DIARY – FONTWELL PARK – SUNDAY 07 SEPTEMBER 2008
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My friend, Lesley, and I were originally
scheduled to go to Worcester races to see the North vs. South NH jockeys
football match and for me to, possibly, bid in the auction for the item of 2 tickets
for Cheltenham races, plus lunch, plus walking the course prior to racing
with the gorgeous Choc. However adverse weather conditions, which caused the
River Severn to rise to flooding point, forced the abandonment of Worcester,
which was announced on Saturday, and we were able to make arrangements to
divert to Fontwell Park, which was where Choc had
four rides. Stratford races having
been abandoned on Saturday 06 September, again because either the Avon or the
Stour was threatening to burst its banks, and where Choc had two rides
scheduled. The weather was a little damp in Hertfordshire
when I set out to pick Lesley up from Hemel Hempstead, having been to fill my
car with fuel and also having checked that the Fontwell
Park meeting was still going ahead. I arrived at Lesley’s house at 10:00 to pick her
up, then set off down the A41 bypass to the M25, around to Junction 9, down
past Box Hill to Dorking, continuing along the A24 to Findon,
turning right and down onto the A27 to Arundel and onto Fontwell
Park, turning into the car park at noon. There was a brief shower as we
parked, so we stayed in the car for a few minutes before walking along past
the parked horseboxes, where many animals were in the process of being
unloaded and transferred to the stable area. At the entrance we decided upon
Premier tickets at £22 apiece, and after entering the grounds we proceeded to
the Premier Bar, where we bought coffees. It was soon time to leave the bar and go to the
paddock area, where we waited alongside the Winners’ Enclosure section where
they had the FA Cup on display, having been won by Portsmouth last season.
The Announcer for the day was the same guy who had carried out the job at
Stratford on 13 July and had given the ‘Clerk of the Scales’ tour there. Jockey,
Philip Hide, did the tips for the day item with him. Whilst waiting, we also
noticed Shane ‘the helpful valet’ (who I later discovered is AP McCoy’s
valet) near the Weighing Room area. No
sign of Choc yet. Anyway, it was eventually time for the first
race, where Choc was scheduled to ride Crimson Mitre, and we positioned
ourselves near to where the jockeys came into the paddock, so we got a good
view of them when they arrived. Lesley
quite fancied the grey horse, Woolfall
Treasure. Choc’s
mount was a rather scrawny individual, who had finished 3rd to Simarian at Stratford in August in his only previous race
over hurdles. Whilst the horses made
their way to the start, which was located between the two hurdles in the
straight, we went to stand by the rails near the winning post. Crimson Mitre ran well and, despite
flattening the final hurdle due to tiredness, he hung on to claim third
place. We rushed back the Winners’ Enclosure and sat on the seats alongside 3rd
position, to get a good view of Choc when he unsaddled his mount. The race was actually won by the grey, Woolfall Treasure. When the prize was presented to the winning
connections, the opportunity was taken to interview Harry Finlay, about
Denman, and about the fact that Woolfall Treasure
had been purchased by the late Tim Corby.
Harry advised us to put our money on Andy Murray to beat Rafael Nadal, a bet which he’d had himself, although placed at
better odds as the match had been disrupted by rain and currently stood at 2
sets to Murray, but with Nadal leading in the 3rd
set. [Note: Murray duly went on the win the US Open semi-final in 4 sets
later that evening – but lost in the final.] It was soon time for the second race, this time Choc’s mount was Maslak, who
he’d ridden in his NH debut over hurdles at the previous Fontwell
fixture, finishing 3rd. Once again we
positioned ourselves near the Jockeys’/Owners’/Trainers’ Parade Ring
entrance, so as to get a good view of Choc as he arrived in the ring to mount
up and, once he was on his way down to the start, this time we decided to go
to the Premier Stand to watch the race.
I believe his starting price was around 5-1. The horse travelled well,
near the front of the field for most of the way, and lead into the final
straight, holding on the win by a couple of lengths. The commentator seemed
unsurprised by the win, saying that Maslak had been
the highest rated of the runners on the flat. We rushed to the Winners’ Enclosure to welcome
him back, although I left Lesley behind, as she got stuck behind slower
spectators. We got a good view as he
unsaddled, and he requested the official photographer take a photograph of
him and the connections with the horse.
After Choc had left the enclosure, removing his helmet on the way to
the Weighing Room, we once again went to stand at our preferred location by
the Parade Ring ready for his ride in the 3rd race. Choc’s hair was
already beginning to grow noticeably, which was pleasing. His third ride of the day was in the third race,
on Keltic Lord, who I saw him ride at Market Rasen on 03 August.
Choc had also ridden the horse, I believe at a previous Fontwell fixture, since that date. The horse is supposed
to be a bit temperamental and Choc is one of the two riders who appears to have an affinity with the animal. We decided to stand by the rails near the
winning post, and Choc finished 5th in the race. We returned to the Parade Ring, and stood
where we could see Choc unsaddling in the area just along from the saddling
boxes. He, again, took off his helmet
whilst he was speaking to connections and walked past the saddling boxes to
return to the Weighing Room. I’m not sure whether it was before his third or
his fourth ride that he was waylaid by autograph and photograph hunters. I think it may have been the third race, as
the jockeys took us by surprise when they arrived for the 5th race (which was
Choc’s fourth and final ride of the day) and Choc
was with the main group of them. His fourth ride of the day was on Classic Role –
a very good looking animal, although fitted with blinkers before he left the
paddock and, as number 1, must have been top of the handicap too. Again we took up our position by the
rails. Choc finished last (9th) on
this occasion, although many of the runners didn’t actually finish the
course, having been pulled up. We
waited to see if the horses returned along the woodchip track in front of us,
which they did, so I took a nice picture of him close up. It was at this
point that it occurred to me that he’d probably returned along the track
before, but we had missed him in our haste to reach the Winners’ Enclosure!
The race was won by Miss G Gracey-Davison on Just
Beware. And much amusement was caused during the race when the commentator
had to refer to the runner called Transvestite (something about it bringing
up the rear) and, in the end, it finished 3rd. Richard Johnson was announced as a jockey change
for the 6th race, riding one of Tim Vaughan’s horses. Just prior to the announcement I had
mentioned to Lesley that Richard had just entered the paddock, but that I
didn’t think he was scheduled to ride at Fontwell
Park, having been booked for a number of rides at the abandoned Worcester. I
wonder if he had driven down with Choc. Anyway, Lesley mentioned that she
rather liked the look of Sean Quinlan, and the horse
he was due to ride – a massive 17.2 hands chestnut gelding – but she didn’t
put a bet on it. Pity really, as it
won! There was nearly a nasty accident in the Parade Ring
before the final race when one of the horses kicked out and caught an elderly
lady’s walking stick, catapulting it into the air. Choc is now on 31 winners for the season, and
I’ve seen him win on 4 of these – Iffy at Stratford (18th winner of the season),
Southern Regent at Market Rasen (26th), Levera at Huntingdon (28th), and Maslak
at Fontwell Park (31st). Following the last race we returned to the car
park, and waited for the traffic to clear a little before setting off for
home. Whilst waiting we consumed some
cheese straws and chocolate biscuits which we had aboard! We decided to return via the A29 through Pulborough this time, joining our outgoing route at Beare Green, just south of Dorking, and back around the
M25. I dropped Lesley off at Hemel
Hempstead and reached home around 20:00. The day had been rewarding, if not
in the monetary sense. Although
Worcester races and the auction had been cancelled, I did get to see Choc
ride 4 times, including another winner.
And to check out, at quite close hand, the progress of his new hair
growth! Once home I logged onto the internet to see if
there was any news of the Charity Football match and auction. I discovered an
article in one of the broadsheets regarding abandonment of racing this
weekend stating that the Charity Football match would be re-scheduled for
another fixture at Worcester. Is that also true of the auction I wonder? I desperately wish to win Choc’s auction item, as I’ve totally set my heart on it. Unfortunately, at the present time, I cannot go
to Stratford races next Sunday, 14 September, as my foot operation (only
minor) is scheduled for that day. Yes, an operation on a Sunday! |
