2010 Trainee Views

November, 2010

Welcome to the fantasy world of Newmarket. Here, horse racing exists not only in owner’s dreams of glory or on a few columns on page 5 of the sports section. It lives and breathes; it is the very source of being. A town where everything is the horse, and the horse is everything. The High Street is lined with pubs filled with jockeys, trainers, riders, grooms and stud staff. An "outsider" walking through unbeknownst may wonder how it is he stepped into a land where he is a giant (I am only 6 foot and 80kg and I feel big around here). With treasured art pieces and saddlecloths of past champions adorning the walls and racing on the T.V. in at least one corner, conversation is never too far away from the subject of the horse. The epicentre of the town is the National Horseracing Museum, guarded by the regal presence of Hyperion’s statue. Beyond the pubs, bookies, and shops, the traffic in the street begins to transform from cars and pedestrians into horses and riders. With rubber and wood-chip ‘hoof’ paths lining the roads and special traffic lights and zebra crossings installed, the right of way on the road system falls squarely on the withers of the horse – or at least the rider guiding it. Further out still, the town is enveloped completely by its two racecourses, training tracks, and the rolling rich-green hills of beautiful stud farms.

We arrived into this somewhat mystical place two weeks ago and the excitement was tangible amongst the group. Not only was there enthusiasm in discovering the town, but also a nervous energy to find out what our new home held in store. The first few hours resembled children arriving at their new holiday home, or a puppy let loose in a new house: people were scurrying into each and every room to see what lay behind the next door. All of us are staying together in one big house for the England phase, adding a slight “Big Brother” dimension to the experience. Indeed, it will be interesting to see how the politics develop in the house and who will be the first to be voted out.

The first few days in Newmarket were predominantly taken up with orientation – visiting and receiving talks at the National Horseracing Museum, the Jockey Club, Horseracing Forensic Laboratory, and Tattersalls sales ground. We also enjoyed tours of Dalham Hall Stud, Hamilton Hill training grounds, the various gallops in the area, Shadwell Farm, and Michael Jarvis’ racing stable.

We were lucky enough to arrive in Newmarket the day before the final race meeting being held there this year. We donned our suits and dresses (it was only Adrian who choose the latter option), headed for the course and were graced with further remarkable luck in that it was actually sunny. It is a racecourse steeped in history, home of the 1000 and 2000 Guineas and named after the King’s horse, “Old Rowley”. Statues of three champions from three vastly different eras lie like stones amongst a river of people splitting the crowds as it swirls around them. The statues depict Eclipse, the forefather of almost all horses today; The brilliant miler Brigadier Gerard, and a horse, unlike his predecessors who captured the hearts of the public not with talent, but with unyielding heart and courage: Persian Punch. The highlights of the race meeting were, Workforce’s half sister winning, Michael Morrison continuing his progressively successful betting coup on the British bookies (strategy being fairly simple – back Encosta de Lago), and Barry walking around for about a hour not realising that the print had rubbed off his racecard onto his face, which was now green.

Our first lecture in Newmarket was one of the most interesting we have had thus far on the programme. Racing journalist James Willoughby spoke to us about race analysis, which was particularly welcomed as he centred his talk around the then upcoming Breeders’ Cup. Other talks in the first week included an overview of the Injured Jockey’s Fund – an essential organisation within the industry, a lecture on health and safety and a basic first aid course. We are proud to say that everyone passed the first aid with flying colours, although the disappointment was tangible on Hardy’s face when he realised we were to not going to practise CPR on real life models.

Arriving in Newmarket also meant we would be given cars for the first time since leaving home two months ago. Not surprisingly, we were given a quick background to local rules of the road and a completely unbiased and unprejudiced group of us were randomly selected to attend driving lessons. Those that were chosen to receive lessons were: Brianne, Kelsey, Kate, Lindsay, and Leah. Notice any pattern? (oh...and Nick).

As Team Leaders for this leg we are looking forward to not having to do any washing up or cooking in the house and James is looking forward to his tea being prepared and brought up to him by the girls on each of these wintery mornings. To be honest, however, we are not sure if cups of tea would even be enough to warm us up in preparation for the conditions out on the heath first thing in the morning. A group of us have been assisting at Hamilton Hill, Darley’s pre-training centre, run by DFS graduate Kate Grimwade. Those Aussies and the South African amongst us will need to grow second skins before this cold becomes normal to them. However, once you are actually out there working with the horses and learning from people with that kind of experience you soon completely forget about the cold. Well, almost completely.

On our first Thursday we all celebrated Leah’s birthday with Indian cuisine and as we write this a feast is being put together to celebrate Michael Morrison’s tomorrow – So it’s off to the kitchen to dig into whatever celebratory feast is being served….

Matt Prior and James Trotter

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Kate tacking up at the BRS