Equestrian
Heavy Metal, Richard’s overnight charge, winning the first May Madness race
conditions will change and maybe more work to do. For evening meetings, like this, there’s even more time for things to change.”
Ed does a second race day course walk two hours before the first race. This time it’s with the Chairman of the Stewards. This is a required independent assessment and he - or she - satisfied that the track is safe for racing, signs it off in official documented form. Stewards are appointed by the British Horseracing Association, and are trained and examined to qualification. They know what they’re looking for, says Ed, who has a panel of eight covering Brighton. Three of them attend each
It’s horses first at Manor Hill
meeting, one acting as chairman. He works out a rota for the whole season, so he always knows who’ll be officiating. On the whole they are racing people, but they don’t have to be. On Ed’s panel at the moment are two directors of Waitrose and an antiques dealer. “This walk is a vital point on race day,” he says. “If things go well, there isn’t too much more to do but, like Richard, I have to be on the alert in case anything goes amiss. Last year, a horse bolted on to the Brighton golf course and then headed for the city centre. We don’t often get mishaps, but you can’t take your eye off things.” By and large, horses run the same line
the length of the horseshoe track. When the going is soft, they come down the hill stand side. When it’s dry and faster, they favour the far side. “I think the reason for this is that there
is more divot mix and it cuts up on the far side and, therefore, is looser,” says Ed. “ When there’s weather about, the thinking of jockeys is that the stand side provides less damaged going. Personally, I’d agree, but this early in the season I’m not sure that it makes much difference.” Conditions for the May Madness meeting got murkier and wetter as the day wore on. The betting was runners would take the stand side route. They did indeed.
110 PC JUNE/JULY 2012
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