Friday the 13th featured the Cheshire Oaks Handicap at Chester which was not without incident for lady amateur riders.

David Griffiths saddled his first Chester winner for Yorkshire compatriot Serena Brotherton with CYFLYMDER, the 6 year old coming with a well timed challenge to beat MY SINGLE MALT by a neck.  The trainer was in fact reared in Cheshire with his father running a butcher’s shop in nearby Farndon.  After the race David said “He ran really well here last time and Serena has given him a cracking ride.”

The stewards took a poor view of some riding performances, giving Laura Wilson on the runner up 4 days for careless riding; Emily Jones earned a 7 day ban for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing as she could have finished 3rd and Amanda Zetterholm picked up a one-day ban for weighing in 2 lbs light, with Declan Carroll fined £250 and ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE disqualified.

Congratulations to Simon Walker who turned the AJA sponsored race into a procession today aboard Steve Gollings’ JAMARJO, stalking leader FINELLAS FORTUNE ridden by Serena Brotherton before easing clear to win without coming off the bridle.  This was a first win on grass for the horse.  Many congratulations to winning connections.

Following this summer’s torrential and relentless rain, Nottingham have been forced to abandon tomorrow’s racing on Ladies Night which was to feature the ladies Fegentri race with 7 foreign lady jockeys taking part.

This is bad luck for this year’s lady representative, Hayley Moore, who currently lies 5th in the world championship.  Hayley has enjoyed mixed fortunes so far but happily rode a winner in Mannheim recently.

Hayley is joined by Mikey Ennis this year in representing Great Britain.  Mikey is based with David Pipe and is also currently in fifth position in the gentlemen’s championship having enjoyed placed rides.  For more information please visit www.fegentri.com

The week could not have started better for Rebecca Smith and Harriet Dukes, both ladies triumphant today at Ponty in two competitive divisioins of the Tim Easterby Racing Partnerhip Ladies Handicap.

The first division saw Rebecca’s jockeyship tested aboard Micky Hammond’s temperamental PERTIUS.  Held up in the rear until half a mile from home, the partnership tracked the leaders and spotted a gap in the final furlong to stay on well and swoop in the final 100 yards, denying victory to Alyson Deniel on SHALOO DIAMOND and win going away.

The second division saw the successful partnership of Harriet Dukes and RUB OF THE RELIC fresh from victory at Wolverhampton exactly a week earlier reproduce a winning performance.  Tracking the leaders in the early stages, Harriet kicked for home a furlong out with a well timed run to hold on from Shelley Birkett and ENTRANCE by 3/4 of a length.

Congratulations to both lady jockeys!

The most poignant of results was enjoyed at Hamilton today when this season’s NH ladies championship runner-up Catherine Walton donned her red “devil” breeches in the Saints and Sinners ladies race.  Following the field at the rear on LILLY INN (name after a local hostelry), the partnership made steady headway to lead a furlong from home and score easily from Jacqueline Coward on HI DANCER.

With the racing community struggling to come to terms with the recent loss of rising star Campbell Gillies, rarely has there been a more emotional victory on the racecourse and Lucinda Russell paid tribute to both Campbell and all her team in her interview with Gordon Brown following the race.  This was Lucinda’s first runner since the death of her stable jockey, who had ridden Livvy Inn in his only other win in a novice hurdle at Kelso 3 years ago.  

Lucinda said “I may never have another Flat winner but that couldn’t have come at a better time.”  Livvy Inn is owned by Mrs Elizabeth Fergus, whose husband Billy added “We woud like to dedicate that win to Compbell who rode lots of winners for us.”

Back row: Emma Bedford, Wendy Gibson, Michelle Mullineaux, Katie Margarson  Front row: Serena Brotherton, Rebecca Smith, Jenny Walker and Victoria Barr 

Subject to a 4 o’clock inspection this afternoon following torrential rain, Hamilton Park stage a ladies Saints and Sinners race this evening when, thanks to the imagination of Clerk of the Course Hazel Peplinski, lady jockeys riding horses with even numbers will wear their usual white breeches representing the Saints whilst jockeys on horses with odd numbers will wear red breeches representing the Sinners!

A dress rehearsal was held recently there and the photo above shows some of our good and bad girls!  Hopefully this evening they will all ride like the devil!

A day before his 22nd birthday, rising star Campbell Gillies has tragically lost his life as the result of an accident whilst on holiday in Corfu.

Campbell was a hugely popular member of the weighing room who was just beginning to make a name for himself having enjoyed his best ever season with 38 winners including his first Festival winner with Lucinda Russell’s talented but ill-fated Brindisi Breeze.  His loss will be keenly felt throughout racing.

As a mark of respect, jockeys wore black armbands today and racecourses staged a period of silence.  The Amateur Jockeys Association would like to express its deep sorrow and extend its sincere condolences to the family and many friends of Campbell.

Amateur jockeys are reminded that permits to ride expire on Saturday 30th June 2012!

Application forms have been posted to all current licensed amateur jockeys and completed forms should be returned to Licensing Team, BHA, 75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS  AT LEAST 2 WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF THE DATE FOR WHICH THEY ARE REQUIRED.

Forms are available from the Licensing Team 0207 152 0140 licensing@britishhorseracing.com 

New applicants forms

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/resources/licensing/Amateur_Riders_2012-13_Application.pdf 

Renewals

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/resources/licensing/Amateur_Riders_2012-13_Renewal.pdf

Medical form

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/resources/licensing/Medical-Report-Form-2011.pdf

Many congratulations to Serena Brotherton and Alyson Deniel who won the 1st and 2nd divisions respectively of the Beaumont Robinson Ladies Derby at Ripon today in testing conditions.

Serena enjoyed a comfortable win on Sula Two for Ron Hodges by 3 1/4 lengths (on soft ground) from Becky Brisbourne on Aegean Destiny with Alice Mills and Lava Steps 6 lengths back in 3rd.

The 2nd division on deteriorating ground now classed as heavy saw a more dramatic race, with Aly Deniel tracking the field for much of the race and make steady headway through the final 4 furlongs to win by 3 lengths for Richard Whitaker on Shaloo Diamond from Serena Brotherton on Politbureau with Alice Mills again settling for 3rd place with Ritsi 6 lengths behind.

As part of the 2 day golfing/racing meeting at Perth on 31st July, a new Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle 0-115 over 2 miles with prize money of £4,000 is now programmed on the evening of Tuesday 31st July.  Racing also takes place the next evening, 1st August, and a GOLF TOURNAMENT with a £1000 first prize for the winning team will be held.

Points will be awarded for winners and placed horses over the two fixtures and these points will be added to the Golf Team scores.  Fun is assured!

If you would like to combine your race riding with some golf, please contact Sam Morshead, General Manager of Perth Racecourse: sam@perth-races.co.uk Tel: 01738 551597