We are winners again! After a few syndicates without any great success, our newly acquired National Hunt horse, Corrigeen Rock – ‘Rocky’ to one and all – won his first race for us at Kelso Racecourse on Saturday 23 October.
The magic of the day combined with the annual pilgrimage by the Racing Society to Kelso, with around 40 in our group joining together in the Younger Stand for a great lunch, drinks and much, much fun. Rocky featured in the opener of the eight-race card and to see him win in magnificent style was thrilling.
Our sincere thanks go to the dynamic training duo of Lucinda Russell and her partner Peter Scudamore (Scu), as well as jockey Derek Fox. We are very proud of this new opportunity and the feedback after the race was overwhelmingly positive with, we understand, more on offer in terms of performance.
It was a considered and significant decision for the syndicate this year to switch from Flat racing to National Hunt, and we are delighted by the first excellent outing. Rocky looked fresh and alert after the race as he was washed down in the winner’s enclosure, which was packed with Members and friends of the Racing Society. They could barely all fit on the presentation podium to accept their award, with broad smiles across all faces. Our thanks to the team at Kelso Racecourse for their excellent hospitality and attentiveness to our needs. We will certainly be back next year!
Stable visit
Just 24 hours before Rocky passed the winning post, the Society gathered in central Edinburgh. The grey executive coach gleamed in the morning light as Members and friends climbed aboard to make their way to Lucinda and Peter’s wonderful facilitates near Kinross.
With others joining the group directly, coffees and teas seemed forgotten as champagne corks popped early (a big thank you to Debs Thomson & Colin Dempster) and the bubbles twinkled in the glorious autumnal sunshine. Both Lucinda and Scu were on great form as they explained their plans to show the group around the facilities and then take us up onto the gallops to see some of the runners for the main races the next day in Kelso being exercised, as final preparations began for the big race day.
Inspiring for us all was Rocky, looking eager to be under starter’s orders. Thank you to the team at the yard for laying on an al-fresco style lunch and homemade soups which were fabulous, with the apple turnover cake to finish deemed absolutely gorgeous, complemented by further champagne to bring our visit to an end.
A heartfelt thanks to our hosts and to all for making us feel so welcome, with most of us learning much more about the significant steps involved in making a racehorse fit, healthy, happy and of course, race ready.
