DIARY – HUNTINGDON – THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER 2008
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Choc was scheduled for 3 rides, all for Alan
King. It had been a frosty night, so I tuned in to the Racing News on At The
Races at 09:00, and it was announced that Huntingdon were going to re-inspect
at 10:00 to make sure the course was fit for racing, having carried out their
first inspection at 08:00. The
temperature in Hertfordshire was 3 degrees. I’d originally planned to drive down to the
petrol station at around 09:45 to fill up my car with fuel and then drive
straight to Huntingdon from there.
But, as I wasn’t yet certain that the racing would go ahead, I drove
to the petrol station at around 09:30, popped into Boots to purchase some
black mascara, returning home just after 10:00. I switched on the TV to check the text and
my laptop too. The news came in just
before 10:30 that Huntingdon had got the go-ahead. I quickly loaded my car and set off for the
course. The temperature registered by
my car was 4 degrees, although it was sunny in Cambridgeshire. I drove a little faster than usual, as I don’t
like to be too late in arriving, just in case I get caught up in the
traffic. I therefore arrived at the
course at 11:20, parked the car, purchased my ticket and race-card and headed for the paddock where the horses had
started to appear in preparation for the 12:10 race. Choc’s
first ride of the day was in the 12:10, a Mares’ NH Novices’ Hurdle race,
aboard Call Me A Legend. Once the jockeys had mounted and the horses had left
the paddock, they went down the walkway to the course, across the track and
then cantered down a separate track-way past the stands, turning left and
cantering across the middle field to the start. Presumably this new route was to avoid
damaging the track. The race start was
actually away to our left. I had positioned myself on the rails so as to take
photos as they galloped by. When the race began, Call Me a Legend was held up
in touch, made headway to lead by the 6th flight, but was headed at the next,
then ridden and kept on a one pace from 2 out, finishing 4th. The race was won by Circus Rose ridden by
Sean Quinlan. I recalled the horse had
fallen at the 2nd last flight at a previous Huntingdon meeting, when looking
likely to win. I returned to the
Winners’ Enclosure to see Choc come back and unsaddle. Choc wasn’t riding in the next race, a Mares’
Novices’ Steeplechase. The race was
won by Shatabdi trained by Nicky Henderson, ridden
by Sam Waley-Cohen. Choc was riding grey mare, Spring Dream, in the 3rd
race, a Handicap Hurdle. Alan also had a second runner in the race, Penn Da Benn. The race was just over 2 miles in distance, so
started in the far corner. Choc held
up his mount in mid-division, but blundered 3 out, after which Choc pulled her
up, as she had gone lame. Penn Da Benn ran okay until falling when in 7th place at the
penultimate flight. The horse was
okay. Another horse, Sally’s Dream was
not so lucky when it came down on the run between the second last and last
flight, as the green screens had to be erected. The race was won by Oldrik,
ridden by Richard Johnson. Choc had dismounted Spring Dream and led her up
the straight, finally stopping as the stable lad and Anita Cusack walked down
to see what had happened. I think Penn
Da Benn was also being held in the vicinity
too. The horse ambulances drove over
the collect the injured horses, and Choc, saddle in hand, jogged up the
course, heading for the Weighing Room, as time was tight before his 3rd and
final ride of the day, My Way De Solzen in the
Peterborough Chase. Once the horses had been mounted for this race
and they had gone out onto the course, again they cantered down the track on
the far side of the rail, past the grandstands, across the centre of the
course to the start which was over to our left. My Way De Solzen’s
competitors included Snoopy Loopy, Monet’s Garden and Mahogany Blaze. The start was a little ragged, with some of
the jockeys unsure whether it was a false start, but the starter let them go. Natal unseated Nick Scholfield
quite early on. My Way De Solzen travelled mid-division, was given reminders at the
6th, and was behind when Choc pulled him up before 2 out. Another disappointing and inexplicably bad
run from the horse. Alan was hoping a good break would revitalise the animal,
but nothing seems to be working. The race was won by Monet’s Garden, who beat the
consistent Snoopy Loopy into second place.
Choc cantered back alongside Mont Misere. Although I returned to the Parade Ring
area, I didn’t notice Choc return to the Weighing Room. The 5th race was a Handicap Hurdle, which was won
by Chaim, ridden by Dominic Elsworth. Kayf Keel,
trained by Richard Phillips and ridden by Sean Quinlan, fell at the last and
seemed to have a problem getting up, so the screens were erected around
him. Gordy Clarkson, who is Richard’s
assistant, jogged down the course to see how the horse was and luckily it did
eventually rise to its feet and was led back by the stable-girl. Race 6 was a Novices’ Handicap Steeplechase. It was won emphatically by Prince of Persia
ridden by Tom Scudamore for David Pipe. Palmers Peak, which is trained by Martin Keighley was a runner, but it faded into 12th place. The final race was a NH Flat Race for Conditional
and Amateur riders. It was won by
Ellen Tilley, ridden by Charlie Huxley, trained by Alan King. I had watched the last three races from the
stands. As soon as the final race was
over, instead of returning to view the Winners’ Enclosure, I headed for the
exit, in order not to get too caught up in the traffic leaving the
course. The drive home was good and,
as it had been a sunny day, it stayed light until around 16:00. I arrived home at 16:30. |
