Who would have thought we could be struck by both in the same month, just prior to the start of the new racing season, bringing considerable challenges to the ground staff.
We went to the recent Punchestown Festival where the horses needed flippers to plough their way through surface water on the track. Little did we expect the River Severn to surge through the drains at Worcester upon our return. It is probably due to a minor miracle and in no small way to the decision for the first time to use a pump to clear the track of standing water, that Sunday’s fixture goes ahead, 207 days since we last raced.
There are many reasons to come racing at Worcester this summer which include themed days such as Ladies Day (9th June), Countryside Family Day (10th June) and the new Armed Forces Celebration Day in aid of Help For Heroes (27th June) when Centre Course entry is FREE for all.
Another reason to follow the horses running at Pitchcroft is that some of these progress to achieve bigger accolades on a grander stage. The Cheltenham Festival in March was a fine example. Owen Glendower, an impressive winner at Worcester for Nicky Henderson last year, gave each way backers something to smile about on day one of the Festival, coming in third at 33/1. Donald McCain's Son of Flicka and Nick Gifford's Pascha Bere, both former Worcester winners, stormed up the Cheltenham hill to take the honours in the Coral Cup and the St Patrick's Derby respectively.The best achievement was by a former winner of Worcester’s annual Fred Rimell Memorial Chase. The Giant Bolster, trained in nearby Gloucestershire by David Bridgewater, chased Synchronised all the way to the line in the Gold Cup. The performance, easily his best to date at a huge price of 50/1 with last year's winner, Long Run, behind in third, was very impressive.
The Worcester Racing Club, whose horses are trained by Worcester’s 2011 leading trainer, Sean Lycett, got off to a fine start for the summer last month with their flagship horse, Fade To Grey, whose form at Worcester last year read 1,2,2,1. Forced to abandon plans for a recent Cheltenham run due to rain softened ground, Fade to Grey bolted up at Wolverhampton and also won again at Kempton last Monday. Lycett will certainly have his eyes on the prize of top trainer again this summer when the championship has a new sponsor in Red Mills, suppliers of horse feed.
Entries for Sunday's hurdle card are strong, and the races will be watched for the first time by the 10 finalists of ‘Worcestershire Rose’. The winner, who will act as an ambassador for Worcestershire, helping with charity fund raising and events, will be announced in the parade ring following the final race of the day.
The gates open at 12.20pm and we are certainly looking forward to a great afternoon's racing for the season opener.
