Racing On The All-Weather

Well, they say that Kempton's turf track which will hold the King George VI chase on Boxing Day is raceable...there is a picture of clerk of the course Barry Clifford on the front page of today's Racing Post digging a fork into the turf.  The thing that would worry me is the amount of snow that seems to be lying in the background on top of the covers.  I know that Barry is a lot more qualified than me but I wouldn't think that they could take an awful lot more snow - let's hope that the thaw comes and we can get some more jumps racing.  We don't really want to lose the King George on top of the other meetings that have already fallen by the wayside.

Following inspections this morning, there are a couple of all-weather meetings on today at Kempton and Southwell.

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I see that it is legendary Hall of Fame American jockey Randy Romero's 53rd birthday today.  I wonder how he got his name?  I suppose it is quite easy to imagine really, there are quite a few jockeys in this country that should be called Randy!

It is also Peter Hedger's birthday...Peter is 71 today and I have known him since the 1970's when he used to deliver fruit and veg to the holding camps on Hayling Island - he's a really good guy.  Peter used to be John Dunlop's transport man and he is now back training again.

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There are twelve jockeys on the cold list - I bet there are a lot more cold jockeys than that (including the one pictured below)!  If I was riding I would have to have two pairs of thermal long johns on, a fleecy scarf and maybe a hot water bottle - to hell with the overweight!  These jockeys really are a tough breed.

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I hope that a few of you phoned the Update Line yesterday.  If so, you will be pleased to have been steered in the direction of an 8/1 winner.  To benefit from this great information, simply call 09060 400 901 from 10am (calls charged at £1.50 per min at all times, helpline 01884 840715).

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Despite the cold and the snow, life at Pond House goes on very much as normal thanks to the covers on our all-weather gallops and our indoor canter.  We have still managed to get the horses exercised as you can see from the following picture.

Above: The horses on the Pond House gallops yesterday
  
A very cold jockey!