- Monday, 24 July 2017 15:07
- Written by David Pipe
Well, he’s only gone and done it! Gerry Supple tied the knot at the weekend, finally allowing long-term partner Jo Buck to make an honest man of him. The happy couple were married at Hornsbury Mill near Chard on Friday afternoon. It was a lovely occasion and even the inclement weather could not spoil it. It is a good job that it was a quiet weekend on the racing front with the celebrations going on long into the night…and the next day with most of the Pond House team in attendance!
There were a number of recognisable racing ‘faces’ among the guests including Irish trainer Gordon Elliott, former champion jockey Sir Anthony McCoy and current Pond House stable jockey Tom Scudamore. Congratulations to Gerry and Jo – I am sure you will join me in wishing them every happiness for the future.
As already mentioned, it was a quiet week on the racing front with just three runners from the stable last week and it is looking like a case of more of the same this week with just Chic Theatre and Lady Of Longstone entered up. Chic Theatre has a choice of engagements between the two mile handicap hurdle at Worcester on Thursday and the 2m4f handicap at Uttoxeter on Friday. We will assess his chances in each race before deciding where he goes – he is a little in and out and disappointed last time at Worcester, although he is very capable on his day as his three successes attest. He is undeniably fairly treated back on his last winning mark of 115, so hopefully he will be able to take a step back in the right direction.
Lady Of Longstone is another that is on a reasonable mark and she ran well when third at Uttoxeter on her penultimate start – she has an engagement in the 2m7½f handicap hurdle at the same venue on Sunday and could go there. For all the latest running plans, don’t forget to keep up to date with Chester’s Daily Chat or follow us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.
I was delighted to welcome former Tottenham Hotspur legend and Exeter City Director of football Steve Perryman to Pond House at the weekend. He was a guest of owner Ian Muir and was a big draw at the stable, especially with Ashley Farrant a long standing Spurs fan. Ashley was in awe of the great man and anyone that knows him will agree that it is not very often Farrant is at a loss for words! Steve is in the Spurs Hall Of Fame and played for the club for an astonishing seventeen seasons, while he has been at Exeter since 2003. He had the obligatory mount on the equicisor as you can see from the photograph below. I don’t think he will be giving up football to pursue a riding career any time soon!
Finally, I would like to spare a thought for the family and friends of racecourse stalls handler Stephen Yarborough who was so tragically killed after being run over by the starting stalls in a freak accident at Haydock last week. It is a terribly sad incident and demonstrates once again what a dangerous sport this is and the risks taken, not just by the jockeys but everyone associated with the horses be it in the stables, at home, or on the racecourse. These risks are often overlooked by the casual viewer but are very real indeed and we owe a debt of thanks and gratitude to those who help bring us the sport we love.
