DIARY
– WORCESTER
–
SUNDAY 06 SEPTEMBER 2009
|
‘Family Fun and Football Raceday’ In aid of Racing Welfare Sunday’s weather forecast for the Worcester area looked pretty
grim when I tuned in to watch it the previous day. Not as bad as last year though, when the
fixture was abandoned due to the River Severn flooding the course! The forecast was revised by Sunday morning,
with rain expected to arrive by 16:00.
However, as it turned out, there were just a few raindrops shortly
before 18:00 and apart from that I saw absolutely no rain all day!!! As I wasn’t too sure how long it would take me to drive to
Worcester, especially as I couldn’t make up my mind as to which route to
take, I decided to give myself just under 3 hours to reach my destination,
setting out at 09:10. I decided upon
Hemel Hempstead, Aylesbury, Bicester and then, thinking I was going to get
there far too early, I took the road signposted Buckingham, which went past
the lane to Stratton Audley (where Choc lived when his parents were in
service with the Bicester Hunt) and also past the Bicester and Finmere
showground. I then headed towards
Brackley, followed by Banbury and Stratford Upon Avon. I then set off into the unknown, and the
very winding A422 beyond Alcester. However, I eventually found my way down the hill to Worcester
town centre, past the cathedral, and around the one-way system, under the
railway viaduct, turning left and left again, which took me over the back
straight to park in the charge free centre course car park. It was 12:05. Having taken a packed lunch with me, I
decided to eat that before I set off to the turnstiles to purchase my ticket
and race-card. Whilst I was sitting in
my car, I noticed a jockey jogging around the track and I presume, from his
attire, it was Andrew Thornton! Having
entered the course, I then went to sit on one of the course-side benches to
read through the race-card. On the front of the race-card was a photograph of a number of
jockeys, including Choc, Sean Quinlan, Dominic Elsworth, and Wayne Hutchinson
kicking footballs, the North vs. South Jockeys’ Football match being
scheduled for after racing. Inside
there was a list of possible team members for each side, although it would
transpire that the teams would be made up of mainly younger jockeys. Also listed were a number of charity auction items, and I
noticed that, once again, Choc would be offering 2 tickets for Cheltenham
races, plus the opportunity to walk the course with him. The prize I had bid for and won last
year. There were also raffle prizes,
including a signed photo of Choc winning the Champion Hurdle aboard Katchit,
the signed football from the later game, and a photograph of the jockeys
posing ‘Calendar Girls’ style in the weighing room at Worcester! Shortly afterwards I went to purchase 2
strips of raffle tickets, a bottle of water and a packet of Starburst sweets
before returning to sit on the bench. Being a Conditional Jockeys event, Choc wasn’t riding in the
first race, but as soon as the arrival of the competing horses was imminent,
I went across to stand by the Parade Ring to wait for them to appear. Once the jockeys had arrived in the Parade
Ring, and prior to them getting mounted, a minute’s silence was held in
memory of the two apprentice flat-race jockeys who had died in a fire at
their hostel on Friday night. The
jockeys who weren’t riding in the first race also came out of the Weighing
Room to pay their respects. It was then time for the jockeys to mount and canter their horses
down to the start, which was at the beginning of the back straight. Amusingly the first race was sponsored by a
supplier of portable toilets, and was called The Bursting to Go with Andyloos Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap
Steeplechase.
Then they were off. The field was led out by Tara Gale,
followed by King Coal and Ballinruane.
Also prominent were Follow Your Heart and Rifleman. King Coal made an error at the 5th, and
then fell at the 7th, hampering Kavi.
Classic Rock didn’t jump well throughout the race. Cooldine Lad weakened
approaching 4 out and fell. Having
been the only horse who looked to be travelling by the time they reached the
home straight, the Tim Vaughan trained Berkeley Court took the lead but he
soon came under pressure, Rifleman coming to challenge and take over two
out. Kavi then took 2nd place as they
approached the last. A tired Berkeley
Court capsized after jumping the final fence, which saw him come to rest
under the plastic course-side rails.
Gerard Tumelty, having switched Kavi to the stand side of Rifleman,
forced his mount up to win on the line.
A 50-1 winner! Berkeley Court lay under the
rails, exhausted, and the green screens were erected as a precaution. The stable lass, Tim Vaughan’s wife, and
then Tim Vaughan set off down the track to where the horse lay. Fortunately, after a few minutes, Berkeley
Court rose to his feet and was greeted by relieved applause. The horse was led away back to the stables.
Once
the winner and places horses had been led away, it was then time for the
first two auctions of the day – a framed Honda Formula One shirt signed by
Jenson Button; and a framed and signed Birmingham City shirt. There was a guy sitting on the Weighing
Room steps wearing an Aston Villa shirt, so the auctioneer held some friendly
banter with him then, and throughout the afternoon! It
was now time for Choc’s first ride of the day, aboard the Neil Mulholland
trained Aconitum. The start of this
race was in the home straight, two flights to be jumped before passing the
winning post with one circuit to go.
Upon
arrival at the starting gate, Jonjo O’Neill’s runner Raise You Five, decided
to decant her jockey and canter off towards the back straight. However, a couple of brave (or foolhardy?) bystanders
stepped out to prevent her going any further and they caught her and led her
back to be reunited with her jockey, Richie McLernon. Shortly afterwards they were off. The
field was led off by Raise the Heights, with the keen running ex-Alan King
trained horse, Calaficial, soon pulling his way to the front. I shall always remember Calaficial giving
Choc a clattering (Choc’s description) when falling at Market Rasen the day
after the Grand National. Mr Rev was
prominent, and so too was Choc aboard Aconitum. Evelith Regent soon progressed into 2nd
place, Aconitum making an error at the 3rd flight, as did Duneen Dream. Racing
against the rails, Choc’s mount dropped back as they raced around the final
turn. Having slipped his field,
Calaficial was 15 lengths clear coming into the final straight. And the only horse to get anywhere near him
as they approached the winning line was Commit to Memory, but Calaficial held
on to win by ¾ of a length. Choc
finished 6th and, as an unplaced horse, he unsaddled his mount out on the
course, spoke with connections and walked back through the Parade Ring to
return to the Weighing Room.
Having
recognised Jenny Cheshire, the Hospitality Manager, from an interview she’d
given on Attheraces earlier in the year, I walked around the Parade Ring to
reach the area in front of the Weighing Room to introduce myself, as she’d
helped organise my Cheltenham ‘Choc’ prize last autumn. She asked if I’d be bidding for Choc’s
prize again, and strangely enough I already had a feeling that I might go for
it again, if the price was right!!! It
was now time for the third and fourth auction items of the day – an
invitation for 2 to attend the Sponsorship launch party at Ian Williams’
Dominion Racing Stables; and tickets, lunch, and afternoon tea for 2 at
Cheltenham and the opportunity to walk the course with Choc Thornton! The prize I’d won last year in the belated
blind auction! The
third auction prize went for a very reasonable bid. Choc
was then persuaded to make an appearance prior to the bidding starting for
his item. When he noticed me he asked
‘Not you again?’ I really couldn’t
help myself, but I did find myself in a bidding war with one other person,
but I did win out in the end!!! Poor
piggy bank ... it took a real pounding today! I hope Choc was just kidding ... and I do
feel a little guilty about monopolising his prize two years running. However, I did get to kiss Choc on the
cheek 3 times ... as Les Hurley, who was the official photographer today,
missed the first two shots and I was forced to go for a third attempt!!! JJJ Having
been successful for the second year running, Jenny escorted me to the Winning
Owners’ area, where I partook in a glass of champagne. Also in the small office were the owners of
Calaficial, celebrating their win.
Being
Division II of the Maiden Hurdle, the race started with two flights to jump before
passing the winning post with one circuit to go. Choc wasn’t competing in this race. Then they were off. The
hard pulling grey, Australia Day, led them off, with Drumacole Artist,
Sagunt, Art Value and Fred Kennet prominent.
However, Australia Day led them a merry dance, and soon a number of
runners were toiling in his wake. It
was Indian file around the final bend, with the field coming home in
procession behind Andrew Thornton’s mount, who won by a distance!
The
winner and placed horses having returned to the Winners’ Enclosure, and been
led away, it was now time for the fifth auction item to be offered, which was
a morning on the gallops at David Pipe’s yard for 2 people. Tom Scudamore came out of the Weighing Room,
before the bidding commenced, to represent the yard. It was now time for the fourth race of the day, in which Choc
would be riding the Ian Williams trained Baddam. The start of this event was at the
beginning of the back straight.
I
noticed that Choc’s mount was being a little mulish at the start, refusing to
do as his jockey bid when he was circling around. However, Choc urged him forward as the
starter prepared to let them go, Will If I Want taking the lead initially,
but Choc taking over aboard Baddam shortly afterwards. Will If I Want came back to dispute the
lead having reached the 3rd and continued to do so until the 7th flight. Four
horses were clear of the remainder of the field as they galloped around the
final bend – Baddam, Converti, Sweet Seville and Alpha Beat. Having cleared
the 3rd last, Choc took a glance behind him to see where his pursuers were,
but they were a spent force as Baddam ran on to win by 13 lengths on the line
from Converti.
Choc
returned to the Winners’ Enclosure, unsaddled, and spoke with
connections. Les Hurley then took a
photo of the posed group, before Choc returned to the Weighing Room. The
sixth auction item was a morning on the gallops at Tim Vaughan’s yard for 6
people. That would be a very
interesting trip; Tim is a very good ambassador for racing, being very
articulate and helpful to the media. It
was then time for Choc’s third ride of the afternoon, which was aboard Mam
Ratagan. The trainer had requested permission for his mount to go out early,
so Choc set out before the other runners to head for the starting gate, which
was at the beginning of the home straight.
I noticed Ginger McCain in the Parade Ring, he was representing his
son, the trainer of Ballabrook. I am,
coincidently, reading Ginger’s autobiography at the moment ‘My Colourful Life – from Red to Amber’.
Then
they were off. Emperor Titus led them
off but, taking a middle line, Choc had assumed the lead by the 2nd
fence. As they travelled down the back
straight, the horses at the rear of the field were jumping poorly. Around
the final bend, Broom Battalion was Mam Ratagan’s closest rival, with Seven
is My Number coasting just in behind them.
However, the former blundered and unseated Denis O’Regan at the
open-ditch 4 out. Seven is My Number
stalked Choc all the way up the home straight, and took the lead after the
last, Tom Scudamore shaking up his mount to win by 2½ lengths from Mam
Ratagan. Magic Rush fell 2 out when a
poor third.
Choc
returned to the Winners’ Enclosure to unsaddle in the stall reserved for the runner-up. After speaking with the horse’s
connections, he returned to the Weighing Room. Two
more auction items – a morning on the gallops at Noel Chance’s yard in
Lambourn for 2 people. Noel is Richard
Johnson’s father-in-law. Also a
morning on the gallops at Richard Phillips’ yard in Adlestrop for 4 people –
that would be a very interesting and entertaining visit too! It was now time for the feature event of the day, the John Burke
Memorial Novices’ Handicap Steeplechase.
John Burke being only the fifth jockey in history to have ridden the
winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Royal Frolic) and the Grand National (Rag
Trade) in the same year. The start of this event was midway down the back straight. Conditional jockey, Mark Quinlan, took
10lbs off of the Neil Mulholland trained Sula’s Legend.
Then
they were off. The field was led away
by Koh Samui and Mysaynoway. The first
casualty was the diminutive Tootsie Too who unseated at the 3rd, the
open-ditch. Koh Samui still led as
they passed the winning post with one circuit to go. Vintage Fabric and Shanahan filled the last
two places. At
the end of the back straight, Mark Quinlan sent Sula’s Legend into the lead,
with Early Wings gradually closing in on the leader as they progressed up the
home straight, coming to challenge after the last. However, Sula’s Legend would not be denied,
and held on to win by 1½ lengths on the line. It
was Mark’s first ride and win in the UK, although he had ridden and won in
Ireland.
Mark returned triumphant to the Winners’ Enclosure, and I
noticed Choc briefly appear in the doorway of the Weighing Room at this
point. The final auction prize was a morning on the gallops at Paul
Nicholls’ yard for 2 people, plus tickets to either Taunton or Wincanton
races. I decided to seek out the loos at this point, and had a surreal
moment when I discovered that the race commentary is actually relayed into
the rest room! It was now time for the 7th race of the day, Choc wasn’t riding
in this event either. However,
Transvestite was one of the competitors.
Danny Cook, having been successful at Fontwell Park earlier in the
afternoon, had travelled up to Worcester to compete in the last two
races. The start of this event was
between the third last and second last flights in the home straight.
Then
they were off. Cool Bob led the field
away, but the keen and wide running Border Fox soon took over and went 10
lengths clear around the top bend. The
fancied Song in my Heart was already struggling as they went down the back
straight. Border Fox had been caught
by the time they approached the 3rd last.
A
group of 4 were now leading – Golden Square, Peaceful Means, Wisteria Lane
and Cool Bob. Peaceful Means took the
lead before 2 out and went clear to win by 13 lengths. Star Tenor under Danny Cook came with a
late run to take 2nd.
It was now time for Choc’s
fourth and final ride of the day. This
was Division II of the Handicap Hurdle, so the race started between the third
and second last hurdles in the home straight.
Then
they were off. The keen Olympian Boy
led them off. Choc took an inside
line, disputing 2nd with Gallant Hero.
Adopted Hero was soon struggling at the rear of the field. Choc
had started to push his mount along by the time they reached the end of the
back straight. Still ahead was
Olympian Boy and he remained so until Le Toto challenged and took the lead
after the last. However, the very game Olympian Boy rallied and regained the advantage
close home to win. Choc’s
mount finished in 6th position, and it seemed that no-one wished to finish
last, as the 5th to 8th placed horses were all vigorously pushed out to the
line. Choc, having finished unplaced,
unsaddled out on the course.
I waited for Choc to walk back
and disappear through the doorway of the Weighing Room before setting off
across the home straight to the football pitch located centre course. The jockeys appeared in dribs
and drabs, until both of the teams were assembled. Phil Taylor, Choc’s valet, was acting as
commentator, walking around the perimeter of the pitch as he did so. Unfortunately Choc wasn’t playing BUT he
did come along to watch. I was
standing close to the side line, and he was over to my right, just beyond the
goal. Initially he was in his
shirt-sleeves (a pink shirt?) but, as the evening drew on, he must have felt
cold as he went to get his coat from his car.
But he did return and stayed until the end, chatting with the team
members at half time and at the end of the match. Other spectators obviously
noticed Choc, as he was asked for his autograph and to pose for photographs
too. And Phil also stopped to ask for
his opinion on the match at one point during the first half! Choc’s friend, Ollie McPhail,
was playing in goal for the South, with Tom Scudamore’s brother Michael (who
is a trainer) representing the North as their goalie. The ‘North’ scored 2 goals before the South
had got on the score-sheet, but the ‘South’ equalised, only for the ‘North’
to go 2 ahead again. However, with the
help of a hat-trick from Sean Quinlan (a very nifty player) the ‘South’ had
equalised by full-time. The match was
then decided by a penalty shoot-out, which the ‘South’ won on the final kick! The jockeys made their way back
to the Weighing Room after the match, with Choc setting off in his car for
home. Jenny Cheshire and Phil drew all
the winning raffle tickets, and I set off to collect my car. Darkness would soon fall. I decided to return via the
A44, which took me up the Cotswold escarpment near Broadway Tower, through
Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Norton.
I decided to take the cross country route through the Bartons to reach
Bicester, instead of going via the outskirts of Oxford. After Bicester my route took me back along
the A41 to Aylesbury, then via the Tring/ Berkhamsted/Hemel Hempstead bypass
down to the M25 and home. (That’s a very short paragraph for what seemed like
a very long journey!) I arrived home at 22:30. |
