Yard Visits
On a bright sunny morning last month a number of ladies across the UK were preparing for a visit to Bonita Racing Stables, owned by the very successful trainer Peter Makin. All were members of The Racing Belles Club, an exclusive ladies only horse racing club, which was launched earlier this year. This was their first stable visit to see their filly Fever Tree in training.
On Wednesday January 13th during a snowfall I visited the dual purpose yard of Midland trainer Ian Williams. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to go out with the 2nd lot as they walked to the nearby all weather gallop for their exercise. The horses did 2 laps of the all weather going right handed and then 2 laps of the circuit going left handed.
Following our Sunday at Wincanton, with no jump racing scheduled on Monday, we begged a visit to the yard of Paul Nicholls at nearby Ditcheat.
Manor Farm Stable, Ditcheat | In the yard and the village | The Ditcheat Horses>
There were jubilant scenes on the final day of Royal Ascot 2008 as Her Majesty The Queen’s Free Agent came from a seemingly impossible position to win the Chesham Stakes, bringing her total number of winners at the Royal Meeting to 20 and ending a blank period that stretched back to 1999.
