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Ready To Go for the New Season


I won’t be the only person working in a flat yard who comments on how busy we are!  Although the flat turf season is another seven weeks away from starting it is probably our busiest time of the year as we prepare.

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 to start the process of getting fit and ready to run.

Having all had their birthday on the first of January, the two-year-olds have also come back into work to be prepared for their racing careers.  After being backed and ridden away independently in December they were given a short break and now the hard work begins as they learn to be racehorses.  It seems very straight forward, but even going in a straight line and galloping has to be practised!

With so many horses in we are actively recruiting staff, so anyone who can ride well and fancies a job should get in touch with the office!

It’s been quiet on the riding front with a handful of rides a week.  I’m looking forward to the start of the turf season when things should get busier on the racecourse front.

I’ve been going to the gym at Jack Berry House and will be going a bit more often in the run up to the end of March.  The team there really help with fitness and put individual programmes together to help us in our weaker areas.  Coming from a sporting, particularly football background, my overall fitness and leg strength is quite good, so it’s just a case of getting my mind and body ready for what is to come.

I firmly believe that this is the best way to prepare for the busy season ahead.  The physical side is fairly easy to cope with and by getting myself as fit as I can now, will put me spot for what is to come.  It will also help me to prepare with early starts in the yard and late finishes evening racing.  Once we get going there is just no let up and I would like to stay injury free, unlike last year when I missed several weeks in summer after a fall on the way to the start.

In addition to the gym the winter six-a-side football league starts very soon and a few of the lads from the yard are putting a team in.  It gets quite competitive but it’s usually good fun and is a great way to keep the fitness up.  I’ll keep you updated with our progress!