Whilst my heartfelt congratulations are extended to all of the official award winners, I feel there are some human and equine performances and achievements which have not been publicly recognised but which deserve to be mentioned, and as per last year this has led me to announce my own alternative awards (formerly known as the Sarah Thomas 'You Were Great!' Awards). But first, let me talk you through who I voted for for each of the official BHRC categories and why I felt they deserved their respective accolades this year:
2YO Colt of the Year: MATTICULOUS (Hasty Hall-Another Mattie). Impressive in all of his wins for both trainer/driver combo Joanne & Andrew Cairns and later formidable duo Alexis & Rocker Laidler, the half-brother to last year's Horse of the Year MIRACULOUS and full brother to the ill-fated but exceptional 2 and 3 year old TITANIUM became the third colt from the mare ANOTHER MATTIE to win the Vincent Delaney Memorial Final at Portmarnock.
2YO Filly of the Year: GREENHILL HANOVER (Bettors Delight-Artaffection). This category was actually a walkover as Greenhill Hanover was the only nominee, however over the course of the season the 2YO Fillies division was in fact a wide open affair. The Irish filly, ROBYN CAMDEN won twice in the UK (subsequently securing her BHRC Overseas Horse of the Year); BROWN EYED GIRL was also a multiple winner; there were credible performances from numerous other fillies also. For me though, Greenhill Hanover seemed to improve as the season went on, winning her last 4 starts (heat and final of the Junior Welsh Dragoness at Tregaron, the Group 1 National Pacing Futurity at Tir Prince and the SHRC Futurity at Corbiewood).
3YO Colt of the Year: RHYDS ROCK STAR (Hasty Hall-Tonda Star). Hailing from a family littered with champions, this horse started off the season winning in maiden and novice company and showed very little evidence of becoming the superstar that he graduated into by the end of the season. He was, as we described him in the beginning, a horse who didn't win in style; that's to say, he didn't record flashy times or win by big margins. But he sure knew where the winning line was and he seemed to always have his nose in front when it mattered in those first few races. Early doors it looked as though he was going to stick to the handicap route, as SPRINGHILL GLORY took the honours in many of the early season stakes races. When first venturing onto the 3YO scene he was well beaten and it wasn't until the end of July that he recorded his first win in 3YO company and it was only at Tregaron in August (in the heat and final of the Little Welsh Dragon - won by NO BRAKES) that he was beaten in his age category right up until Wolverhampton in October where his long season came to an end on a high.
3YO Filly of the Year: LYONS LEMEMAY (Lyons Danny-Lyons Montana). This filly, in my opinion at least, was very hard done by not to win the official award and one can only speculate as to why. Never out of the first 3 in her debut season, she was only beaten once in her age division by GREENHILLDEBATEABLE over the extended distance in the Group 1 National Pacing Oaks at Tir Prince on her final start of the year. She recorded wins both on UK soil and in Ireland and for me she had this award sewn up when she won at Tregaron in the Little Welsh Dragoness heat and final where she notched up 2 of trainer/driver Michael O'Mahony's amazing 9 wins over the weekend.
Trotter of the Year: T'ES TROP FOOT (Little Crack-Hase Da La Meritee). Whilst the 3YO Trotteur Francais filly EQUILEA DU HAUTY probably deserved this title for winning 5 from 6 starts including the £15,000 Le Trot Gold Final (racking up £18,000 in prize money this year), I would not be so hypocritical as to vote for a 3YO when I was quite vocal to some of the TROTBritain committee members about how little I enjoyed the 3YO series vs how much I enjoyed the aged trotting races. I just love the old guard, the originals, the bombproofers who go about their business and provide thrilling finishes and this horse in particular was a delight to watch racing. A winner of his last 3 starts of the season (from 6, due to a shortage of runners/races for these horses), he won on grass (Almeley), hard (York) and tapeta (Wolverhampton), making him as versatile as he is reliable.
Pacer of the Year: EVENWOOD SONOFAGUN (The Firepan-Im The Last). If anyone reading this is a fan of National Hunt racing, you will remember a time when Kauto Star and Denman ruled the roost together. During that period, you asked people which side they were on and they would be able to tell you immediately which horse they rooted for when they faced each other (apart from me, as I liked them both and anyway Neptune Collonges was racing from the same stable in the same races and I would always pick a grey in John Hales' colours as my favourite). Evenwood Sonofagun and MIRACULOUS echoed this rivalry this year. The pair dominated in their respective seasons, Gunner in the handicap races and Miraculous in the 4YO stakes races and indeed, the Free For Alls. It wasn't until the Crock of Gold Final night at Tir Prince on 9th September that the pair went head-to-head, and although some warned us not to ignore the other contenders in the race (lest there be an Imperial Commander-type scenario when a relative outsider beat both Kauto and Denman in the Gold Cup after the media pegged it as a two horse race), the race became a duel to the wire between the two superstars. All evening prior to the race if you asked people who they wanted to win, they were either Team Miraculous or Team Gunner. The race turned into the fairest and perhaps most fitting outcome of all: a dead heat between the two. And although Miraculous was a most worthy nominee for this award, which he won last year after a stellar 3YO campaign, I could not see past Evenwood Sonofagun who achieved so much in his unbeaten 2017 season.
Overseas Horse of the Year: WHITE FLAME (White Fire-Panne Ala Vodka). Yes, that's right. I voted for a coloured horse. Let this be a timely and appropriate reminder to you all that I am both fair and impartial and despite my noted dislike of coloured horses (of any breed, not just Standardbreds) I voted for this horse because he was an impressive multiple winner when he ventured across the Irish Sea to race in the UK. It was in fact his stablemate, 2YO filly ROBYN CAMDEN who took the title in this category and a worthy winner she is, but for me this horse just edged it. He added a new dimension to the sport and incited heated debates about his ability which certainly lit things up.
Mare of the Year: RHYDS PASSION (The One Night Pan-Bouncie). I was quite animated about this category on social media in the run up to the voting date and delighted to learn that this mare had won the award. In the strongest of all of the categories, this mare tipped it for me based on some truly phenomenal performances at Musselburgh (Hurricane Pace Final winner), York (Blossom Kelly heat winner in sub two-minutes from the 10-hole) and Tir Prince (STAGBI Future Broodmares race). Having started the season as a maiden, she finished second to another nominee, MELDOON, in the Welsh Classic Final at Tregaron, as well as recording wins at Aberystwyth and the spring fixture at Tregaron. Takes some horse to win at those tracks all in the same season!
Young Driver of the Year: JOEL RICHARDS/LEE WAKEFIELD. I'm going to have to split this award in two for the simple reason that I was equally impressed with both these two young men. Joel's last win of the season saw him escalated from C Class driver status to B Class, when winning in very impressive style on board RING OF FIRE at Wolverhampton. Bearing in mind that this was his first full season driving, and that he shares driving duties for his stable with his father, Bobby, and he doesn't get any outside drives, this made his multiple winning achievements all the more impressive. As for Lee, at 15 he was one of the youngest, if not the youngest, driver to record a win in 2017. He took the opening race at the two-day Aberystwyth festival on his driving debut - what a way to start! - when driving FOREST DRIFTER, and went on to record another two wins with the horse in following weeks. I'm hoping to see him (and possibly sister Chloe) competing in the C Class Drivers race at Musselburgh in 2018. Watch this space!
Best Drive of the Year: THOMAS MACKENZIE JNR & STARZAPAN. Those who weren't there on this Thursday night (3rd August) at Corbiewood won't truly understand what made this drive so special; and indeed some of those who were there might not either. In the preceding race, the mare's regular driver Stuart Mackenzie (son of trainer Ally Mackenzie) was involved in a hook-up which ultimately saw him unseated on the final lap, and for a long time Stuart remained down on the track as the loose horse continued for several laps without a pilot. Stuart had taken a hard knock to the head and given many of us a fright; with Starzapan due to run in the final leg of the Oakwood Stud Mares Pacing Series immediately after the incident, Stuart's cousin Thomas was drafted in to take the reins. Whilst the two branches of the Mackenzie family race independently of each other on a weekly basis, with their own separate training facilities and charges, when the proverbial sh*t hit the fan, the family came together and although the drive was a 'lead out and make all' kind of drive, there were people cheering the pair on at the finish who under different circumstances wouldn't have been that bothered as to who won. I found it to be a rather poignant moment and that is why I'm awarding it Best Drive (and thankfully Stuart was back in the bike the following week for the final).
Astounding Top Supporter Award: This is one of my favourite awards of the year. It stems from Astounding's victory in the York leg of the Inter Dominion Qualifying Series in 2015. Caretaker Ron Caddies provided the day's best entertainment when screaming for most of the race at his charge, then almost dropping his mobile phone as he told me to ring his wife (who had no idea who I was), and then almost dropping his phone again when taking it back off me to tell his wife that Astounding had won. I've never seen a man shake so uncontrollably when his horse has won a race.
This year the award returns to a previous winner; although there are technically multiple winners. The 2015 winner was Kirsty Legrice (cheering on Sherwood Bluey at York); this year the winners are Kirsty Legrice, Simon Clarke, Dave Chan and the Millstream Stud Supporters Group for their performance at Wolverhampton when T'es Trop Foot won the final race under the floodlights. As the field turned the final bend with roughly two furlongs remaining, the whole gang were stood behind me at the rail, all buzzing with nervous energy. T'es hit the front and Dave [Chan] was the first to crack (admittedly at the time I thought a little prematurely) and began screaming at the horse, and driver Steve Lees. Once he started, the rest of the group literally erupted and I found it difficult to actually focus on photographing the horse as the noise they were making behind me was deafening! As the horse crossed the line I felt like we were celebrating winning the Hambletonian, and it was one of the most enjoyable winner's circle photos I have taken all year.
I would also like to dish out some 'Highly Commended' certificates to the team at Greentree Standardbreds (John Clark, Louise Davey, Marian Clark and others) for their performances at Appleby when Greentree Serenity won the Sunday Final and Corbiewood when she won at the end of the season; to Karen Kennedy for her performance when new purchase Evenwood Get Real (aka 'Larry') won at Corbiewood at the end of the season; and to Gerry Thomson for her performance when GDs Hazzard (aka 'Harry') also won at Corbiewood at the end of the season. I genuinely think we should all take a leaf out of their books and scream at our horses like nobody's listening. It would really make for an entertaining day at the races!
A Year in Review
Fear not dear readers, I'm not going to take you on a fixture-by-fixture journey of the 2017 season. That's why I write a (kind of) weekly blog - to highlight the highs and lows each week so that at the end of the year I can whizz through my awards and give a general overview. Here goes:
- Stoneriggs Mystery bows out
We finally had to say goodbye to one of the greats of our time, STONERIGGS MYSTERY. A horse who has been at the top of his game for many years, he was the original maiden/novice/handicap route to FFA pioneer, a route which the next generation Evenwood Sonofagun has taken to his current throne. Mystery has almost a cult following and will be sorely missed by harness racing fans up and down the country; his farewell after the Crock of Gold Final where he was stripped of his harness and led off the track by caretaker Kelly Peacock had me in tears and I didn't care. It was the end of an era. He has returned to his owner's home in central Scotland to live out his days.
To read my tribute to Mystery, click here.
- Mares win big races
Greentree Serenity at Appleby; Rhyds Passion at Musselburgh; Meldoon at Tregaron. Rhyds Nightlife at York; Equilea Du Hauty at Tir Prince. Loriznitestar, Laneside Lotus, Starzapan; Shades Of Grey, Dontstoptheparty. These are just to name a few. I've loved every second of their success and long may it continue - here come the girls!
- BHRC Social Media Policy
This went down like a lead balloon when it was first announced in the spring, however to date nobody has actually been disciplined under the policy (which was also adopted in Ireland shortly afterwards). However, at least one person has been targeted under the policy and fears from across the globe (mainly in the media sector) have been that the policy stifles free speech. Whilst I considered examining the impact of the policy and potential contravention of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 (areas of law I covered during my media law specialisation in university), I subsequently decided that there are more useful ways to spend my time. And as it transpires, licence holders appear to remain free to write very bold and negative statements on social media platforms without fear of any retribution, so any concerns expressed by individuals in the media were unfounded and life has continued as normal...
...or has it?
Something I have noticed in recent months on social media is an intolerance of opinions which break from the status quo (aka 'negative opinions'). Anybody who expresses an opinion not commonly held by those who write on particular threads is immediately (and unfairly) branded as a troublemaker, know-it-all or someone who makes snide remarks.
Whilst growing up I was taught that if you haven't got anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all. I strive to live by that principle (but I may not always be deemed to get it right). So this is not a defence of people who deliberately seek to pick holes, criticise without construction or belittle the efforts of others. It is however a plea to those who feel that their opinion is always right to remember that opinions are subjective; that constructive criticism is just that: constructive; and that voicing concerns publicly is far better than going behind your back to undermine you. We cannot all agree all of the time, but we must be wary of falling into the trap of ostracising individuals who do not share our opinions and ideals.
Being different is what makes us great.
- 2017 for Sarah
That's right, I have taken a leaf out of Ryan O'Neil's book and started talking about myself in the third person. Kidding, it drives me mad when he does that.
There's only one racing highlight for Team Crosshill/Smart as we only managed one win all season (Cassius Clay, Murdock Weekend @ Corbiewood). We had some nice placed runs from both Cassius and Ace, but nobody remembers the seconds and thirds. We waved goodbye to three team members during the course of the year (Wild Bill Hickok, Crosshill Costa and Eternal Flame) and our expected foal in the spring didn't materialise so we've kept numbers down in single figures for the first time since I met Smarty. We are, however, expecting two foals in the spring which (all being well) would take us back up to double digits again (oops): a Hasty Hall and an Arts Conquest. Keeping everything crossed for two healthy babies next year!
This blog somehow got shortlisted in the final three in its category at the World Trotting Conference Media Awards, although ultimately was nowhere near professional enough to win. Two of my three photos entered in the Hoof Beats Magazine photo competition were selected as Editors' Picks and published in their printed publication and on their online version.
I discovered that I appear to be the lovechild of Clare Balding and Matt Chapman when going Facebook Live for what became known as 'Paddock Cam' at Musselburgh, and again twice at Vincennes in Paris at the International weekend. I would love to do more stuff like that, but I fear I've already made a lot of people pretty sick of me just with this blog alone, so videos of my actual face accompanied by my annoying Bristol/Somerset/Essex/London accent and my complete ineptitude to operate my phone during such videos would probably be the final nail in the coffin.
I'm STAGBI President now, for the next two years. I'm currently working on my legacy, or kickstarting what I hope will be my legacy. I'd like to be able to make a difference.
Anyway, that's enough from (and about) me.
All that remains now is for me to say a massive THANK YOU to every single one of you who reads this blog, whether it be each post religiously as soon as I publish them or just dipping in and out of what look like the best ones every now and again. The only person who ever seems to comment directly on the posts chooses to remain anonymous (and actually be quite needlessly negative with a big wooden spoon) however plenty of people express their thoughts on social media and when they see me in person so I am really grateful for the feedback (yes, even you Noreen, and all that trouble you gave me during the whole of October).
We'll probably just carry on next year as we did this year, unless any of you choose to start a petition to get me to stop.
Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, I hope you have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! See you on the other side :)
Over and out,
#1 Groom
