Last May entrepreneur, Sage founder and racehorse owner Graham Wylie decided to allow someone to 'own' one of his horses for a day. But not just any old day – ‘Grand National Day 2012’.

The ‘Tank’ won’t have the finishing line in his sights any more.

But in this extraordinary year of racing it’s fitting this legend of the turf puts the armoury away at the top of his game.

“There’s no point in putting a horse in a box if you don’t think it can win. Likewise there’s no point in growing a rose you can’t show.”

Wise words indeed from Head Lad Neil Duncan who, when he’s not setting a leading example at Emma Lavelle’s stable, is tending some of the UK’s finest roses.

It was strange when the news of Ginger McCain’s passing came through. I suddenly had the urge to study one of two treasured possessions in the Anderson household. Firstly a print of Red Rum in the Stableyard – one of only 15 commissioned and given to me by Brian Fletcher, the man who rode the horse to victory at Aintree in 1973.

The winds of change are about to energise Hexham Racecourse, the home of National Hunt racing in Northumberland for well over a century.

Imagine being able to put sensors on a racehorse in full athletic flow in order to read its body movement.

Imagine using the analysis to help create the next Frankel?.........Impossible? Well thanks to amazing new software developed by the leading global supplier of 3D motion tracking systems, this might not be as far fetched as it sounds.

For the effervescent Lizzie Hughes just being the mother of two children ensured she was kept busy.

But the last few months have seen her life filled to overflowing thanks to her own dynamic hat hire business. From a base in Wiltshire, the daughter of champion trainer Richard Hannon rents out an amazing range of hats and fascinators for both race meetings and other special events.

When Spectator suggested to Sir Henry Cecil that Frankel gave the impression he had two extra gears, there was a momentarily silence.

It was almost as if something had been politely touched on, with the Great Man – in typical fashion – not wanting to tempt fate. Roll on ‘The Duel on the Downs’ which saw this wonderful horse reveal not two extra gears but four, providing the most beautiful spectacle to anyone watching.

"When a horse like Frankel appears it’s like England playing in the World Cup or Andy Murray at Wimbledon. Even non-sporting people are gripped."

Not my words but those of the great Sir Henry Cecil, one of the world’s true gentlemen and someone who really does care about his sport.

What do Edie Campbell, Kate Reardon, Laura Bectolsheimer and Sara Cox have in common?

Well they’re all in preparation for the day of their lives at Glorious Goodwood as jockeys in the first-ever Celebrity Ladies Race. The six furlong  event held over a straight course is set to cause quite a stir, between the Artemis Goodwood Cup, and the Moët Hennessy Fillies’.

For Emily Lycett life as an expectant mother and wife of a busy trainer can be hard work but hugely enjoyable.

As assistant trainer to husband Shaun she has also been overseeing ‘The Bourton Breakthrough Syndicate', initially open to ladies but expanded to let in the guys. What’s more the group’s contributions has enabled an important  local charity to benefit from some enjoyable days out.

On being presented to the crowd, the great Peter O’Sullevan was oblivious the compere had just performed a swift but cool turn of hand to save the day.

But for Graham Orange (pictured centre between Frankie Dettori and Kevin Darley) it was all in a day's work for the man whose voice is now part of the furniture to Yorkshire racegoers, as he explained: “It was probably the funniest moment I’ve had in 28 years as the microphone came out of its socket. We were at Wetherby in front of a large crowd and thankfully I made the connection again before anyone seemed to notice.”