- Monday, 03 July 2017 15:35
- Written by David Pipe
This week marks Racing Staff week in the industry with charitable organisation Racing Welfare and the Racehorse Owners Association promoting the workers that tirelessly toil behind the scenes to bring you the great racing that we all enjoy on the racecourse and television. Our sport would be nothing without those operating at grass roots level in the stables and it is a great initiative to bring them some recognition and appreciation. Consequently today we have hosted a barbecue for the staff and owners at Pond House and it was a great fun afternoon and very good for morale.
Gerry Supple was on the grills and did a marvellous job, even though he did go a bit ‘Keith Floyd’ at times (as you can see from the picture, right). ‘Supps’ has hosted many a barbecue through the summers and hopefully he has not given the entire payroll food poisoning with his culinary skills.
A game of rounders was also on the agenda and one or two members of our staff have obviously been hiding their lights under a bushel. Step forward assistant Martin Ayliffe who resembled Linford Christie as he whipped around the bases and Sam Fox who has an arm on her that any England fast bowler would be proud of. The office staff didn’t fare quite so well with the accounts department in particular feeling their age! There are a few more photographs below...
Anyway, our thanks to Racing Welfare and the ROA for coming up with this great initiative – hopefully it is something that will become a regular fixture on the calendar.
Back to the racing and it looks like being another quiet week with the ground still on the lively side. With no jumps fixtures today (Monday) our next runners are likely to come at Worcester on Wednesday when Kalifourchon may run in the 2½ mile handicap hurdle. He has gone well fresh in the past, winning first time out in each of the last two seasons – let’s hope he can make it three. On the same card, high class flat performer Celestial Path is a probable runner in the novices’ hurdle and he should appreciate this return to a quicker surface.
On Friday, Tobacco Road is a likely runner in the 1m6f flat handicap at Sandown, while Nice Thoughts goes to Newton Abbot for the selling handicap hurdle. On the best of his form he would have a decent shout, although he does need to improve on his most recent performances.
Come the weekend, Kalifourchon has a further engagement at Market Rasen, while high class French juvenile hurdler Magie du Ma could make her debut over the larger obstacles in the 2m3f novices’chase. We will see how the ground and opposition looks before committing to any weekend runners, although regardless of whether or not she runs here, Magie will be out before long and is an exciting recruit to fences.
Finally, it was the end of an era at Pond House yesterday as recently retired Shotavodka left the yard for the last time. ‘Shottie’ may not have been the highest rated horse to have ever walked through the stable but he was still a great favourite for his character, diminutive frame and willing attitude. He will now embark on a career hunter chasing and eventually point-to-pointing and we will all be keeping a keen eye out to see how he fares.
For all the latest gossip from Pond House and news on stable runners, do keep up to date with Chester’s Daily Chat or follow us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.
