January 2009 - Posts
The first of a series of nine pony races in the Devon and Cornwall area takes place at Blackforest Lodge near Exeter on Sunday, prior to the Mid Devon Hunt point to point.
The 138cm race is off at 11am and has eight entries including Chloe Grove on Summertime Blaze, from Dawlish, who notched up a sequence of wins last season. Many of last season's riders have new ponies and one to look out for is Barnaby Treneer, 10, from Buckfastleigh on Talponciau Perfect Print, the pony showing a fair turn on foot in few outings last season. Master Mink, now 18, has a new pilot in nine year old Elliott Reed and should go well.
There are nine in the 148s which certainly looks competitive. Last year's area champion Bryony Frost on Jack Sparrow finds opposition in Gloucestershire based Joe Ponting on Starlight Express and Freddy Tett travels down from the Vine and Craven to ride Tarka II. Charley Long, 13, from the Wessex area partners Gwen and Bronwen Buttery, from Modbury, has a new pony in the five year old Ginger Biscuit.
THE Tiverton point-to-point promises some exciting racing at Chipley Park near Wellington on Sunday ( January 25). 162 entries have been received with every prospect of ground on the soft side of good.
Racing gets under way at 12 noon with Rockwithacaveman heading the 13 entries for the Hunt race. This prolific pointing winner finished third on his seasonal debut at Barbury Castle last Saturday, and should be able to step up on this if turning out here. Last year’s 50-1 winner of this event Hollandia, and Come What Augustus look best of the others.
Kingscliff currently heads the Cheltenham Foxhunters ante-post betting and would be the star attraction if taking up his Mixed Open entry in preference to Larkhill on the day before. His main opposition from the 30 nominations could come from the Hobbs yard in the shape of Zabenz and Saint Romble. Zabenz is an interesting newcomer to points, having won over jumps in Australia, plus three Grade 1 races in America in his younger days.
The Exeter Racecourse Intermediate looks competitive. Bumper winner King of the Jungle had an outing at Black Forest Lodge on the opening day of the season, but faces useful opposition in such as Celestial Dragon, Walter de Wodeland, Senor Cid and Sulawacee.
The 18 entries for the Novice Riders’ event are headed by Little Ed and Lord of Illusion, already winners this season. Stone Valley, El Hombre Del Rio and King Georges all hold chances in another wide open contest.
Welsh challengers Farnogue and Its Danny Boy, winners at the first Black Forest meeting, are among the 29 entries for the Restricted, but there are plenty of permutations here with some good Maiden winners waiting to step up. Tres Bien, Ansa The Question, Duxy Hill Lady, Over to Charlie and Murdol are all capable of winning in this class.
The Open Maiden has been divided to make a seven race card. The Leslie Jefford trained Golden Benefit has shown enough to warrant support in the first section, where Taralina also catches the eye. In the second section, Owen’s Boy has shown promise in Irish and English Maidens. Macswiggan, Me and Pat and Midnight Clover have experience under rules and enter the reckoning in another tricky looking event.
Chipley Park is a good viewing course located 3 miles NE of Wellington, Somerset, on the B3187 (Junction 26 M5). Admission costs £20 for car and occupants, with a concession of £10 for a single occupant.
This week I was lucky enough to visit David Pipe's stables near Hemyock. Aintree racecourse was promoting the Grand National and his yard was chosen as he trained Comply or Die to win last year.
It was great to see his top horses and also to meet the breeder of Comply or Die, Martin Dibbs, who told me that he also bred a full sister but, far from being another great racer, she couldn't gallop the length of a marquee!!
Anyway if you go on www.sidmouthherald.co.uk there are some pics and video footage on there.
Only two weeks to go before all the racing starts for the Glanvilles - all being well. Fortunately during the 'big freeze' we only missed one day's work - a Wednesday when even the beach was frozen! It was very strange seeing all the ice on top of the sand, frozen as the tide went out, but the roads were OK so we just did some hill work. By the Friday though, the gallop was still too hard but we managed to get some cantering in on the beach and I managed not to fall off despite Storm's best efforts.
Wadebridge is a possibility for Storm's first race of the season, with Superted due to make his pony racing debut the following day at Black Forest Lodge. They have done a lot of work together - hard work for Ted but at least it has stopped Storm thinking about all the horrible things he can do on the gallops! Compared to last year he seems very well behaved.
Ted had to have his flu jabs early so as not to interfere with the racing and he had also to be measured. Despite having five consecutive measurements by the Showjumping Association of Ireland, he still can't have a life cert here - he has to be measured again next year.
If anyone is looking for a pony to start racing on, Champagne Charlie is for sale, although we haven't advertised him yet. He was third in the area points championship last season and ran in every race. He does everything, including polocrosse, winning rosettes in showjumping, hunter trials and one day events last year as well as being a brilliant hunting pony. Pippa is distraught but really doesn't have enough time to exercise two ponies now she is busier at school.
All the pups have gone to their new homes now, and we have ours left to look after. She is called Vodka and hopefully will fit into the family well. Zoe is taking her to the vets tomorrow to get her first vaccinations and soon she will be visiting all the point to points with us.
Pony racing is set to get under way at the Mid Devon point to point at Black
Forest Lodge on February 1. There will be two races there, for ponies under
138cm and under 148cm and changes this year include the distances being
increased for both sections. Secretary Emma Dixon reports that, weather
permitting, the 138cm ponies will complete a lap of the course (1m 1.3
furlongs), starting their race in front of the crowd. The 148cm ponies will
start at the actual point to point start, racing over 1m 4f.
The first of the pony races will be off at 11am, with the point to point
proper starting at noon. Nearly all last season's riders are back in action
again, many with new ponies so the racing should be enthralling.
Anyone intending to run ponies should note that all entries for Devon and
Cornwall area races this season should be made to Claire Wright, Barn Lane
Farm, Stoke Rivers, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 7LD. Entries should be made on an
official entry form - downloadable from www.pra.gb.com. On making the first
entry of the season a photocopy of the pony's passport, vaccination
details, qualification and, if applicable, a copy of the current JMB height
certificate should be included along with an SAE. Entries for the Mid Devon
must be received, with £15 entry fee, by Sunday, January 25.
Riders, aged between 9-15 years old, must also be members of the Pony
Racing Authority. Registration costs £20 and incorporates third party
insurance cover. All current rules and regulations are available on
www.pra.gb.com and during the season reports, results, photos and news will
be on www.fredsampson.co.uk.
During the season there will be random height testing of ponies by two
independent vets appointed by the PRA, and ponies entered do so under the
condition that they may be routinely tested for prohibited substances in
line with the British Horseracing Authority Instruction C3. Owners and
trainers should be aware that their ponies' feed complies.
For more information on point to point pony racing contact area coordinator
Lee Glanville on (01752) 830439 (after jan 24, before that contact Claire Wright 01598 710495).