WEST BERKSHIRE RACING CLUB VISIT BRIGHTWALTON STUD WERE IT ALL BEGINS 23-6-15

This beautiful part of the West Berkshire countryside, just off the hustle and Bustle of the A34, nestles Brightwalton Stud.

This stud who houses no big named stallions yet is still so important to the induction and rehabilitation of horses whose destination is the racing industry.

Yearlings, two year olds, broodmares and mares with foals at foot,grow in this delightful and relaxed atmosphere.

By Rock of Gibralter out of Vizinga Yearling

Yearlings such as this Rock of Gibralter filly out of Vizinga who is being prepared for the Deauville sales In August. Her first time with a public crowd, could she be the next big thing in racing? who knows. It is only fair to say she will get the best introduction possible by Stud Groom Matt Jones and his team.

Also horses are prepared for the trainer, like 2 year old Filly called Flirty Thirty by Big Bad Bob out of Three Decades. she is not far off going into her new venture with Clive Cox.

Flirty Thirty

In the beautiful prepared paddocks of the stud the mares foals and yealings. Relax and are given time to develop before heading out into the stress and strains of competition.

Again this friendly and well informed Racing club pull off another fine visit inside the otherwise closed doors of the racing industry. And also put close to the 2014-15 visits. A short break and a new spate a visits begin for its members. And do'nt forget will be blogged and photographed by MJAYPHOTOGRAPHY

All images of visits as well as race meetings can be seen at

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Horse racing folder

FAST HORSES AND QUICK SHOWERS ON ROYAL ASCOTS 2015 FINALE

The fifth and final day of the royal meeting and the speed horses come to town. Half the racecard is dominated by the sprint, coming to a head with The Diamond Jubilee Stakes run over 6 furlongs of the Berkshire course.

Brazen Beau

And as last year, Austarlia was not shy in posting some of her fastest over to test themselves in the greatest racing the world can offer. Black Cavier just held on last year to prove the world dominance, this year Brazen Beau trained by Australian Chris Waller ridden by Craig Williams came to claim the race for the land down under.

But it was Frankie Dettori and another off shore raider in Wesley Ward's American charge Unrafted, who took the main race of the afternoon.

Frankie Dettori and Undrafted

The afternnoon took a bit of work from the horses an jockeys, but the sell out crown who came to fill the corner of Berkshire were treeted to warmth, cloud and shower and the umbrellas were up and down like a handicap steeplechase all afternoon.

Under my umbrella

Queen and country continued though, and top uk trainers and jockeys were treeted to a ride in the Royal procession for the late day of the 2015 meeting. Richard hannon Jnr and top National Hunt amateur jockey Sam Whaley-Cohen travelling in style to the races.

Final 2015 roayl procession

Sam Whaley-Cohen and Richard Hughes Jnr

In the first race, The Chesham Stakes favorite Ballydoyle, ridden by the weeks top jockey Ryan Moore was beaten by again an off shore contender in E.J O'Neil's trained Suits you from France.

The second race The Wolferton Handicap. Newmarket trained Mahsoob wins ridden by Paul Hanagan. The third race, again Newarket trained  Snow Sky wins for Sir Micheal Stout. in the group two hardwicke Stakes.

Ryan Moore and Ballydoyle

No 6 Suits you and Ballydoyle flash past in the Chesham Stakes

Mahsoob (blue and white cap) getting up to beat Sennockian Star

Snow Sky winning the Hardwicke Stakes

The biggest Handicap of the meeting the Wokingham Handicap , delayed at the start as William Buick's mount Huntsmans Close has two laps of the Ascot course the wrong way round without his partner, was eventually won by Interception. Oriental Fox winning the final race of the meeting in the longest race in the british flat racing calender the 2mile 5 furlong Quenn Alexandra Stakes.

Lancelot Du Lac and Watchable runners in the Wokingham Stakes

Loose horse Huntmans Close delay the race start

Longshadow runner in the 2mile 5 furlong Queen Alexandra Stakes

 Last word must be for the last rides as a jockey at this royal meeting for  Richard Hughes. with 31 Royal Ascot winner ridden, next year the man fron Dublin could be back as a trainer

Richard Hughes

Images from the first and last days of the 2015 Royal Ascot meeting

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MOORE OF DAY ONE AT ROYAL ASCOT 2015

Before day one of the Royal Meeting,  the main topic of conversation was the withdrawal of American superstar horse California Chrome in Wednesdays Prince of Wales stakes.

California Chrome

Chromie, as he is known by his massive following across the world has a foot injury and will miss the Royal meeting.
But the meeting continues,and still attracts Jockeys and horses alike spread over europe and in fact the world.

Top USA jockey Joel Rossario

As always with this regal event the attendance each day of Her Majesty The Queen, brings this event to it's boiling point. Ready for the pot to bubble over with the eight group 1 races over now the five days of quality racing.

The 2.00PM Royal Procession

The racing started off with a french flavour, Freddie Head Trained Solow, ridden by french jockey Maxime Guyon, the race run at a slow pace for a sraight mile race saw off the opposition with about a furlong to go.

Solow the grey beating Guineas winner Night of Thunder

Then came even more international winners. A Godolphin owned horse trained by a scot from Yorkshire. Mark Johnston trained Buratino wins the group 2 Coventry Stakes under William Buick with another close to the line dash after this 6 furlong sprint.

No 5 Blue colours  Buratino comes to take the Coventry Stakes

Now onto the first of the eight group 1 races of this meeting. The Kings Stand stakes over a very quick five furlongs of the royal course.

Eighteen horse went to post, and again racegoers were treeted to a breathtaking finish. Golddream trained in Newmarket home of British flat racing by Robert Cowell ridden by Martin Harley gets up to win by a short head

Far side winner Goldream sprints past the field

 The top race of the day, part of the British champions series. The St James's Palace stakes, another group one, sees the Aiden O'brien trained Gleneagles swoop by and take the spoils. O'brien who admits that his son Joseph and the team really take charge of this horse with his guidence.

But most immportantly this starts off a treble for top jockey Ryan Moore on the day and gives him the arm band for the second days racing as leading jockey.

Aiden and Joseph O'Brien

Gleneagles and Ryan Moore

With two races left, Moore with two irish trained horses takes the first day to it's close. Clondaw Warrior trained by top Jump trainer Willie Mullins winning the distance race of the day over two miles. and another Aiden O'brien trained Washington DC  winning the Windsor Castle Stakes over 5 furlongs.

The jockey still with a bag of top rides over the next few days looks strong to reclaim his crown as top jockey over the Royal meeting

Top Jockey of the day, treble for Ryan Moore

As always, images of the day can be seen at

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THE START OF BERKSHIRE RACECOURSE EXCELLENCE

Monday evening, the night before Royal Ascot 2015. And the royal windsor racecourse evening meeting is not taking it's responsibility of offering some quality racing lightly.
Seven races, all with a good field of runners was served up to a crowd who basked in the mid June evening sun.

Edward Greatrex on board Scarlet Sash win the opener

The experinced, to the not so. Jockeys were on show in a quality apprentice race, which saw Edward Greatrex another quality rider from the Andrew Balding school, ride the winner of the first on the Lambourn trained Henry Candys'  Scarlet Sash.





Then came man in form at present, Frankie Dettori. His only ride of the evening, Richard Hannon trained Alkhor also owned by the jockeys retained partnership of Al Sahqab Racing, gave Frankie hot off his victory in France on the John Gosden trained Star of Sevillein the Prix de Diane  the day before a good start to the week.
The horse still learning his trade won by 3/4 of a length and looks a possible contender for the future.

Man in forn before Royal Ascot 2015 Frankie Dettori

Richard Hannon trained Maiden winnr Alkhor

With a brace of winners between them Tom Queally and George Baker had a good evenings work with the rest of the seven race card, only to be broken up with a very good win by the Goldphin charge, Think ahead ridden by retained rider James Doyle.

Godolphin winner Think Ahead

Near side Souville George Baker

Red cap Lady Marl George Baker

Near side Tom Queally ridden Taraz

Tom Queally on Kumanavsumfun (left) gets up to beat the grey Silver Springs

And as always, you can catch mages of this meeting also others at

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Scarlet Sash

EVE JOHNSON HOUGHTONS WOODWAY STABLES

It is always a great pleasure to be invited into the engine room of British Racing. And this country has many not only modern but historical venues that work so well and with Sucsess.
The West Berkshire Racing club, who kindly let me join their ranks to visit such yards are a bunch of kind and well informed racing fans who visit yards on a regualr basis, and over about the last 10 trips to trainers establishments i have not only enjoyed the company and trainer ,their staff and horses but also the look of the 'child in a sweet shop' expression of these enthusiasts as they are allowed to wander through training establishments that are on a whole out of bounds.

West Berkshire Racing Club visit to Eve Johnson Houghton

The West Bershire racing Club
visit their website
http://www.westberksracingclub.org.uk






The venue this time was Eve Johnson Houghtons Woodway stables in Oxfordshire. Not far from the few remaining Didcot chimney stacks, the yard is nestled in  some of the most beautiful landscapes that make up the ridgeway, an area packed with horse racing history, and Eve and her family make up a great part of that story throughout the years.

200 Acres a gallop at Woodway Stables

The Johnson Houghton family have been in this beautiful setting for the past 40 years. Gordon Johnson Houghton the first occupant and now his grandaughter Eve taking the reins, The yard has produced many group 1 status equines. Habititat, Robero and Ile De Bourborn to name but a few, but todays visit was to see some of the new and rising stars of Woodway

Some of the guys we met on the way

The trainer with help from her long serving head lad William Reddy allowed us wander the yard and took us up part of the 200 acres of owned gallops to see some of the horses work.

Horses such as 2 year olds Soiree, Custodial and Sunlit Waters and others all flowed up the sweeping grass gallop on a sunny June morning.

Soiree,Custodial,A Dutch Art Filly

Sunlit Waters, A Dylan Thomas Filly and one other added to the work?

The welcome all recieved, as in all yards visited is warm and friendly, also these guys know their industry and are happy to share that with you.

So Another great visit,and a sure thing i saw a few faces of my past come into view around the yard,

                               As always the complete pictorial story of this visit can be seen at

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horse racing folder

The last part must go to the team at Woodway though

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