Yorkshire
Racing & Breeding News
2008 ~ 2007 ~ 2006 ~ 2005 ~ 2004 ~ 2003 ~ 2002 ~ 2001 ~ 2000 ~ 1999
| Date | |
| 29/12/2003 | Three Yorkshire winners over at Haydock today with a double for Sue Smith with Tipsy Mouse and Better Days, and a win from Brian Rothwell with Star Councel. |
| 27/12/2003 | A slightly quieter day today. Again the Yorkshire meeting was at Wetherby where Sue Smith's Mister McGoldrick won the Beginners Chase by 16 lengths. In the next race Patrick Haslam's King Revo put up an excellent performance to win the £14,183 Rocom Introductory Juvenile Novices' Hurdle by an impressive 12 lengths. The main race of the day was the Rowland Meyrick Chase, in which two of the Yorkshire favourites Truckers Tavern and Hussard Collognes both fell, and Sue Smith's Arctic Lord (who actually started favourite) could only manage third to Gunner Welburn. In the final race Mick Easterby's adaptable Middlethorpe scored over hurdles. There is also a winner at Leicester for Andy Turnell with Six Pack. |
| 26/12/2003 | The usual packed Boxing Day card, and whilst Yorkshire didn't win any of today's big races there were a number of winners. The Yorkshire meeting was, as always, at Wetherby where the Tim Easterby trained Silver Knight won the Novices' Chase from Sue Smith's The Kew Tour and Kevin Ryan's Petrula won the Novices' Handicap Hurdle. Result of the day was perhaps from the small yard of Noel Wilson, who's Pharbeitfrome hacked around to finish a distant (the RP estimates he was 80 lengths behind the winner!) third in the Castleford Chase Gd2, picking up £5,500 for his troubles ! There was a winner at Uttoxeter for Micky Hammond with Maniatis, whilst closer to home there was a winner at Sedgefield for Alan Swinbank with Touch Closer, and winners at Marken Rasen for Sue Smith (Celioso) and Tim Easterby (Barton Hill). Meanwhile it was announced that Mark Johnston has purchased a 260 acre dairy farm in Middleham (close to Chris Thornton's yard) which he intends to convert into a spelling station for horses out of training, this will mean that he will eventually give up his lease on Peter Calver's former yard on the edge of Ripon, which is owned by Lord Zetland. |
| 22/12/2003 | The last day's racing before a three day Christmas lull sees only the Wolverhampton meeting survive the weather, and Brian Ellison has a winner here with Ronnie From Donny in the seven furlong handicap. |
| 20/12/2003 | Just the two Yorkshire trained winners today when Brian Ellison's Shayadi and Kate Walton's Wildfield Rufo both gained victorties just up the A1 at Newcastle. |
| 19/12/2003 | After a couple of quiet days, and a cancelled meeting at Catterick due to the frost, Yorkshire trainers win the last two races at Southwell today, when David Chapman (Headland) and David Barron (Game Guru) are the victorious trainers. |
| 16/12/2003 | A grand total of 5 wins today for Yorkshire stables. Two of the wins came over jumps at Musselburgh where Kate Milligan's Mr Laggan and Malcolm Jefferson's Clear Dawn both had odds-defying victories. David Barron continued his good form at Southwell with wins for Pawn In Life and Sir Jasper, and Patrick Haslam also got on the board thanks to Blue Empire winning the nursery. |
| 15/12/2003 | One winner today thanks to David Barron's remarkable consistent eight year old Blakeset who won at Southwell under stable jockey Dean Mernagh. |
| 13/12/2003 | Again no Yorkshire winners at Cheltenham, but Sue Smith's Simply Supreme is a decent enough third in the £29,000 DBS Future Champions Novices' Chase. At Haydock there is yet another big win for George Moore when Sir Storm wins the £10,182 Gordon Plant Memorial Trophy Handicap Chase, with Mick Easterby's Super Nomad and Peter Beaumont's Sharpastrizam filling second and third places. Later on the same card the first three in the betting finish in the same order on the track in the £34,800 Tommy Whittle Chase Gd2 which means that Ferdy Murphy's Truckers Tavern and Peter Beaumont's Hussard Collognes are only second and third behind Keen Leader, with distances of 17 and 10 lengths! Another Yorkshire performances in a graded race comes all the way down at Lingfield when Brian Ellison's Hope Sound is third in the Summit Junior Hurdle Gd2, albeit 39 lengths behind the winner Mondul. Closer to home at Doncaster Alan Swinbank's Collier Hill can't quite live up to favouritism when second in the £13,553 Introductory Novices' Hurdle, but Sue Smith has a one-two with Meldrum Star and Bushido in the penultimate race, and James Hetherton has one of his best jumping victories for some time when Tyndarius wins the £8,137 Neville Crump Memorial Handicap Chase. On the flat at Southwell there is a double for Bryan Smart with Bold Blade and Mon Secret, and a winner for Brian Ellison with Bethanys Boy. |
| 12/12/2003 | No Yorkshire winners at Cheltenham today, but a good day nonetheless for Patrick Haslam with You're Special finishing second in the £9,831 Adrian Maguire Conditionals Handicap Chase, and Positive Profile coming third in the £11,547 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier. There is one Yorkshire jumps winner today when Peter Beaumont's Ocean Dancer wins at Doncaster. Meanwhile on the flat there are wins for David Barron (Titus Salt) and Kevin Ryan (Noul) on the all-weather at Southwell. |
| 10/12/2003 | Flat and jumping have a winner apiece today with Alan Swinbank's What-A-Dancer scoring at Lingfield, and Brian Ellison's Shayadi winning at Leicester. |
| 09/12/2003 | A quiet day yesterday for the Yorkshire trainers at Southwell, but much better today with four winners thanks to Karl Burke (Chispa and Blue Power), John Balding (Playful Spirit) and Nigel Tinkler (Bid For Fame). |
| 06/12/2003 | The main action today was down at Sandown but there were local victories at Wetherby for Brian Ellison (Great As Gold) and Peter Beaumont (Hunters Tweed) as well as good placings for Tim (Silver Knight) and Mick (The Nomad) Easterby who were second and third respectively in the One Man Novices' Chase behind Our Armageddon. Come the evening meeting at Wolverhampton there was another Yorkshire winner courtesy of David Chapman's Paddywack in the five furlong handicap. |
| 05/12/2003 | Again just one winner today, this time thanks to Micky Hammond who's Tee-Jay won the Showcase Handicap Hurdle at Southwell. |
| 04/12/2003 | Just one one win today when Sue Smith's Keen To The Last won the handicap chase at Market Rasen. Only a draft from the Hedgeholme Stud at Tattersalls today, the best of which fetched 2,200gns. Amongst the Yorkshire studs who bought new mares at this years sales were Tibthorpe, Providence and Burns Farm Studs. |
| 03/12/2003 | With no victories yesterday the Yorkshire trainers made up for it today with five wins - 2 at Catterick and 3 on the all-weather at Southwell. Patrick Haslam (King Revo) and Peter Beaumont (Sharpastrizam) were the victorious trainers at Catterick, and Kevin Ryan (Cardinal Venture), Patrick Haslam (Mr Mischief) and David Barron (Trance) all had winners at Southwell, with Cardinal Venture completing a hat trick. Garrowby Stud was the only Yorkshire stud selling at Tattersalls today and they got 61,000gns for the three mares they sent up, and 110,000gns for Magdalena, an unraced 1/2 sister to Classic Park and Rumpipumpy. One of the the Garrowby mares, Ermine, was bought for 30,000gns by Bishop Wilton Stud, who's owner, John Johnson, was formerly stud groom at Garrowby. |
| 01/12/2003 | Three Yorkshire trained winners up at Kelso today where there was a double for Sue Smith thanks to Royal Emperor and Cill Churnain (who took the £11,919 Tote Placepot Champion Chase Handicap), and a winner in the opener for Alan Swinbank with Collier Hill, his first run over hurdles. The December Sales continue at Tattersalls, today Burton Agnes Stud sold three mares for a total of 160,000gns, with the top price being 120,000gns for Lynx, a daughter of Linamix. Also having a good day were the Foston and Providence Studs who sold Valleyrose (whom they owned in partnership) for 95,000gns, a mere two years after buying her here for 12,000gns, her first foal having subsequently been a stakes winner in France. |
| 30/11/2003 | Just the one Yorkshire trained winner today when Patrick Haslam's Positive Profile scored at Doncaster. Better news for the Yorkshire racing scene over in Hollywood when Sweet Return won the $600,000 Hollywood Derby. His sire Elmaamul is now based at Beechwood Grange Stud, just outside York. Previously placed in a couple of Grade Two races, Sweet Return has another Yorkshire connection as his dam is by Claude Monet, who started his stud career at the Sledmere Stud, when that famous East Yorkshire nursery briefly stood stallions. |
| 29/11/2003 | Unfortunately Jungle Jinks didn't win the Hennessy, and last years Gold Cup second Truckers Tavern was 'only' fourth at Haydock (although he's not a hurdler, and this was his first run for 261 days). However there was a Yorkshire winner over in the Red Rose county as Sue Smith's Artic Jack won the Handicap Chase. There were also four Yorkshire winners up at Newcastle where the victorious trainers were Richard Fahey (Exstoto), Tim Easterby (Edmo Yewkay), Brian Ellison (Great As Gold) and, completing an across-the-card double, Sue Smith (Diceman). A winner on the all-weather at Wolverhampton for Mick Easterby with Strong Hand rounded off a good day on the track. The final session in the foal category at the December Sales today, there were no Yorkshire studs selling however, somewhat unusually, a Yorkshire outfit was amongst the 'big spenders' when Darley and Townsend (of Daleside Stud) paid 165,000gns for a Galileo half sister to Highdown. This filly will probably be resold (via Trickedown Stud) at next years yearling sales. Another Yorkshire stud spending big money on foals was Bolton Grange who purchased six lots for a total of 155,500gns. |
| 28/11/2003 | Like yesterday there is just the one Yorkshire trained winner today when Malcolm Jefferson's Pertino wins at Ayr. The only Yorkshire stud to sell at Tattersalls today was the remainder of the Theakston Stud draft, the top price of which was the 7,500gns paid for a daughter of Xaar. |
| 27/11/2003 | A winner at Uttoxeter for James Hetherton with Tyndarius, where former Yorkshire trainer Colin Tinkler has his first winner since returning from Spain when Bob Ar Aghaidh wins the Novices Hurdle. More good news down at Tattersalls where the Tibthorpe Stud not only sold a son of Pivotal for 87,000gns, but also, the next lot, a son of Dr Fong for 37,000gns. Manor House Stud also had another good day, selling a son of Grand Lodge for 75,000gns. |
| 26/11/2003 | A win on the all-weather at Lingfield for Patrick Haslam thanks to Maunby Raver, but the main action is at Wetherby where Tim Easterby (Silver Knight and Kentucky Blue), George Moore (Sir Storm in the Showcase Handicap), John Quinn (Archie Babe) and Mel Brittain (First Harmony) all have winners. Highest price for a foal at Tattersalls today fell to a Yorkshire stud, thanks to the excellent 40,000gns realised by West Moor Stud for a son of Fraam and Forest Fantasy. |
| 25/11/2003 | No luck on the all-weather today, but there are two Yorkshire trained winners over jumps at Sedgefield for Sue Smith (Celioso) and Malcolm Jefferson (Calatagan). |
| 24/11/2003 | Wins on the all-weather at Southwell today for Tim Easterby (Could She Be Magic) and David Barron (Countrywide Flyer). The two week Tattersalls December Sales starts today, with the first day being yearlings, and the best price by a Yorkshire stud was the 20,000gns obtained for a son of Xaar sent down from the Manor House Stud in Middleham. |
| 23/11/2003 | Just one notable result today when Sue Smith's top chaser Ardent Scout was a decent third in the £43,500 Becher Handicap Chase (a race he won last year) at Aintree, having been in contention at the last this is a promising run for the rest of his season. |
| 22/11/2003 | A very busy day, with England just managing to finally win the Rugby World Cup, and Best Mate being beaten on his seasonal debut at Huntingdon. There was a Yorkshire winner at Aintree thanks to Ferdy Murphy who's Ichi Beau won the two mile chase. However the rest of the Yorkshire winners came closer to home at Catterick with Patrick Haslam's Maunby Rocker winning the opener, and Ferdy Murphy getting an across-the-card double thanks to Looking Forward in the handicap chase. The next race was a mares only maiden hurdle, and after slogging round the track for nearly two and a half miles the judge was under to separate Anne Duffield's Allegedly Red and Brian Rothwell's Lady Netbetsports. Finally George Moore consolidated Middleham's good day when Argento took the Novices' Chase. |
| 21/11/2003 | Just the one Yorkshire trained winner today, at Wolverhampton where David Chapman's Sharp Hat scored in the claimer. Two bits of goods news for Mark Johnston today; first he announced that stable juvenille star Attraction has made a good recovery and will now be trained for the 1,000 Guineas, although the liklihood of her making the race is still only about 60/40. Second the leading British owner of the 70's and 80's, Robert Sangster, is to send a yearling to Kingsley House for next season. Sangster, who owned the likes of The Minstrel and El Gran Senor, is still a major player in the racing industry, albeit on a much smaller scale than in his heyday. |
| 20/11/2003 | A winner over fences at Hereford for Ferdy Murphy with Ulusaba, and one over hurdles at Wincanton for Mick Easterby with Minster Glory doing the business yet again, the fifth win in a row for this twelve year old, who last raced a mere three days ago. It was announced today that former jockey and Malton trainer Colin Tinkler (junior) will be training from George Ward's Uplands Stables, near Compton in Berkshire as from next season. Tinkler, who only recently sold his Musley Bank Stud in Malton to Richard Fahey, has been training in Spain for the last two years, having given up his Yorkshire training career eight years ago. |
| 19/11/2003 | After a quiet day yesterday there are just two Yorkshire winners today - one on the flat for Kevin Ryan with Repeat at Southwell, and one over fences at Hexham for Richard Fahey with Giocomo. |
| 17/11/2003 | Three wins for Yorkshire trainers on the all-weather at Southwell where Kevin Ryan had a double thanks to Bridgewater Boys and Cardinal Venture, the other Yorkshire winner being Bryan Smart's Bond Playboy. Meanwhile at Leicester Mick Easterby's brave hurdler Minster Glory notched up his fourth win in a row. |
| 16/11/2003 | Sue Smith's Meldrum Star was a good third at Cheltenham today, and the Bingley trainer also had a winner at Haydock with Black Frost, but today's Yorkshire star was the Peter Beaumont trained Hussard Collonges, who showed he was back in good form when finishing second in the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase at Haydock, conceeding 13lb's to the winner, and surviving a terrible jumping mistake at the second fence. He will now probably go to Kempton for the King George, where he must have a good chance if the ground is soft. |
| 15/11/2003 | A couple of local winners at Wetherby today where Ferdy Murphy (Paphian Bay) and Sue Smith (Mister Dave) were, typically, amongst the winning trainers, Tim Easterby's Little Docker was also a reasonable third in the main race on that card. However perhaps the most eye-catching result came at Ayr where Richard Fahey's top notch flat performer Vintage Premium was a good second in the £13,624 Dawn Introductory Novices Hurdle, on his jumps debut, he should win soon. At the Wolverhampton evening meeting there was a winner for Mick Easterby with Strong Hand in the fillies' handicap. |
| 14/11/2003 | Two more Yorkshire all weather winners at Wolverhampton thanks to David Barron (Queen Of Night) and Patrick Haslam, who's winner Mr Mischief won the amateur riders' handicap in the hands of his son Ben. Closer to home at Newcastle John Quinn's Jake Black, making his debut, won the Novices Hurdle, and Ferdy Murphy's World Vision won the next. |
| 13/11/2003 | Only one Yorkshire winner today, and that was a much needed flat winner for Malton trainer Andy Turnell, who's Dower House won the closing race at Lingfield. |
| 12/11/2003 | Young Middleham trainer Jedd O'Keeffe has one of the biggest wins of his short career when Beat The Heat wins the £10,433 Dixon Heaney Handicap Hurdle up at Kelso, where there was a Middleham double thanks to Patrick Haslam's Positive Profile winning the opener. |
| 11/11/2003 | The jumps trainers are really firing at the moment and there are four Yorkshire trained winners at Sedgefield with the successful trainers being George Moore (Scotmail Lad and Romil Star), Ferby Murphy (Beacon Of Light) and Alan Swinbank (Liberty Seeker). |
| 10/11/2003 | Four Yorkshire trainer jumps winners up at Carlisle thanks to Ferdy Murphy (Riothamus and Island Faith) in the opening two races and Mick Easterby (Minster Glory) and Tim Easterby (Stone Cold) in the closing two races. Meanwhile the nascent Flat All-Weather season starts at Wolverhampton where the first two races are won by Patrick Haslam (Maunby Raver) and Kevin Ryan (Cardinal Venture). |
| 09/11/2003 | Sue Smith's excellent run continues with two wins at Southwell thanks to Better Days and Amptina. It depends who's statistics you believe, but the official standings at the end of the Turf Flat Season show that Mark Johnston narrowly missed out on second place in the trainers championships, finishing a mere £10,000 behind Mick Channon with an overall total of 133 wins for £2,017,072. Channon's end-of-season run of form also saw him overtake Johnston in the wins department as he had 137. The only other Yorkshire trainer in the top 10 was Tim Easterby in an excellent ninth place with 55 wins for £1,156,775, ahead of the likes of Luca Cumani, Andrew Balding, John Dunlop, David Loder, Saeed Bin Suroor and Roger Charlton. |
| 08/11/2003 | So the Turf Flat season comes to a close at Doncaster. There was only one Yorkshire trained winner, but it was a good one, with Mark Johnston's Scott's View, dropped back to one and a half miles from his Musselburgh outing earlier in the week, making all the running in winning the Serlby Stakes L by three and a half lengths, Johnston's twenty-first 'black type' winner of the year. |
| 06/11/2003 | A solitary Yorkshire trained winner on the flat at Doncaster today thanks to David Nicholls' Locombe Hill winning the closing race, a Lady Riders Handicap. Meanwhile up at Hexham there are four Yorkshire trained winners under National Hunt rules where the successful trainers are James Hetherton (Tyndarius), Ferdy Murphy (Shelu) and Mick Easterby (Real Shady and Marsh Run who who the last two races). |
| 05/11/2003 | No Yorkshire trained winners up at Musselburgh, however there were two black-type performance with Mark Johnston's Scott's View a slightly disappointing second in the Wille Park Trophy Stakes L, and Alan Swinbank's Collier Hill coming third in the same race, to give his trainer his first 'black type' placing. |
| 04/11/2003 | Again there were two Yorkshire trained winners on the flat today, this time at Catterick and the winning trainers were James Bethell (King Harson in the Showcase Handicap) and David Chapman (Sharp Hat in the claimer). |
| 03/11/2003 | The start of the last week of the 'Proper' Flat season sees winners at Redcar for both Mark Johnston (Go Padero in the opener) and for Kevin Ryan who's CD Europe won the main race of the day, the £7,735 Tote BetExpress Showcase Handicap. |
| 02/11/2003 | Only the one Yorkshire winner today, and the successful trainer was the in-form Sue Smith, who's Diceman won the main race at Carlisle. Richard Fahey's Lady Bear was withdrawn from the listed race at Lingfield, and it now looks as if this grand mare will go straight to the December Sales without another run for the Malton trainer. |
| 01/11/2003 | Although unsuccessful in the feature race, the Charlie Hall Chase, at Wetherby today, the local trainers still dominated proceedings at the 'A1' track. Highlight of the day was the victory of Kevin Ryan's Gralmano in the West Yorkshire Hurdle G2, where he beat Sue Smith's Royal Emperor into second place. Tim Easterby had a one-two in the next race, the £10,290 Rocom Handicap Chase, thanks to his leading jumpers Turgeonev and Barton. Earlier on the same card George Moore's Emerging Star, making his debut, was a good third in the Juvenile Novice Hurdle L. The best Yorkshire result on the flat came courtesy of Mark Johnston's Carte Sauvage, who earned his second 'black type' placing in as many weeks when third in the Zetland Stakes L at Newmarket. In the evening there was a winner for Kevin Ryan at Wolverhampton, with Quiet Times. |
| 31/10/2003 | Three local winners at Wetherby today, with pride of place going to the Mick Easterby trained Minster Glory who won the £10,108 White Rose Handicap Chase, the feature race on the card. There was also a double for Sue Smith thanks to The Kew Tour and Mister McGoldrick. |
| 30/10/2003 | Following on from the sad death of Teleprompter last week, it was announced today that another Yorkshire star of the eighties, the brilliant chaser Wayward Lad, has been put down in the States at the age of 28. Wayward Lad was trained by all three of the Dickinson family trainers Tony, Michael and Monica. Wayward Lad is most famous for winning three King George VI Chases', but he was also one of the 'Famous Five' when finishing third in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the year when Michael Dickinson trained the first five home, led by Bregawn. Probably one of the best chasers never to win the Gold Cup, he was also second to Dawn Run in a memorable renewal at Cheltenham and in total he won 28 races and £218,732 which, at the time, put him second (to Dawn Run) in the all-time list of British or Irish trained jumpers. His other wins included the West Of Scotland Pattern Chase, the Lambert & Butler Final, the Edward Hanmer Chase and the Whitbread Gold Label Chase (twice). Selfishly he was sent to the sales after his last run, to resolve a dispute between his owners. The late Tony Dickinson, always a man to put the horses welfare first, stepped in to buy Wayward Lad for 42,000gns, and promptly sent him out to Maryland, as a hack for Michael, probably the most expensive hack of all time! For many years he was out hunting in Maryland, but for the last eight years he was just turned out to grass. |
| 29/10/2003 | Yorkshire trainers dominate over jumps at Sedgefield today with winners from Brian Ellison (Goodbye Goldstone), Ferdy Murphy (Family Venture), Mick Easterby (Moonlit Harbour), Muriel Naughton (Just Strong) and Tim Easterby (County Classic). |
| 28/10/2003 | A lot more action today, although Yorkshire trainers only managed a single winner at each of the flat meetings thanks to Richard Fahey's Opening Ceremony winning at Redcar, and Mark Johnston (who's in a neck and neck battle with Mick Channon for the most flat wins this season) winning the Nottingham maiden with Asiatic. |
| 27/10/2003 | A quiet day's racing, the only Yorkshire winner coming from the stable of Alan Swinbank who won the National Hunt Flat race at Bangor with Dark Character. |
| 26/10/2003 | Following up from yesterday's flat successes it was a good day at Aintree today for theYorkshire trainers. Sue Smith had a double with Shardante and Cill Churnain, the later winning the main race of the day, the £15,531 bonusprint.com Chase Showcase Handicap. There was also a winner of Merseyside for Jedd O'Keeffe with Beat The Heat winning the maiden hurdle. |
| 25/10/2003 | Although they didn't have any runners in the season's final Group One race, the Racing Post Trophy, Yorkshire trainers nevertheless had an excellent day on Town Moor today. Tim Easterby's Jeepstar started proceedings by coming a useful third in the main handicap on the card. Immediately after the big race Mark Johnston showed yet again what an excellent juvenille team he has this season when Nero's Return, a bargain buy at 17,000gns, pluckily won the Doncaster Stakes L by a short head. Lynda Ramsden won the penultimate race, a claimer, with Distant Country. In the final race there was a Yorkshire 1-2-3 with John Quinn getting first and second with stable star's Smart Hostess and Smart Predator, and Nigel Tinkler's grand old servant Henry Hall filling third place. Over the sticks at Carlisle Sue Smith's Free To Run was a decent enough third in that meeting's main race. |
| 24/10/2003 | A quiet day for the locals on the track at Doncaster, with lot's of Yorkshire trained places, including David Barron's Dispol Katie a good second in the DBS October Yearling Stakes, but no 'local' winners. It was also a quieter day across the road at the Doncaster Sales, but the Evelyn Stud got 10,500gns (from Richard Fahey) and 10,000gns for sons of Wolfhound and Komaite. |
| 23/10/2003 | Three Yorkshire winners over jumps at Haydock today thanks to Ferdy Murphy (Ragu), Edwin Tuer (Fishki's Lad) and Sue Smith (Rival Bidder). There was also a much better day at the Doncaster October Yearling Sales with Norton Grove Stud in Malton again leading the way obtaining 15,000gns (to Mick Easterby's son David Easterby) and 26,000gns (to Richard Fahey) for consecutive lots by Namid and Shinko Forest repectively. A few lots previously Oaks Farm Stables banked 18,000gns and 21,000gns (to Mick Easterby's assistant Robin O'Ryan) for lots by Mark Of Esteem and Diktat respectively. |
| 22/10/2003 | Sad news today as it is announced that Teleprompter, one of the best horses trained inYorkshire in the Eighties, has been put down at the age of 24. Teleprompter, owned and bred by Lord Derby, was trained at Richmond by Bill Watts, and won numerous top class races, but his most famous victory was undoubtably in the 1985 Arlington Million G1. Amongst his other victories were the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes G2, the Pacemaker International Stakes G3, the Desmond Stakes G3 and the Prix Quincey G3. In all he won eleven races and over £750,000 in win and place prize money, he was also placed in races such as the Lockinge Stakes G2, and the Eclipse Stakes G1. Retired to Lord Derby's nephews' New England Stud in Newmarket, Teleprompter still spent part of the year in Richmond, leading out Watt's string of two-year-olds, until that trainers retirement. The only two Yorkshire trained winners today both came on the flat at Newcastle, and both came from trainers better known for their jump racing performances. Malton's Brian Ellison won the claimer with Scramble, and Middleham's Micky Hammond won the mile and a quarter handicap with Border Terrier. Today was also the opening day of the Doncaster October Yearling sales and the best price achieved by a Yorkshire stud was a mere 4,500gns obtained by Norton Grove Stud for their son on Timeless Times and Nice Spice. |
| 21/10/2003 | Bryan Smart has his second winner in as many days when Ellen Mooney wins the mile handicap at Southwell, the sole Yorkshire trained winner of the day. |
| 20/10/2003 | A good day at Pontefract today for the local trainers. The day's feature race was the Tote Bookmakers Silver Tankard Stakes L, for juvenilles, and this saw Lynda Ramsden's New Mexican win nicely with Mark Johnston's Carte Sauvage picking up minor honours in third place. Earler Johnston had picked up a winner with Denise Best. John Quinn won the other main race of the day, the showcase handicap with his tough handicapper Smart Hostess. Later in the card there were even more local winners when John Weymes (Attacca) and Bryan Smart (Alice Blackthorn) won both divisions of the Maiden Auction Stakes. |
| 19/10/2003 | And so it comes to pass ..... with time running out Mark Johnston finally grabs his first elusive Group One winner of the season when Pearl Of Love put up a hardy performance to win the Gran Criterium G1 at San Siro this afternoon, winning by half a length. He has now been cut to 12-1 for the 2,000 Guineas and, like Mister Baileys, Bijou d'Inde and Lend A Hand, will go straight for that race. This was Johnston's twelve group winner of the season, and the ninth Group One win of his career, following Mister Baileys, Double Trigger, Bijou d'Inde, Lend A Hand, Princely Heir, Royal Rebel and Yavana's Pace. This victory was also the ninth Yorkshire trained Group One winner of the century, all of which have been trained by either Johnston, Tim Easterby or David Nicholls. |
| 18/10/2003 | A very disappointing run from Mark Johnston's Duke Of Venice in the Dewhurst Stakes G1, he galloped along nicely in a good position throughout, but didn't really find an extra gear in the closing stages, hopefully stablemate Pearl Of Love will do better in Italy tomorrow. Four local winners at Catterick with Tim Easterby (Cheeky Girl), James Bethell (Granston), Mark Johnston (Chase The Rainbow) and David Nicholls (Compton Arrow) being the winning trainers. There were also two Yorkshire trained winners under National Hunt rules down at Market Rasen with Alan Swinbank's Virgin Soldier taking the main jump race of the day, and Mick Easterby's Marsh Run winning the last. |
| 17/10/2003 | Tim Easterby's 'other' star sprinter, Fayr Jag stumbled and fell in the Bentinck Stakes G3 at Newmarket today, unfortunately also ruining the chances of Kevin Ryan's Halmahera in the process. Ryan's Uhoomagoo continued his good season to be third in the following race. There was also some small consolation for Easterby at Redcar where his Just One Smile won the maiden, and was thus the only Yorkshire trained winner of the day. Also at Newmarket the top price from a Yorkshire Stud on the last day of the October Sales was the 11,000gns achieved by Garrowby Stud for their daughter of Diktat. |
| 16/10/2003 | John Quinn's tough money-spinner Smart Predator continued his good season by winning the £10,389 Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Rated Handicap on the first day of Newmarket's Champions Meeting. He was the sole Yorkshire winner at HQ, although Patrick Haslam's So Sure won the claiming hurdle at Towcester. On the all-weather there was a double at Southwell for David Barron with Count Cougar and Queen Of Night,and Foxies Future provided John Weymes with a much needed winner in the opener. The highest Yorkshire price at the sales today came late in the evening session when Evelyn Stud's filly by Sri Pekan fetched 22,000gns to the bid of Mary Reveley. |
| 15/10/2003 | The jumping crowd again kept things ticking over today with winners for Linda Stubbs (Blushing Prince) and Micky Hammond (Nandoo) at Wetherby. The main flat news was that Mark Johnston's Lucky Story will no longer run in Saturday's Dewhurst Stakes G1, following a disappointing gallop on Middleham Moor yesterday. This leaves Duke Of Venice as the only Johnston runner in the race, although Pearl Of Love will be aiming for the Gran Criterium G1 in Italy on Sunday. Better news was that Johnston's star filly Attraction is making a better recovery than expected, and it now looks slightly more likely (although by no means certain) that she could race again. Meanwhile Tattersall's mammoth October Sales resumed today (this section used to be the Autumn Yearling Sales) and the best selling Yorkshire lot was the 18,000gns Lend A Hand filly from Pam Cockerill's Providence Stud. |
| 14/10/2003 | A good day for the Yorkshire trainers, with winners at three different meetings, one of which they completely dominated. On the flat Mark Johnston had a winner (Penrith) at Leicester and doubled up with a winner at Ayr (Mukuria) where Mick Easterby also had a winner (Nowell House). However it was a Sedgefield where the Yorkshire trainers really triumphed today, winning five of the seven races at the jumps meeting thanks to Alan Swinbank (Liberty Seeker), Lynn Siddall (Silent Snipe), Chris Thornton (Raise Your Glass), Ferdy Murphy (Urban Hymn) and Mick Easterby (One Five Eight). |
| 13/10/2003 | A couple of Yorkshire winners today - one at Ayr for Kevin Ryan (Raymond's Pride in the sprint handicap) and one at Leicester for Bryan Smart (Mon Secret in the apprentice handicap). |
| 12/10/2003 | The best Yorkshire results of today took place over the Irish Sea at the Curragh where Mark Johnston's Scott's View was a decent second in the Rathbarry Stud's Barathea Finale Stakes L , and Tim Easterby's Golden Nun was an equally good third in the Waterford Testimonial Stakes L. At a more mundane level there were Yorkshire winners at Newcastle for Bryan Smart (Vademecum) and Alan Swinbank (Pop Up Again). |
| 11/10/2003 | Finish of the day today was at Ascot where the fast finishing Halmahera trained by Kevin Ryan swooped in the final stages to catch Speed Cop in the £14,239 ladbrokes.com Handicap. After some delay the judges were unable to split them, and the race was declared a dead-heat. The only other flat winner today was at York where Patrick Haslam's Positive Profile won the closing race, although earlier on the same card Kevin Ryan's CD Europe had put up a good effort to be second in the Coral Trophy Showcase Handicap. To cap an excellent day Ryan had a jumps winner at Hexham (Dilsaa) where Chris Fairhurst also had a much needed winner with Gilou. There were also jumps winners at Bangor for Malcom Jefferson (Cumbrian Knight) and Mick Easterby (Minster Glory). |
| 10/10/2003 | A much better day at the races today, with three local winners at York. The first of these is the James Bethell trained Stretton who wins the £8,353 Garbutt & Elliot Handicap. Tim Easterby's Flighty Fellow in second in the day's big race, the Showcase Handicap, but the best result of the day comes from the Mark Johnston trained Nero's Return who, making his racecourse debut, strolls away with the maiden race by a massive ten lengths, earning a quote of 33-1 for next years 2,000 Guineas. The other Yorkshire winner at York comes courtesy of Bryan Smart who's Twice Up A Time wins the sprint handicap. The final session of this week's October sales stint sees Oaks Farm Stables' colt by Spectrum achieve the top price for a Yorkshire stud, he made 55,000gns. So Manor House's 110,000gns Royal Applause colt 'topped' the Yorkshire list, although the prize for consistency must go to Garrowby Stud who's six lot's averaged 49,500gns, despite only having one sell for more than 58,000gns. |
| 09/10/2003 | No Yorkshire trained winners at York (or anywhere else!) today. The best price achieved by a Yorkshire stud at the marathon (it continues next week!) October sales was the 50,000gns made by Garrowby Stud's son of Desert Style. |
| 08/10/2003 | No Yorkshire trained winners today. But there is much better news down at Newmarket, where there is much better representation for the Yorkshire stud's at the October Sales today, and two of 'our' lot's made over 100,000gns. The highest Yorkshire lot today came from the Manor House Stud (as is often the case!) when their son of Royal Applause fetched an excellent 110,000gns. Later on 'Darley & Townsend' (aka Daleside Stud) achieved an equally good 105,000gns for their son of Indian Danehill. |
| 07/10/2003 | A big improvement on yesterday, there were three Yorkshire trained winners today. The local winning trainers at Catterick were David Barron (Moyanna in the maiden) and David Barker (Celtic Mill in the classified race). In addition there was a Yorkshire winner down on the all-weather at Southwell, courtesy of Richard Fahey's Turf Princess, shouldn't that be Dirt Princess if she breaks her maiden on the all-weather?!? Only one Yorkshire yearling for sale on the opening day of Tattersalls October Sales, and Burns Farm Stud's In The Wings filly made a faintly disappointing 30,000gns. |
| 06/10/2003 | Lot's of Yorkshire runners at Pontefract today, as you would expect, and not a single 'local' winner. |
| 05/10/2003 | Arc day at Longchamp. Things start of fairly well for the Yorkshire raiders, with Mark Johnston's Darasim a respectable third in the Prix du Cadran G1. However events take a downward spiral after that with Bahamian Pirate and Somus finishing sixth and seventh respectively in the Prix de l'Abbaye G1, Bollin Eric puts up a reasonable performance to be eighth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe G1 itself. On a more mundane level there are two Yorkshire winners under National Hunt rules - Mick Easterby's One Five Eight in the NH Flat Race at Market Rasen, and George Moore's Prince Adjal in the Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Kelso. Also I note that you can get 16-1 for Peter Beaumont's Hussards Collonges in next years Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the same odd's for Ferdy Murphy's Truckers Tavern, food for thought .......! |
| 04/10/2003 | The start of one of the biggest racing weekends of the year. The best Yorkshire finisher in the Cambridgeshire is Richard Fahey's Lady Bear who is a decent enough fourth. Meanwhile over at Longchamp Mark Johnston's Gateman is a slightly disappointing third in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein G2. The best local runner in Redcar's 2yo Trophy is the David Barron trained Imperial Echo, who finishes third, netting connections a useful £20,834. Later on the same card Smart Hostess wins for John Quinn, to complete his good week. There is also a winner at Epsom for Nigel Tinkler when the seven year old Henry Hall wins the Andy Capp Handicap, a well deserved victory as he has been running well with no reward for a couple of months. Hopefully Darasim, Somnus, Bahamian Pirate and Bollin Eric will put up a good show tomorrow! Come the evening Karl Burke's Zarzu wins the claimer at Wolverhampton. In further news it was announced that Beechwood Grange Stud would next year be standing the decent Alleged sire Muhtarram, who is sire of a number of good horses including Mark Johnston's Fight Your Corner. Muhtarram, like fellow Beechwood Grange stallion Elmaamul, is owned by Shadwell Stud, and the Knowles' certainly seem to have struck up a profitable association with Sheikh Hamdan's operation, as they could now lay claim to standing the two of the best stallions in Yorkshire. |
| 03/10/2003 | Only jumps winners for the Yorkshire trainers today and all three are at Hexham where John Quinn's Direct Descendant wins the opener, John Hetherton's Valeureux the Novices' Hurdle and Mick Easterby's Moonlit Harbour the NH Flat Race. |
| 02/10/2003 | Not a good day at Newmarket racecourse for Yorkshire with Mark Johnston's Gold History soundly beaten in the Somerville Tattersall Stakes G3. Come the evening on the other side of town however it was a different story when Mark Dwyer's Oaks Farm Stables consigned a Sadler's Wells filly who fetched a massive 750,000gns at the Tattersalls Houghton Yearling Sales. The filly is an own sister to group one winner Sequoyah and her dam is a half sister to the dam of Saffron Walden and Dolphin Street. OK, so the filly was actually bred at the Brittas House Stud, but nevertheless this is an excellent result, and by far the largest amount ever bid for a horse sent up to the sales from a Yorkshire stud, the next highest I believe being the 400,000gns realised by Cliff Stud in 2000 for a son of Sadler's Wells at this same sale. Yesterday Bolton Grange achieved a good 70,000gns for their half brother to Mensa and Firebolt, the winning bidder being James Given, trainer of Bolton Grange's own Wunders Dream, whether this was a 'buy in' or not remains to be seen. |
| 01/10/2003 | A packed card a Newcastle today, and a flurry of winners for the Yorkshire trainers. Richard Fahey won the opening maiden race with Rising Shadow, and Chris Thornton followed up in the next with Lets Roll, division 2 of that race was won by Bryan Smart's Redwood Rocks. Finally the sixth race was won by John Quinn's talisman, the game Fantasy Believer. There was also a winner for Patrick Haslam at Nottingham when his So Sure won the Apprentice Seller. |
| 30/09/2003 | I today received my copy of an
excellent book entitled "Early Horse Racing In
Yorkshire and the Origins of the Thoroughbred" by
David Wilkinson. I would thoroughly recommend the book to
anyone who is interested in the early development of the
Thoroughbred in Yorkshire (and if you're reading this you
probably are interested), and it's a bargain at £9.95
inc.P&P from Old Bald Peg Publications (if you 'get'
the name then you should 'get' the book!) who's website
(with order form) is here.
There are an abundance of pictures, diagrams and maps and
it includes plenty of history on York and Doncaster
racecourses as well as information on early breeders,
trainers and horses, further information on the book is
given on the website. A few flat runners from Yorkshire at Nottingham today but no winners. As will increasingly become the case over the next few weeks there was more success over jumps with winners for Brian Ellison (Zibeline making a winner debut over hurdles), Sue Smith (Celioso in the Novices' Chase) and George Moore (Prize Ring in the closing race) at Sedgefield. There was also a winner for Mary Reveley with Double Blade in the claiming hurdle. I've occasionally receive emails asking why I don't mention Mrs.Reveley and have I got something against her!?! Nothing could be further from the truth, however with the frequent boundary changes of recent years it is hard to keep track of what county she is actually in - the current Horses In Training states that Saltburn is in Cleveland, so on that basis I'm afraid the admirable Mrs.Reveley doesn't count as coming from God's Own County ...... on the other hand the Racing Post website claims she is in Lingdale, North Yorkshire ! So I give Multimap the final say - and on that basis (see here) she is definately in Cleveland! Sorry Mary! |
| 29/09/2003 | It was announced today that Tim Easterby's stable star Bollin Eric (who may yet run in the Arc) will be retired to stand at the National Stud next season. Bollin Eric, who has won or been placed in all his seventeen starts, will be standing predominantely as a Nationa Hunt sire. Meanwhile there was a valuable day's racing at Hamilton the first 'big'(ish) race was the £11,194 Sam Collingwood-Cameron Conditions Stakes which saw a second place for Bryan Smart's Bond Boy. The next race was the £12,557 Famous Grouse Hamilton Nursery Handicap Final and this brought further proof of the excellent season David Barron is having when his Partners In Jazz came home in front, with David Barker's Fox Covert a decent third. Alan Swinbank's Collier Hill was a reasonable third in the £12,186 Tote Buttonhook Rated Handicap, and James Hetherton won the final race, a £5,346 mile handicap, with Qualitair Wings. |
| 28/09/2003 | Not a good day for Yorkshire racing, not only are there no winners from three meetings, but news filters through that Mark Johnston's stable star, Attraction, is out for the rest of the season and will miss the Cheveley Park Stakes G1. Indeed she will be confined to her box for the next six weeks after cracking a pedal bone in her foot, and there is a possibility she will never race again. This awful set back is unrelated to the over reach she suffered in August which caused her to miss the Prix Morny G1. |
| 27/09/2003 | Day two of the Ascot festival and Mark Johnston's Leicester Square was a reasonable fourth in the Royal Lodge Stakes G2, with the same teams' Penny Cross picking up some useful black-type when third in the Kotex Rosemary Rated Stakes L. Over at Haydock the best Yorkshire performance came in the opening race courtesy of George Moore's La Sylphide who nicely won the £14,092 EBF Reprocolor Fillies Handicap, her third win of the season, to give Moore one of his best results on the flat since Highflyer won the Northumberland Plate ten years ago. Later on the same card Tim Easterby's Flighty Fellow was a good second in the £12,463 Akzo Nobel Rated Handicap. There were only two local winner at Ripon where Richard Fahey's Philharmonic confirmed the promise of his maiden win by taking the Novice Stakes. John Quinn's Smart Hostess won the next race over six furlongs. It was a good day over jumps for the Yorkshire trainers with Brian Ellison's Torrid Kentavr winning the £12,267 Cantor Mobile Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton. There were also three Yorkshire jumps winners down at Market Rasen with Sue Smith's Cill Churnain winning the main race on the card and Alan Lockwood (with Pompeii, his second winner from six runners over jumps this season) and Brian Rothwell (with Risky Way) also having winners. |
| 26/09/2003 | Not much Yorkshire representation on the first day of the Ascot Festival, but the Yorkshire bred (by Sir Robert Ogden at his Sicklinghall Stud) Flying Wanda puts up a good run to be third in the Harvest Fillies Stakes L. Indeed there were no Yorkshire winners at Haydock either, but luckily the all-weather came to the rescue as both Patrick Haslam (Blue Empire in the second) and Mick Easterby (Parknasilla in the three year old maiden) had winners at Southwell. |
| 25/09/2003 | The only Yorkshire trained winner today was George Moore's Sir Storm who won the main race over fences today at Perth. However Bryan Smart's excellent flag-bearer Monsieur Bond ran a cracking race to be a good second in the Charlton Hunt Supreme Stakes G3 at Goodwood, hopefully a group race can be found for this son of Danehill Dancer before the end of the season. |
| 24/09/2003 | No Yorkshire trained winners today although Guy Reed's homebred (at his Copgrove Stud) Go Solo won his second race of the year when taking the nursery at Chester. Later on the same card Tim Easterby's Golden Nun earned some more black-type by finishing second, a neck behind the winner, in a new race - the Jardine Lloyd Thompson Henry Gee Fillies Stakes L. |
| 23/09/2003 | A plethora of local winners at Beverley today, with Thornton-le-Clay trainer Bill Tinning kicking off proceedings by winning the opening seller with Life Is Beautiful, his second winning horse of the season, from only five individual runners, an excellent ratio. Bryan Smart continued the good work when his Creskeld won the third race and this was followed up by John Quinn winning the next with Smart Predator. The following race was won by Mel Brittain with Melodian, and the last by Mick Easterby's Acomb. So five local winners from six races! |
| 20/09/2003 | Twenty years on since the glory days of Soba, and fourteen years since Chaplins Club was second in the Ayr Gold Cup (1988 and 89), Stillington trainer David Chapman is back in the big time when Quito narrowly triumphs in the £65,000 Ayr Gold Cup Handicap. Drawn in the right group Quito, under Tony Culhane, found a gap at just the right time to beat Seel Of Approval by a head, with David Nicholls' Fire Up The Band in third, and John Quinn's Fantasy Believer back in fourth. The result could be considered somewhat ironic as Nicholls (who rode the great Soba) was attempting to win the race for a record fourth consecutive year, and was beaten in his attempt but his former guv'nor! Earlier on the same card Mark Johnston's Scott's View had been third in the Weatherbys stallionbook.co.uk Stakes L, unfortunately stablemate Systematic ran a terrible race down at Newbury. The best result from a Yorkshire runner at Newbury came from the Don Enrico Incisa stablestar Cripsey Brook, who was a good third in the valuable Courage Best Handicap. At the local meeting at Catterick Johnston's Bloemfontain finally lost his maiden tag at the third time of asking in the opener, and there was another Middleham winner courtesy of George Moore's Futoo in the nursery. Andy Turnell also had a much needed winner at Catterick when Little Tobias took the staying handicap, Turnell's third flat win of the season, compared with fourteen last year. |
| 19/09/2003 | The Ayr meeting continues and there are more winners for the Yorkshire raiders courtesy of Mark Johnston (Tafaahum in the opening maiden, and Gold History in the two-year-old conditions race) and David Nicholls who landed the big race of the day, the £10,660 Ayr Silver Cup Handicap, with Native Title (who ran unplaced here yesterday), Nicholls was also responsible for second placed Blackheath. |
| 18/09/2003 | The start of the big Ayr meeting, with a suprisingly low quality of race. However the Yorkshire trainers started the meeting in good form with a 1-2-3 in the first race, albeit only a seller, thanks to Xpressions (Richard Fahey), Jimmy Gee (David Nicholls) and Tancred Imp (David Barker). They also won the next, a Rated sprint handicap thanks to David Nicholls' Brave Burt. In the next race they managed second and third thanks to Suzuka (Mark Johnston) and Lucindi (Chris Thornton). After this things quietened down, but it was an excellent start, especially for Nicholls who hopes to win the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday for the fourth year in a row. Closer to home saw local winners at Pontefract thanks to Mick Easterby (Emperor's Well in the seller) and Bryan Smart (Atlantic Ace in the stayers conditions race). |
| 17/09/2003 | Somewhat bizzarely there were three Yorkshire winners all the way down at Sandown today - and only two close to home at Beverley! The winning trainers at Sandown were David Barron (Racoon in the opener), David Nicholls (Rudi's Pet in the sprint claimer) and Mark Johnston (Duke Of Venice in the two-year-old maiden, his heavily fancied two year old Fort could 'only' manage third in the novice race). Over on the Westwood the successful local handlers were John Wainwright (Mis Chicaf in the maiden) and, with a cross country double, David Nicholls (American Cousin in the sprint handicap). |
| 16/09/2003 | Only two Yorkshire trained winners today, and both were close to home at Thirsk. Robin Bastiman's Pepper Road won the mile handicap, to give him his fourth winner of the season, and Lynda Ramsden, following on from yesterday, won the six furlong handicap with Favour, her eighteenth win of the season, an excellent tally given her much reduced string these days, following the decision to train 'for fun' for 'people we like'! Indeed from 24 individual runners this year 13 have now won at least one race, an excellent strike rate, which won't be bettered by many people. |
| 15/09/2003 | Mark Johnston today clarified plans for his top two year old colts (Attraction is on course for the fillies only Cheveley Park Stakes) - basically Russian Valour has had a set back in training and won't run again this season, Lucky Story will head for the Dewhurst, and Pearl Of Love (no excuses offered for yesterday) will probably go for the Racing Post trophy, rather than the Grand Criterium. Johnston appropriately won the 'Double Trigger Maiden Stakes' at Redcar today with newcomer Yoshka, and there were also winners for Kevin Ryan (Millkom Elegance) and Lynda Ramsden (Distant Country) at the Teeside track. Up at Musselburgh there were winners for Tim Easterby with Jeepstar in the £10,277 Musselburgh Gold Cup, and for Patrick Haslam with Alpine Special in the mile maiden. |
| 14/09/2003 | Today Darryl Holland has the opportunity to compare Pearl Of Love with Lucky Story when Mark Johnston's charge ran in the National Stakes G1 at The Curragh. Unfortunately Pearl Of Love came up short and could 'only' manage third place, and thus denied Johnston his first group one win of the season. There was some compensation at almost exactly the same time however as, over in France, Johnston's Darasim put up a strong front running performance to land the Prix Gladiateur G3, Yorkshire's fourth group win in just over a week, and Johnston's second in three days. At a more mundane level there was a winner in the opener at Hexham for Ferdy Murphy and, on the same card, Chris Fairhurst had a much needed winner when Little Task took the handicap hurdle, all he needs now is a first winner of the year on the flat. Indeed Yorkshire trainers dominated at Hexham as Kate Milligan and George Moore also won the last two races on the card. |
| 13/09/2003 | St.Leger day at Doncaster, unfortunately there were no local runners in the great race, which went to Aidan O'Brien's Brian Boru. Although there were good placings from local horses at Doncaster such as Flight Fellow (Tim Easterby) and Arcalis (Lynda Ramsden) we had to wait until the penultimate race today to get a winner when Mark Johnston's Greta d'Argent won the £14,092 Torne Valley Handicap. Up at Musselburgh Tim Etherington had his sixth winner of the season when Feu Duty took the maiden fillies stakes. On the same card Alan Swinbank's Rutters Rebel won the nursery. Nigel Tinkler was another to get on the scoresheet today when Mystery Pips won the closing race at Goodwood, taking the Langton trainers haul to twelve for the year to date. Kate Walton continued her good recent run when Air Of Confusion took the last at Bangor, where earlier Brian Ellison's Torrid Kentavr was a slightly disappointing third in the big race on the card. There was better news over at the Curragh for Tim Easterby when he won yet another group race when Fayr Jag took the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes G3 by a mere head, although his Bollin Eric could only manage fourth in the Irish St Leger G1. Hopefully Mark Johnston's Pearl Of Love will fair better on the same track tomorrow, where he will aim to give his trainer his first group one win since Royal Rebel's Ascot Gold Cup last June. |
| 12/09/2003 | Donnie, day three and things start of well for Mark Johnston when Itemise is a good second in the second race, the £21,006 Tote Exacta Mallard Handicap. Things get a lot better for the Kingsley House handler in the next when Lucky Story ("my best two year old since Mister Baileys") wins the Champagne Stakes G2, giving Johnston his tenth group winner of the season. Although Lucky Story sweated up badly at the start (a common trait amongst Kris S horses) and only won by a neck this was actually a very impressive performance as this game colt kept digging into his reserves to find more following two sustained challenges to his lead. He doesn't look like a horse who will ever win races but huge margins, but at the same time he looks very difficult to pass, and is entered in three group one races - the Grand Criterium, the Dewhurst and the Racing Post Trophy. So that's three Yorkshire trained group winners in less than a week; it doesn't seem that long ago that we were lucky to get one a year, in the eighties for example!. The next race was the £27,000 DBS St Leger Yearling Stakes and Tim Easterby's Mrs Moh (having her second outing of the meeting) put up a good performance to be second. The last race of the day on Town Moor was the £6,500 Coal Trade Benevolent Association Raceday Handicap, and there was a 1-2-3-4 for the local horses with John Wainwright's Catch The Cat coming home ahead of Justalord (John Balding), Hiccups (Lynda Ramsden) and Penny Ha'penny (David Barker). There was a jumps winner at Southwell today for Sue Smith, courtesy of April Spirit. Yorkshire's most important Yearling sales, the St.Leger Sale at Doncaster, saw a new record last night when a colt by Xaar fetched 250,000gns, falling to Hamdan Al-Maktoum's agent's bid. Incidently the small number of horses entered in the sale from Yorkshire stud's have sold well, without setting the world alight. The highest price achieved from a Yorkshire stud was the 35,000gns paid to Oaks Farm Stables for a son a Trans Island, with the next best being the 24,000gns that Evelyn Stud's son of Royal Applause made. Yorkshire studs are much better represented in the Tattersall's October Sales, and hopefully they'll raise some good prices in what is undoubtably a very strong market. |
| 11/09/2003 | Leger meeting day two, and it seems that the Yorkshire horses are pretty unstoppable at the moment. Middleham trainer Patrick Haslam had his biggest win ever (and his first group win since Pipe Major in the 1995 Criterion Stakes G3) when bargain buy (8,000gns at the Breeze-Ups) Kinnaird comfortably won the opening May Hill Stakes G2 by two lengths at odds of 9-1. The 1,000 Guineas is now on everyone's mind for this lovely filly, who was following up from her Shergar Cup win from last month, she is now beaten only once in six starts. Hopefully Kinnaird can go at least one better than the aforementioned Pipe Major - who was fourth in the 2,000 Guineas G1. Later on there were good placings form David Nicholls' Fire Up The Band and Lynda Ramsden's Bishops Court, who were second and third respectively in the Scarbrough Stakes L. Kevin Ryan's Cardinal Venture was a good second in the last. There was also good news at Epsom today when Bryan Smart's good colt Monsieur Bond finally won a 'black type' race when coming home ahead in the Valliant Fortune S L. Finally Mark Johnston's grand servant Zindabad had his last run today, when fourth in the Doncaster Cup G2. He is now off to stud with wins in the Hardwicke Stakes G2, Yorkshire Cup G2 and John Porter Stakes G3 to his name, as well as a clutch of listed wins and excellent thirds in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Stakes G1 (probably his best ever performance) and the Coronation Cup G1. |
| 10/09/2003 | The Leger meeting kicks off - and it's a good start for the local trainers. Tim Easterby's Mrs Moh was a good second in the opening £25,002 EBF Carrie Red Fillies Nursery Handicap, beaten only a neck. The next was the £200,000 St Leger Yearling Stakes (won last year by Somnus) and this time the best Yorkshire result came from David Barron's Axis, who picked up a decent £28,480 for third place. The best result of the day however came from Kevin Ryan's marvellous campaigner Halmahera who won the £35,620 Portland Handicap, this was his first victory since winning the same race last year, although he has had some good placings in between. Lynda Ramsden's New Mexican was a decent second in the 7f conditions race, and Mark Johnston's Marinas Charm won her third race from her last four starts when winning the last, the £8,047 Wilfreda Beehive Classified Stakes, by a neck. |
| 09/09/2003 | At Leicester today Mark Johnston unveiled yet another potentially top class two year old in the shape of Gold History, a $125,000 son of Seeking The Gold. He duly won his maiden, although only be half a length. Tim Easterby also chalked up yet another winner with Silver Coin in the last at Catterick. |
| 08/09/2003 | Winners at Newcastle for the unstoppable David Barron (Flipando in the two year old maiden) and also for Brian Ellison (Proud Western in the older horses maiden). Many trainers appear to be keeping their powder dry for the Leger meeting - and who can blame them! |
| 07/09/2003 | Middleham trainer Kate Walton, better known for her jumpers, had one of her best ever flat results today when Queen Charlotte, off the track for 291 days and having his first run for Walton, won the Wholesale Madness Handicap. It was a good day on the Knavesmire for the local trainers, as there were also winners for James Bethell (King Harson in the Quintin Gibley Silver Trophy Handicap) and Richard Fahey (Philharmonic in the two-year-old maiden).Down at Worcester Sue Smith had a double courtesy of Ambry and Rival Bidder, Patrick Haslam also had a jumps winner, this one at Uttoxeter, where Maunby Rocker obliged in the opener. Mark Johnston's Systematic had his first tilt at group one company in Germany this afternoon, and was unplaced. |
| 06/09/2003 | Tim Easterby does it again - a Yorkshire trained and bred group one winner for the second season in a row! Following on from Bollin Eric's success in last years St.Leger, Somnus, trained by Easterby, won the Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup G1 in excellent style under Ted Durcan. This grand gelding really came into his own in the soft going (it was still pouring down during the race) and came home clear of of Oasis Dream and Airwave, at odds of 12-1. Somnus was bred by Lady Legard at her Scampston Hall home, and was raised at Sir Tatton Sykes' Sledmere Stud. Indeed Sir Tatton is a part owner of Somnus and intends to use his share of Somnus' burgeoning winnings (now heading towards £425,000) to improve the broodmare band at Sledmere, now that it has stopped taking boarders to concentrate on breeding on it's own account. Unfortunately for Lady Legard Somnus' dam, Midnight's Reward died in 2001, but the Legard's do have her daughter the five year old Pasithea (by Celtic Swing) who won 3 and was placed third in the Aphrodite Stakes L when trained by Tim Easterby. Not to be out done Mark Johnston registered four wins today, three of them in big races. The most important win was that of Gateman in the Superior Mile L at Haydock. Gatemen looked like he would be caught, but just kept battling on and would not be denied. Like Somnus he is effective in the soft, and should be a force to be reckoned with this Autumn. Johnston had a 1-3 in the £32,500 Old Borough Cup Showcase Handicap with The Persuader and Spectrometer respectively, the winner hanging on despite wandering all over the track in the last two furlongs. Still at Haydock Johnston had won the opening £17,654 Freephone Stanley Nursery Handicap with Baileys Dream, and this colt will probably now be aimed at a listed race. Johnston's fourth winner was the Kingmambo debutante Mbosi in the opener at Thirsk. Back at Haydock David Nicholls won the Be Friendly Handicap with Blackheath, and there was a winner at his local track Thirsk for David Barron with Raccoon in the last. Over jumps John Quinn won the Juvenile Novices Hurdle at Stratford with Hilltime. Down to Wolverhampton for the evening racing, where Kevin Ryan's Nimello wins the claimer. Today's good results will have consolidated Mark Johnston's second place in the trainers championship, and Tim Easterby should now have overtaken John Gosden for sixth. Other Yorkshire trainers high up the list are David Nicholls (19th), Richard Fahey (29th) and David Barron who in 33rd is ahead of the likes of Sir Mark Prescott, Alec Stewart and Neville Callaghan and has had an excellent season so far with 57 winners, Johnston remains the only trainer with more than 100 winners, he is currently on 121. |
| 05/09/2003 | Although there was a winner at Haydock for Patrick Haslam (King Revo), where Mark Johnston's Coolbythepool was a reasonable third in the big race, the main interest today was over jumps at Sedgefield. The opening race was supposed to have been boycotted as a protest against the reduction in prize money, however, following some mis-communication, two runners went to post and George Moore's Prize Ring came home in front. Perhaps not the most successful protest ever staged. There were three further winners up in the North East for Yorkshire trainers courtesy of Sue Smith (Grate Deel), Micky Hammond (Nandoo) and Alan Swinbank (Virgin Soldier). |
| 04/09/2003 | At Carlisle today there were winners for Bryan Smart (Senor Bond) and Mick Easterby (Princes Theatre, having his first run for his new connections). On the other coast Richard Fahey had a winner at Redcar with Marshallspark. |
| 03/09/2003 | Things started off well for the local trainers at York with Mick Easterby's Sporting Gesture winning the opening race from Richard Fahey's Jeepstar. In the next, the £15,863 T Mobile Rated Handicap John Quinn's Smart Predator was a good second. Mark Johnston's Itemise, running for the second time in seven days, was a decent enough third in the Garrowby Rated Handicap, and Johnston's Gone West juvenille West Country made a promising debut in the maiden, coming second to Paul Cole's Secretary General, who had the benefit of two previous trips to the races. |
| 02/09/2003 | A rare trip to Brighton yields a winner for Wetherby trainer Robin Bastiman when Tuscan Flyer wins the last at the Sussex track. |
| 01/09/2003 | Just the one Yorkshire winner today when Mark Johnston's Woody Valentine wins the two-year-old maiden up at Hamilton. |
| 30/08/2003 | Four meetings today - and Yorkshire winners at all of them ! This is becoming a bit of a habit. The best result of the day came from Richard Fahey's filly Lady Bear who won the Atalanta Stakes L at Sandown. This fine filly will goto the sales at the end of the season as a broodmare prospect, having won over £200,000 for connections. Chester also saw a big race win for Yorkshire when David Nicholls' True Night won the £14,820 betfair.com Handicap. On the same card Tim Easterby's Bourgeois was a decent enough third in the Chester Rated Stakes Handicap L. The sole Yorkshire winner at Ripon came courtesy of James Hetherton's Swynford Pleasure, winning for the second time in under a week. Finally there was a jumps winner at Market Rasen for Ferdy Murphy when Howaboys Quest won the closing Novices' Hurdle. |
| 29/08/2003 | Three meetings today - and Yorkshire winners at all of them. Pride of place goes to Mark Johnston's Chantress who won the £13,689 Business Link NWFA Rated Handicap at Chester by two lengths. Down at Sandown Linda Stubbs' Eastern Pearl won the opening Nursery Handicap. By the sea at Ayr their were winners for David Barron with Imperial Echo and Julie Camacho with Lauro. |
| 28/08/2003 | A quiet day's racing from a Yorkshire perspective with most of the action centred on Chester, where there were a handful of runners from God's Own County. There was good Yorkshire representation in the Tote Exacta Showcase Handicap, with Alan Dickman's Inter Vision performing best to take second place. There were also a few Yorkshire runners in the last race, the £7,036 Saffie Joseph & Sons Handicap, where Mick Easterby's Hills Of Gold put up a good performance to win by one and a half lengths. |
| 27/08/2003 | Mark Johnston sent four fillies to Brighton today in search of precious black-type in the Virgina Rated Handicap Stakes L and was rewarded when Sheikh Mohammed's Itemise came in a good third, beaten only by two heads. There was a double for David Nicholls at Catterick with Bannister and Ballybunion both scoring over five furlongs. |
| 26/08/2003 | The local horses faired much better at Ripon today than they did at Newcastle yesterday, with three Yorkshire winners. The star performance was from Don Enrico Incisa's Cripsey Brook won continues to go from strength to strength and was allowed to set off at the ridiculous odds of 8-1 (I had my first bet in over 2 years and it was one of those 'free bet' opening offers, days don't get much better than that!) when he won the £8,567 City of Ripon Showcase Handicap. Tim Easterby's Mind Alert won the next, the Steve Nebitt Challenge Trophy Handicap, and Bryan Smart's Masterpoint took the claimer. |
| 25/08/2003 | The usual pitiful bank holiday card of claimers and low numbers of runners. The best Yorkshire results were at Epsom where Mark Johnston won the opening maiden with the promising Fort, who won despite running green. Later on the same card David Nicholls won the 'Amateur Derby' - the £12,180 Burton & Smith Derby Amateur Riders Handicap - with Eton by a mere neck. At Ripon (where the biggest field had 9 runners, and 2 races only attracted 4 runners each) there were winners for Allan Dickman with Inter Vision in the Billy Nevett Memorial Handicap, and for Tim Easterby with Jeepstar in the closing Pateley Bridge (home of moi!) Handicap. Looking for easy picking Nigel Tinkler and David Nicholls each sent 2 runners each all the way to Folkestone, and were rewarded with a winner apiece from Henry Windsor and Bailiebrough respectively. Alan Swinbank had the sole Yorkshire winner at Newcastle when Red Romeo won the opener. Over jumps there were winners for Sue Smith (Keen To The Last) and Kevin Ryan (Dilsaa) at Cartmel, and Smith doubled up with Lisdante winning at Southwell. Lincolnshire trainer James Given announced today that his star two-year-old of last season Wunders Dream, who has failed to train on, will be retired to her owner John Ellis' Bolton Grange Stud immediately. Lightning fast last season she won the Flying Childers Stakes G2, and the Molecomb Stakes G3 as well as two other races and was placed second in the Weatherbys Super Sprint, but this year she has made no show in five outings. |
| 24/08/2003 | A good weekend for Mark Johnston is sealed when he wins his second Group Two race in as many days when the enigmatic Darasim produces a superb display to bolt home in the Prix Kergorlay G2 at Deauville under Joe Fanning. This is Johnston's ninth group winner of the season although somewhat bizarrely he hasn't had a horse even placed in a group one race yet. Partly this can be explained by the fact that many of his best results this year have been in juvenille races, and most of the two year old group ones have not yet been run. On this theme it was reported today that stable star Attraction (currently ante-post favourite for the 1,000 Guineas) has had a minor setback in training and, as a result, will not now be running in next weekends Prix Morny G1, but will instead go for the Cheveley Park Stakes G1. Much closer to home at Beverley David Barron's Dispol Katie won the £13,676 BP Saltend Nursery Handicap from Tim Etherington's Celtic Thunder. Earlier Johnston's Masterpoint had won the opening claimer and later on James Hetherton's Swynford Pleasure took the amusingly named Ferret Rescue Handicap! Down at Goodwood there was a nice winner for Alan Swinbank when the admirable What-A-Dancer took the Seafrance Classified Stakes. |
| 23/08/2003 | Today Mark Johnston's Pearl of Love produced a devastating run to crush the opposition in the Futurity Stakes G2 at the Curragh. This colt, who was already one of the favourites for next years 2,000 Guineas looks to be the 'real deal' and is sure to shorten for next seasons classics after winning by 3 1/2 lengths. There was another good result for Johnston at Goodwood when Scott's View continued on the comeback trail when second in the March Stakes L, a great improvement on his run a week ago, he is sure to be winning soon. Also at Goodwood John Quinn's Fantasy Believer was a good second in the £18,847 ladbrokes.com Handicap, and David Nicholls' Winning Venture managed a third in his handicap. There was a second victory in as many days for a Yorkshire horse at 'HQ' when Lynda Ramsden's Arcalis won the £15,469 betfair.com Rated Handicap in good style. Unfortunately John Wainwright was unable to win the 'Will It Be A Wainwright Winner Handicap' at Beverley (although Bobanvi did oblige for him at Cartmel), a race he has won for the last four years, hence the (new) name! However there were winners at the East Yorkshire track for Mick Easterby with Hills Of Gold, Mark Johnston with Penny Cross and Tim Easterby with Ruthie, who was homebred by Lord Halifax at his Garrowby Stud. |
| 22/08/2003 | A good day at Newmarket for Tim Easterby when he lands a one-two in the day's feature race the Hopeful Stakes L where Fayr Jag comes home just a neck in front of stablemate Somnus. Many observers felt that if the race was run again the placings could well be reversed as Somnus failed to take his gap immediately when hemmed in on the rails. Patrick Haslam's Alpine Special was second in the nursery. At Thirsk there were local winners for David Barker (Summerise), Karl Burke (Blue Sky Thinking) and Nigel Tinkler with Mary Jane in the closing race. Mary Jane is in-foal to former Tinkler star Sugarfoot and will now be retired to stud, having won over £30,000 for current connections. The first two races at Newcastle's evening meeting were won by Yorkshire horses with John Quinn (Prince Tara) and Patrick Haslam (Good To Go) taking the spoils. |
| 21/08/2003 | Yorkshire was again
under-represented at York where the best result of the
day from a local perspective was the good second place
(beaten only a short head) of Bryan Smart's Monsieur
Bond in the Roses Stakes L. Patrick
Haslam's Moulin de Mougins also filled the
runner up berth in the next race, also the final race of
the meeting, the £11,310 Bradleys Jewellers Nursery
Handicap. Futher afield there were winners for Richard
Fahey (Angel Isa) and Robin Bastiman (Tuscan
Flyer) at Musselburgh. If you have received the infamous 'Sobig' virus 'from' me - you haven't. This virus 'spoofs' it's original destination, so it appears to come from somewhere other than it's original server. For more info see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3169573.stm |
| 20/08/2003 | Not a good day for the Yorkshire horses at York today although, in fairness, with the possible exception of the disappointing Leicester Square, there weren't really that many local runners with chances. However there was some recompense as the winner of the Ebor Handicap itself was Saint Alebie bred adjacent to the A1 at Westwood Farm, and a grand-daughter of the Yorkshire darling Soba. Yorkshire horses did better at Carlisle where there were winners for Lynda Ramsden (Johnny Parkes in the maiden) and David Nicholls (Pax in the £7,118 Weatherbys Handicap). There was good news at Nottingham for Chris Thornton where he registered his first flat winner since Boxing Day when Quicks The Word won the Classified Stakes. |
| 19/08/2003 | Day one of York's prestigous Ebor meeting went well for the local horses. In the Lonsdale Stakes G3 Tim Easterby's Bollin Eric put up a sterling performance to win by 2 lengths and a neck, with Mark Johnston's Zindabad back in third. This was the first time these two horses had tackled this distance and both acquited themselves well. The last race of the day was the £19,175 Royal & Sun Alliance Handicap and this also went to a local horse when John Quinn's Smart Predator followed up on his 'Grey Horse' success from Saturday. In between these races Johnston's Delsarte was a slightly disappointing fourth in the Great Voltigeur Stakes G2, and David Barron's Axis was a good second in the Eglinton Nursery Handicap. At the more humble Hamilton Park meeting Richard Fahey's Wuxi Venture narrowly won the feature race, the £11,807 Tote Bookmakers Series Final and there were also winners for Kevin Ryan (Iskander), Mark Johnston (My Daisychain) and Tim Easterby (Phamedic). |
| 18/08/2003 | Mark Johnston's Marina's Charm quickly doubled up her victory from last week today when winning the £8,491 Oki Challenge Fillies Rated Handicap at Windsor. Earlier in the day at Nottingham there had been victories for Bryan Smart (Bonne de Fleur) and for John Balding in the £8,671 Weatherby's Bank Conditions Stakes with Absent Friends. |
| 17/08/2003 | Racing at Pontefract today where the John Wainwright standard-bearer Vita Spericolata added further black-type to her illustrious career when she finished third in the Slatch Farm Stud Flying Fillies Stakes L. Tim Easterby's Flighty Fellow won the £9,450 Unison Handicap from Richard Whitaker's Nevada Desert, and David Nicholls' Brecongill Lad (who has really blossomed since returning to his former handler) won the closing race. Nicholl's Jabaar was second in the valuable ladies race at Bath, where his Ballybunion was also second and John Balding had a rare Kempton winner when Justalord won the Betfair Handicap. |
| 16/08/2003 | A busy Saturday and we start at Newbury where Mark Johnston's top class stayer Systematic was making his long-awaited seasonal debut, following an injury earlier in the year. Under Kevin Darley, Systematic set off at a good pace in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes G2 but looked a little rusty in the last couple of furlongs where he was outpointed by Mubtaker to finish a decent second, he will certainly come on for this race. Later on the same card the David Nicholls trained Proud Native won the £6,890 Stan James Handicap. It was also a good day for Johnston at Newmarket where his Royal Beacon put up a good show to edge out Tim Easterby's Dazzling Bay in the £15,196 National Horseracing Museum Rated Handicap. Easterby had also had a good second in the opening nursery with Louisiade, and John Quinn's Smart Predator won the first running of the innovative £6,825 Grey Horse Handicap, a race restricted to greys. Unfortunately Johnston's other eagerly awaited seasonal debut, Scott's View, finished last in his race at HQ. Closer to home at Ripon is was the usual cavalry charge for the Great St Wilfrid Handicap. As is becoming normal David Nicholls had a massive seven runners but, rather like Goodwood, it was the former Nicholls inmate Undeterred, now trained David Barron, who did the best of the local horses, finishing a good second in a very close finish. |
| 15/08/2003 | Eight winners in total for the Yorkshire trainers today. The action started this afternoon at Newcastle where Lynda Ramsden (Prize Ring), Richard Fahey (Opening Ceremony) and Mick Easterby (William's Well) all had winners. The local evening meeting was at Catterick where Lynda Ramsden had another winner (Yarn Spinner) and David Nicholls (Hawk), Bryan Smart (Differential) and Mark Johnston (Victory Ventre) also had wins. Down at his former base Newmarket Karl Burke chalked up another win when Million Percent took the second race. |
| 14/08/2003 | Mark Johnston's team seem to be coming back into form just in time for York next week as he struck with a double at Beverley this afternoon, courtesy of Herne Bay and Whispered Promises. There was also a win for John Quinn's Coxmoore in the Novices' Stakes. At the Haydock evening meeting Kevin Ryan's Mirasol Princess won the opener but it was Don Enrico Incica's Crispey Brook who perhaps put up the perfomance of the day when landing the £5,639 Sportsbetcharge Top Bookie Handicap, his fourth win in his last six outings. |
| 13/08/2003 | Following an advert in the Racing Post a few weeks ago it was today announced that Alan Dickman has now moved into a part of Lynda Ramsden's Breckenbrough yard and will be training from there, where he is currently occupying around a dozen boxes. Dickman previously operated out of a barn owned by Mel Brittain. At Beverley today there were winners for John Wainwright (Alpine Hideaway), Mark Johnston (Caracara), Tim Easterby (Grey Clouds) and David Nicholls (Captain Clipper). Mark Johnston sent up 8 runners to Hamilton's evening meeting - and was rewarded with 3 wins, 2 seconds and a third. The winners were led by Marina's Charm who won the £12,023 Captain J.C.Stewart Rated Handicap, the other Kingsley House winners were Baileys Dancer and Spectrometer. Kevin Ryan's Poppys Footprint won the Novices' Stakes. |
| 12/08/2003 | Only two Yorkshire runners today, both were trained by David Nicholls and both ran at Brighton were Izmail won the closing race under the trainers son Adrian Nicholls. |
| 11/08/2003 | Local trainers did well at the Thirsk evening meeting with winners for Richard Whitaker (Lord of Methley), Bryan Smart (Annie Harvey), John Wainwright (Baron Rhodes), Brian Ellison (Altitude Dancer) and David Barron (Blonde Streak). Earlier in the day Sue Smith's April Spirit had won over fences at Southwell. |
| 10/08/2003 | The death was announced today of Lord Manton, a Yorkshire landowner and prominent figure on the turf. A former soldier he rode over 130 winners as an amateur including Gay Monarch in the 1955 Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham. He inherited his title in 1968 and served on many racing institutions including the Jockey Club, the Horserace Betting Levy Board, York Race Committee (Chairman 1985-91) , and the Tattersalls Committee. He also acted as a steward at York, Doncaster and Beverley, and had been a director of Thirsk racecourse since 1970. He was Senior Steward of the Jockey Club 1982-85, during which time he instituted sweeping reforms of the stewarding system and a working party set up to look at Sunday racing, as well as campaigning for the abolition of on-course betting tax. As an owner and/or breeder his best horses were the stallion Pitpan, Combermere, and Silver Stick who, partnered by the eldest of his triplets, won the Horse and Hound Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown in 1998 which caused Lord Manton to claim that "there were not many people who bred both the horse and the jockey." ! |
| 09/08/2003 | Shergar Cup day at Ascot today and although the format is starting to look a little strained there was good representation from the Yorkshire trainers. In the Distaff Tim Easterby's Forever Times was a decent enough third, but in the following race Patrick Haslam's Kinnaird put up an excellent performance under Kieron Fallon to win the £20,000 Shergar Cup Juvenille Auction. This was Haslam's biggest win since Pipe Major won the Criterion Stakes G3 back in 1995. In the next, the Stayer's race Mark Johnston's Mana d'Argent who was a hot favourite could only manage third place. In the last race, the Sprint, Johnston's Royal Beacon was a good second, although it has to be said that Tim Easterby's Somnus had a very rough race back in fourth. At Newmarket James Bethell's Mine could only manage third in the Silver Salver Handicap, whilst at Haydock Mick Easterby won the £9,872 James Halstead Handicap with Blue Spinnaker. Up at Redcar Mark Johnston had another big-race second when Penny Cross filled that position in the £22,694 Tetley's Imperial Ale Rated Handicap. David Nicholl's Smirfy's Party won the closing race at the Teeside venue. However the BIG news of the day (announced on the BBC during the Shergar Cup coverage) was that, as widely expected, the 2005 Ascot Royal Meeting will take place at York ! I guess I'd better invest in a morning suit, as that will be one race meeting not to be missed for fans of Yorkshire racing! The Knavesmire is to be specially adapted (a crescent will be added to the current horseshoe shape) to give it a round course to enable it to hold some of the long distance 'Ascot' races such as the Gold Cup and the Queen Alexandra. The meeting will be labelled 'Royal Ascot at York' and is necessary due to the 20 month shut down of Ascot whilst a new grandstand is constructed, should this major project overrun then the 2006 meeting would also be held at York. A decision on Ascot's other major meetings has not yet been made - the King George at Donnie anyone ?!? |
| 08/08/2003 | Two winners on the flat today for the Yorkshire trainers; John Balding's Czar Wars at Wolverhampton and Lynda Ramsden's Albany in the last at Haydock's evening meeting. There were a brace of wins over sticks at Sedgefield for a group of trainers usually known for their exploits on the flat viz John Quinn (Hilltime), Alan Swinbank (Virgin Soldier), John Wainwright (Alpine Hideaway) and Patrick Haslam (Onefourseven). Of these the Alpine Hideaway victory was the most newsworthy, mainly due to the conduct of the selling auction after the race. Suffice it to say that after a young man who normally resides at a local, erm, 'institution' walked away after bidding 6,200gns for the winner, the sale was, after some intervention from John Wainwright, declared void. |
| 07/08/2003 | Only two winners today; Richard Fahey's Marshallspark all the way down at Brighton, and Sue Smith's Town Crier over hurdles at Uttoxeter. |
| 06/08/2003 | Some of the Yorkshire stables seem to be coming down with a dose of 'seconditis' but there were still three Yorkshire trained winners today. At Newcastle James Bethell's King Harson won the last race under Joe Fanning. Meanwhile at Pontefract David Barron's Spitfire Bob won the opener and Mick Easterby's Acomb won the last. |
| 05/08/2003 | Again a small number of winners for the Yorkshire based trainers today. David Nicholls' Proud Native won the opening claimer at Bath under Darryl Holland. At Catterick there were winners for Alan Dickman (The Old Soldier in the sprint handicap) and Linda Stubbs (Plutocrat in the closing handicap). |
| 04/08/2003 | A number of winners for the Yorkshire trainers today. Close to home at Ripon in the afternoon things kicked off well when Neville Bycroft's charge Petite Mac won the opening seller. David Barron's Mr.Lear won the next and although the locals were not successful in winning the Armstrong Memorial Rated Handicap there were useful local performances in second and third, filled by Tim Easterby's Artie and John Weymes' Brigadore respectively. Racing moved onto Carlisle in the |