Ladies Day at Worcester
Racecourse is so much more than just another raceday. The day seems to attract larger crowds each
year, and the statistics tell us that many of these people only come racing
once a year, representing on the whole, a different type of crowd to other racedays.
I think it’s also important to remember that the
year on year numbers of people who dress in their finery and come out to enjoy
themselves, not only support the Racecourse’s biggest day but also many of the local
restaurants, bars, shops, hotels, car parks and indeed other attractions in
Worcester over the weekend. Nor must the generosity of the many racegoers who
contributed to the incredible £25,000 raised for St Richard’s Hospice on Ladies
Day, go unmentioned.
On a day when 2,000 spears of
locally grown asparagus were consumed, 100kg of seafood was prepared, 1,000
scones and 1,500 pies were enjoyed, the racing highlight was undoubtedly the
victory of Her Majesty the Queen’s homebred, Take to Heart in the concluding
maiden hurdle.
The gelding by Sakhee who has
previously been placed in all his 6 races bar one, led for much of the race and
won by a clear 15 length margin under Nico de Boinville. The race was a qualifier for our summer 7bets4free.com
Fixed Brush Hurdle Series, giving Take to Heart automatic eligibility for the
£25,000 final in October.
You have to look back to 2014 to
find the Queen’s last runner at Worcester. Also bred by Her Majesty and trained
by Nicky Henderson, Special Agent won a bumper at the course on Ladies Day in
June that year, similarly coinciding with Derby Day.
On that occasion, when I sent the
photograph of Special Agent to the Queen, as I do for all our winning owners, I
received communication back thanking me and saying that Her Majesty had enjoyed
watching the race from the Royal Box at Epsom.
By contrast, the £9,000 Sparkling
Anja Potze Fine Jewellery handicap hurdle was won by permit trainer and owner,
Rosemary Gasson from Banbury with Mr McGuiness who was 2lb out of the
weights. The decent quality field
featured three previous course winners, including Slim Pickens trained locally
in Claines by Richard Newland.
Horse power meets steam power at
the races tomorrow afternoon, when we stage the annual Severn Valley Railway
Charitable Trust raceday. The two
racedays held in aid of the Trust in 2015 and 2016 have raised between them, an
amazing £45,000 which has gone towards the restoration of historically
important trains and carriages, building new facilities and funding the Heritage
Skills Training Academy, helping to ensure the Severn Valley Railway will be
here for future generations to enjoy. It
never ceases to amaze me just how generous people are and how much a raceday can
help to raise for a wide variety of very worthy local charities.
The first race is due off
tomorrow at 2.20pm.
