' blah de blah. What a waste of time but I suppose it has to be done as if I get a public licence it opens up new options and helps to pay for our own (useless!!) horses.
How ironic - we have just had a phone call from someone who owns Dove's younger sister having bought her at Doncaster sales as a yearling. She is now five but keeps bucking her rider off and no one can do anything with her. They want to know if we can train her for them as we have got on so well (?) with Dove and Red (from the same family). One rogue out and another one in?...