We're in the Final!

There are five flat meetings in Britain today at Beverley, Salisbury, Wolverhampton, Windsor and Ayr.  In Ireland there is a flat meeting at Leopardstown and a mixed card at Tramore.  We have our first runner in a while at Newbury on the flat tomorrow, Lady Reset, so check back here in the morning for more news.

Racing at Windsor this evening sees the return of the 'Ownership Day' meetings, an initiative that was launched in 2022. It is a series of race days designed to give racegoers an insight into what it is like to be an owner on a race day, with talks from syndicate managers, trainers and other racing personalities all sharing their ownership stories. Syndicates and Racing Clubs are on hand with information into all the different means for getting into racehorse ownership and there is a parade of racehorses with shares available for purchase prior to racing. This seems to me like a great idea, in the current climate the more ways we can attract people and new owners into the sport can only be a good thing.  There are three other meetings in the scheme later in the year (Musselburgh September 16th, Cheltenham October 27thand 28th and Ascot November 24th and 25th)  Coverage of the Windsor meeting is on ITV 4, as part of the Racing League Summer Series and the first race is at 5pm. 

Sea Pigeon won the latest round of the People’s Champion racehorse vote on the Racing Post on Tuesday and he joins Denman, Arkle, Sea The Stars, Desert Orchid, Frankel, Dancing Brave, Red Rum and Kauto Star in the semi-finals.  He got 52% of the vote ahead of Oh So Sharp, Wayward Lad and The Dikler.  The next up to face the public is Viking Flagship, Generous, Morley Street and Nijinsky.  Some good names again from yesteryear, my vote would probably go to Nijinsky but Viking Flagship was one of my favourite horses while growing up in his read and white colours.

It was a fantastic result for England winning their semi-final against Australia yesterday 3-1 and reaching their first World Cup Final.  They will play Spain in the final on Sunday.  It was a sell-out crowd in Sydney to watch the match yesterday as the Australian nation have been inspired by their team (the Mathilda’s) as they are nicknamed, throughout the tournament.  England took the lead through Ella Toone before the Australians equalised with a sensational strike from their star striker, Sam Kerr.  Lauren Hemp capitalised on a defensive error to put England in the lead again before Alex Russo sealed the victory in the 86^th minute.  We did have the TV on in the background in the office but it was such a busy morning I didn’t get to keep an eye on it as much as I would have liked.  I hopefully will be watching the final on Sunday morning.  The Lionesses are the first senior team to reach a final on the world stage since 1996, hopefully they can go onto lift the trophy as well.

The Trent Rockets against the Manchester Originals is the match this evening in the cricket hundred competition this evening.  There are a few current and former Somerset players involved so I will be keeping an eye on this game. Southern Brave beat the Birmingham Phoenix last night.

The USPGA Golf moves to the BMW Championship at the Olympia Fields Country Club in Illinois.  Last weekend’s field of 70 is reduced to the top 50 players with everyone trying to qualify for the Tour Championship final in Eastlake in a week’s time.  All the top players will be in action and I love to follow it.  

I picked up a hitchhiker last night.

He asked “how do you know I am not a serial killer?”

I replied “the chances of two serial killers in one car is astronomical!”  Have a good day!