Tuesday 22nd February, 2022

We have entered Rossbeigh Strand (pictured) for Hereford on Sunday and hopefully he is on course to run in his first handicap, stepping up in trip.  He has shown us promise this season and will make a lovely novice chaser in the future.

I was delighted to be invited to Newbury on Sunday by the Leigh family for the ‘Benjamin Leigh Memorial Novices Handicap Chase’.  Ben was a great character who sadly passed away in covid times and this was an opportunity for his family and many friends to come together to remember a truly one-off individual.

Last night on Racing TV were the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards – once again held as a virtual ceremony.  As ever, it was a celebration of the many inspirational people who work throughout the year with racehorses both in studs and racing yards throughout Britain.  Last year Adlestrop Stables was very lucky to have three finalists with victories in the ‘Dedication’ and ‘Community’ Awards.

A very worthy ‘Employee of the Year’ was Paddy Trainor who has been at Mark Johnston’s Middleham yard for twenty-three years and is a fine example the dedication and mentoring spirit that is so prevalent within the industry.  All the award winners were truly deserving and it shows the immense camaraderie that is created through working with the thoroughbred, both in studs and racing yards.

We were all thrilled to see Dulcie West win the ‘Stud Staff’ Award.  I have known Dulcie for some time and as assistant manager at North Farm Stud, working with her boss Grace Muir – Dulcie has overcome both personal and physical problems in order to show an exemplary attitude, from seeing the birth of the racehorse, right through to the re-training of them.  As she says, she is both a mid-wife and a teacher and may Dulcie’s excellent example inspire other young people to join this most rewarding of careers.