I was really looking forward to the excitement of getting the horses back in training - then there was a bit of a curved ball when Frank was admitted to hospital in the early hours of Monday with, what turned out to be, blood clots in his lungs following his recent knee op! That was scary, but he is out now and getting better!      Phew, so back to Monday morning - Bekah was just saying that the Instagram pics of Donald Mc Cains horses were kicking and bucking all over the place - ours were so well behaved. Even the new ones quickly slotted into our routine. All of the jumpers, bar the fillies Gloria and Late Night Drama, are out at nights and we gather them all up every morning to have breakfast and start work. In a week they have gone from a gentle trot to two steadies - with more exercise out in the field.

I am very proud of the team of horses we have in place for this season - the new ones Ratemenow, Mr Ramoon, Just Edith and Red Dart all move very well. Nathan was in for the first time to sit on them and has already announced Red Dart will win a bumper - early days but I will go with that....      Yearlings came in to have their feet trimmed - only one needed some sedation! Yes Freddies sister - but she will improve and looks great! They were also wormed and back out in the field where they are fed everyday with stud cubes.

Sadly I missed the rounders match at Hexham Racecourse, due to hospital duties, but the team did us proud although we did not win prizes! Jamie getting lots of rounders and Nathan doing his impression of Usain Bolt! Girls played their part as well - it was especially good to see Amanda taking part and also back riding Joker who she had her terrible fall from.

    We needed to school Crimson Road as he now heads for a jumping career and Nathan suggested we go to Rebeccas yard as she has a schooling lane ( ours is on the way, just bought four more hurdles from Newcastle racecourse ) So we took Late Night Drama and the two of them were very good - just a bit more practice required for CR.

Then I got a guided tour of Rebeccas yard which was very interesting! I am not against stealing other peoples ideas but not keen on the over 100 horses! Thanks to Rebecca! We have also had part of the road tarmacked - woo!

    The fixture list for 2026 is now out with 4.4 million extra in the pot - Novice and Maidens will have a much bigger prize pot which is good as we have lots of young horses! Minium Novice chase will be 15K    

    Sadly the news expected for a while hit the Sun newspaper this weekend - and, if the rumours are true, one of the jockeys we used to use a lot is in serious trouble.

Best thing I did was take on Nathan last year and stop using other jockeys. We will never know if any of our horses were in the mix of the race fixing but it will bring Northern Racing into such disrepute. Its times like this that I am justified in playing with a straight bat.

Quiet month...

15th Thirsk Clear Angel - rain would be good...

23rd National Racehorse Week Open day 10.30 - 3.00 all welcome

27th August Hexham Late Night Drama, O Faolains Glory, Crimson Road and Dotties Promise.

6th September Owners Open Day.

Lots going on that is for sure! Susan

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Enjoy, Chris