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Behind the Scenes


Go behind the scenes at the racecourses, find out what our sponsored apprentice Elle-May Croot is up to and how our GM Charlotte Russell is preparing for the Ride of Their Lives Macmillan charity race, plus other news from the Yorkshire racing world.

Family Fun At Easter Across Yorkshire’s Racecourses



Holly high fives champion jockey Brian Hughes at Catterick As the Easter holidays approach, the inevitable question of “where can we go with the children?” can be heard from parents and carers across the country.  Phrases like “family day out” or “things to do with the kids” will be filling the search engines as calendars […]

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Introducing Elle-May Croot



Magical Max at Newcastle Elle-May rode in six of the 10 races that took place in the series, which is supported by Malton based White Rose Saddlery, winning at Ripon in April and scoring points in all the others.  Unfortunately, she took a fall on the way to the start at Wetherby and the horse […]

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Macmillan Ride Of Their Lives – The Story So Far…..



“Well your riding a sprinter over three furlongs, so probably slightly quicker than you will want to be going in your race” she replied. Oh good, I thought.  Three times we had gone up the hill, each time Mambo was working slightly harder and I was loving it!  Most importantly, I wasn’t frightened by the […]

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Introducing Ryan



Although he was born and brought up in the Irish racing county of Kildare, the 19 year old Nurney native wasn’t from a horsey family and didn’t sit on a horse until he was 13.  His older brother Kevin, was already forging a career as a jump jockey and Ryan decided that he wanted to […]

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Ryan Sexton’s Winning Rides



See how Ryan won the 2022 Future Stars Apprentice Championship, supported by White Rose Saddlery.  In total he had four wins, from eight rides in the series and amassed an amazing 75 points.

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Autumn Update



The Ryan yard share the load so all the staff work the mornings and the afternoon’s are covered by half of the staff on a weekly basis.  Oisin works this around racing so if he hasn’t got a ride in the afternoon, or it’s an evening meeting, he’ll work his afternoon feed shift during his […]

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Rathbone Heading For Goodwood



“He’s been good to me, I’ve won on him before and he loves the big handicaps.  Obviously my claim helps in these races and I can’t wait to walk the course and ride at the famous Sussex track.” While there’s a lot to look forward to Oisin is a bit quieter than he would like […]

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Winning Ways



In addition to this, the young apprentice had his first ride at Royal Ascot and made sure that he savoured the experience. Arriving early, Oisin didn’t have any traffic problems getting in and took the opportunity to take in the occasion.  He said how enjoyable it was and commented, “Being in the parade ring was […]

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The Racing Continues……



“I keep hitting the cross bar,” said Oisin, highlighting two frustrating, recent seconds at Doncaster. “I don’t mind too much about Gabriella’s Spirit, we were beaten by the 1/12 favourite who won very easily, but I was sick about Majestic Fighter, the race was going nicely to plan but we were beaten a short head […]

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The Start of the Turf



Oisin had rides in both divisions of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Stars apprentice series, supported by White Rose Saddlery, which he won last year.  He was booked to ride Carter Cowboy for Richard Fahey, a trainer he regularly rides out for and got a late call up to ride the Rebecca Menzies trained […]

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Ticking Over in Winter



After spending Christmas at home in Ireland with the family, Oisin is rested and ready to hit the turf running. Having ridden 23 winners last season, his debut season in the UK, the 20-year-old has had a quieter winter, in order to preserve his claim for the busy turf season.  However, his agent, Niall Hannity […]

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Oisin McSweeney – A Future Star



Racing was not the dream until some of his friends pursued the jockey career path and he thought, “this looks fun!” So how was a 16-year-old, with no riding or equine experience going to make this happen? Oisin strikes you as the person that will make things happen and isn’t afraid of hard work to […]

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Dressing for the Occasion



According to Jackie and her sister Bernie, dresses are always a first choice for the racing calendar and it would seem anything goes!  Prints, florals, block colour or classic monochrome.  Hem lengths can be mini to midi but they would never advise long – this is more suited to summer weddings, garden parties and the […]

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Shine Like A Diamond



At LoveVintageDiamonds, we say ‘a Woman without diamonds is like heaven without stars’, but we would not be politically correct to exclude men from this scenario and nor should we. Many gentlemen enjoy diamonds, not to mention jewellery, to a greater extent than is credited. Those gentlemen who appreciate the virtues of a high-quality and […]

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A Racing Break



Mount Pleasant Hotel has always moved with the times, without losing touch with the finest traditions of a country hotel, which has been owned and managed by the same family since 1938. It provides the perfect setting for welcoming guests before and after they attend the races in Doncaster which is only a short distance […]

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Happy Retirement Paddy Aspell!



Paddy Aspell had grown up around horses and having completed his compulsory schooling, was determined that he was not going back to the classroom, so his father agreed that he could leave school, provided that he got in job in England. “I was a bit of a boy in my teenage years and Dad knew […]

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Adrian Nicholls – Stable Tour



Name: Adrian Nicholls Training Location: Sessay, Thirsk  Single/dual license: Flat How long have you held a license: 3 years Training Facilities:   Paddocks, Lunge Area, 1.5 furlong canter ring Number of horses in training/capacity: 20 What is your background/introduction to racing: I was a successful jockey when my dad Dandy was a leading trainer. My wife […]

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Grant Tuer – Stable Tour



Name: Grant Tuer Training Location: Birkby, Northallerton Single/dual licence: Flat How long have you held a licence: 4 Years Training facilities/team: Partner/Assistant Kath, 5 staff, 6f straight sand gallop, 3.5f fibre sand round gallop, walker, lunge ring, lots of grass turnout. Number of horses in training/capacity:  Previously 19 but just completed a new 20 box […]

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Mark Johnston – Stable Tour



Name:   Mark Johnston Training Location: Kingsley Park, Middleham  Single/dual license? Dual How long have you held a license? Since 1987 Training Facilities, including how many in the team: 125 – 145 staff. Train on private facilities at Kingsley Park. 10f Tapeta all-weather, further 4f wide (stalls) all-weather. 10 furlongs of grass gallops. 2 Swimming pools. […]

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Karl Burke – Stable Tour



Name: Mr Karl Burke Training Location: Middleham, North York’s  Single/dual license:  Dual – mostly flat How long have you held a licence:  Since 1992 Training Facilities, including how many in the team 130 Stables, 6 horse walkers, 5 lunge rings, covered ride, outdoor hacking / trotting ring. All facilities can be viewed on www.karlburke.co.uk Number […]

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Ruth Jefferson – Stable Tour



Name: Ruth Jefferson Training Location: Newstead Stables in Norton, North Yorkshire  Single/dual license? Dual How long have you held a license? Just over 2 years  Training Facilities, including how many in the team: 48 boxes, a TheraPlate, Halo-Therapy (Salt room) Nebulisers, Ultrasound machine to treat muscle injuries. Turn out paddocks, horse walker and use of […]

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James Bethell – Stable Tour



Name: James Bethell   Training Location Middleham Single/dual license? Dual license How long have you held a license? 40 years Training Facilities, including how many in the team Polytrack gallop 7F 1m 4F Carpet gallop Extensive grass gallops Number of horses in training/capacity 35 What is your background/introduction to racing? Started in racing at 16 […]

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Stable Tour with Karen Tutty



Name: Karen Tutty   Training Location: Osmotherley, Northallerton Single/dual license?: Flat Licence How long have you held a license? Since 2011 Training Facilities, including how many in the team: Two members of staff, professional flat jockey/assistant trainer my daughter – Gemma Tutty. Also, Charlotte Revell who has her own point to pointer which she rides […]

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Stable Tour with Andy Crook



Name   Andy Crook   Training Location: Ashgill Stables, Middleham Dual Purpose licence Training facilities: Middleham gallops High Moor: A 12 furlong carpet gallop and grass gallop plus a five furlong grass gallop. Low Moor: Three furlong all weather gallop which once a week gets brush hurdles put on and roll on starting stalls; a seven […]

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Stable Tour with Ann Duffield



Name: Ann Duffield    Training Location Leyburn North Yorkshire  Single/dual license? Dual but I rarely have a jumper!  If single flat/jump? How long have you held a license? – 20years Training Facilities, including how many in the team We have a brilliant Up hill all weather (woodchip) gallop, grass uphill gallops, fibresand round canter, Water […]

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Stable Tour with Ruth Carr



Name: Ruth Carr   Training Location;  Stillington, 10 miles north of York Single/dual license? Dual but a long time since I had a NH runner How long have you held a license? 12 years Training Facilities, including how many in the team; 6f circular carpet gallop Multiple loose exercise facilities including our unique “two at […]

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Stable Tour with Bryan Smart



Name: Bryan Smart Training Location: Hambleton, North Yorkshire Single/dual license? Duel, but have no jumpers at present How long have you held a license? 30 years Training Facilities: Own all weather and grass gallops Trotting ring Indoor and outdoor schools Two horse walkers Jacuzzi spa Infra-red heat lamps Vet box Physiotherapist on site 11 full […]

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Race For Life – The Journey Begins



On 13th June 2020, I will be undertaking the daunting but exhilarating challenge of racing 1 mile and 1 furlong around York Racecourse in front of a 20,000+ crowd.  Riding at York Races will be a dream come true – many happy days have been spent on the Knavesmire and I have to pinch myself that […]

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Here We Go Again!



I worked Christmas Day and then spent the rest of the time with my girlfriend Keely, celebrating and relaxing.  It was quiet in terms of runners over the Christmas period and as we hit January the stables started to fill up.  Lots of old favourites and new recruits made their way to Spring Cottage Stables […]

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A Christmas Update



Well the driving test is booked and hopefully I’ll be able to make my own way to the races after Christmas – I owe a lot of people lifts and they will be looking to cash in! In general, I do prefer travelling with other people, it’s at least a couple of hours from my […]

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A Feeling of Déjà Vu



I can’t believe that I’ve done it for the second year in a row!  Winning back-to-back series of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Stars Apprentice Series is something that has never done before.  It’s a big achievement that I’m very happy with, as it has been a bit of a mixed season for me. […]

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Some Time Out



Well it’s always one of the dangers of the job but you put it to the back of your mind.  Then when it happens, you remember that it is part of the job and you have to deal with it. I had a fall at Nottingham on Thursday 1st August.  It wasn’t even during a […]

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Down to 5!



It’s been a while since my last update.  The amount of racing over the summer months is quite relentless and I have been all over the county and country in search of rides and winners. I’m currently without a car which means that if I can’t get a lift with one of the other jockeys […]

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The Racing Community



My sponsorship with Go Racing in Yorkshire seems to be involving me in a few things, not just riding the horses! Earlier this month (May) I went to help the team with a litter pick around Langton Wold Gallops in Malton. This was part of Racing Together’s Community Engagement Day, which provides racing with an […]

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From The Ground To The Clouds



With the flat season now in full swing, Go Racing in Yorkshire’s sponsored apprentice Kieran Schofield gives us an insight into his racing world. I’m getting very busy with racing now, although my ride on Tonquin Valley at Beverley’s opening meeting didn’t last too long.  He veered erratically left on leaving the stalls and we […]

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It’s All About The Flat



Go Racing in Yorkshire’s sponsored apprentice, Kieran Schofield, updates us with life on the yard. Although I’ve been ticking over on the all weather, the start of the turf season is fast approaching which I’m really looking forward to. We were all gutted to see Definitly Red brought down in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham […]

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Introducing Kieran Schofield – Go Racing in Yorkshire’s Sponsored Apprentice 2019



The winner of the 2018 Future Stars Apprentice Series, organised by Go Racing in Yorkshire was 25-year-old Kieran Schofield. Finishing eight points clear of his nearest rival, Kieran earned 53 points and a prize of a saddle from White Rose Saddlery, plus sponsorship for 2019 from Go Racing in Yorkshire. Initially, it wasn’t racing that […]

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