FEBRUARY OWNER INTERVIEW - CHARLOTTE & TONY FOLEY-PALMER
BACKGROUND – A little bit about yourself (Occupation, where do you live, family etc)
Charlotte is a Director of Capital for a large multi-academy Trust, and has one son, Ben. Tony is retired, with one daughter, Gemma. We both live in Ossett, West Yorkshire.
How did you first get involved in Racing?
Tony has always enjoyed racing as a spectator sport, and Charlotte used to do county level eventing up to her 30s and 40s and enjoys anything equestrian!
What horses are you/have you been involved with both with Kim and other trainers
We have two young horses with Kim in their 1st season, Isle of Gold and General Hubble. We previously shared a horse trained by Nigel Hawke for several seasons, Some Detail, who is now trained in the USA.
What was your best/funniest experience on a racecourse?
Best experience so far was being an owner at the Cheltenham festival. Winning is always nice as well!
What is your favourite racecourse/race meeting?
The Cheltenham festival is hard to beat as an owner. Charlotte was used to continual disappointment growing up as Worcester was regularly flooded! Now we enjoy the Yorkshire & Northern courses, going regularly to Catterick, Wetherby, Thirsk and Haydock.
How did you first get involved with Kim?
We were looking for one or more horses to share in a syndicate when our previous syndicate decided to sell Some Detail, and we talked to a couple of trainers. We had initially wanted a horse with a Northern trainer, but Kim was very much in form, he and Peter were so friendly on our first visit, and the syndicates were so well run that we decided it had to be KBR!
If you were in charge of racing for a day what would you change?
Reduce admission prices to encourage more people to go
Now away from racing - If you could trade lives with one person for an entire day who would it be and why?
Charlotte would like to be a viking shield maiden. Tony would like to be J P McManus
If you could invite any 5 people for dinner who would they be?
Tony would invite: Luke Harvey Geoff Boycott Kim Bailey Tia Leone Allison Janney
Charlotte would invite: Kate Middleton
Thomas Tuchel
Lewis Hamilton
Aidan O’Brien
Michelle Obama
Do you have a sweet tooth or a savoury tooth?
We both prefer savoury
What is your favourite food, holiday, restaurant, tv programme?
We both love Chinese food & chateaubriand, visits to the USA and Northumberland, French bistros and Miller Carter steakhouses. TV programmes are hard – we rarely watch terrestrial but Happy Valley was amazing! We love West Wing, Madame Secretary, and Game of Thrones.
If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be?
We would like to go to the Breeders Cup in USA. Charlotte would like to ride on and preferably win, the Yorkshire Grand National
What are you most looking forward to?
Lots of success with Kim. Charlotte would be happy to see our horses placed regularly and doing their best
JANUARY OWNER INTERVIEW - ED HAWKINGS
Background/a little about yourself...
I am married to my wife, Kashy and have two children Georgina, 27 who works as a business manager for a large legal practice. She rides out and schools for Chris Gordon daily and has recently started pointing. Jimmy is 24 and works for a recruitment company in the City but would rather be playing football which, he does to a pretty good level!
I am an Insurance consultant specialising in International mining. We live in Bramdean ( between Winchester and Petersfield) in an old Farm house , we have 2 dogs and a varying horse population depending on injuries and time of year.
How did you get involved in racing?
Initially in the 1980’s on the flat with Nicholas Wrigley homebreds trained by Jimmy Etherington .
Then I was introduced by Teddy Beckett to Mark Smyly in Lambourn with whom we had a couple of horses.
- Pendine Sands who actually managed to win a race at Chepstow
- Drumstick, who managed a decent 2nd at Beverley before being cut and being sent over obstacles under a very brave Ronny Beggan. Mark Smyly then retired from training and recommended us to a young up and coming trainer called Kim Bailey .
What horses are you/have been involved with both Kim and other trainers?
When Drummy moved over to Kim and the tender care of Higgy at the start of 1990 little did I know that this flat bred ( Henbit /Salustrina ( Sallust)) horse would become such a superstar. Drumstick , despite two bowed tendons 3 wind operations , whilst in Kim’s charge ran in 16 hurdle races winning 2 and placed in 7 others and 60 chases winning 16 and placed in 25 others before retiring at 11 to go Pointing and Hunter Chasing . In his career he ran in 106 races! Such a tough horse, he finally was fully retired at 16 and lived on in happy retirement well into his 20’s
After Drumstick there was a natural break , unlikely to ever have such a horse again , and school fees . Then I got tempted back into horses by Paul Henderson with whom I have had a couple of decent horses.
- Kylenoe Fairy , won 5 races and came 2nd in the Summer Hurdle rated 134.She then retired to my paddocks because of injury and had 3 foals before dying giving birth to the 4th .
- Crossley Tender , won 5 races and came 2nd in the Eider rated 130 . Sadly cut off before he had reached his best when killed at Newton Abbott at the start of only his second season chasing.
My ownerships are in partnerships of between 2 and 5 people and I manage all the administration for them. Currently we have 7 horses in training as follows;
Talk of the Moon( bought as a foal ) – Kim Bailey
Coronado Joe ( homebred)- Chris Gordon
Storm Hill ( bought from pointing in Ireland)- Paul Henderson
Our Champ ( bought from pointing in Ireland )- Paul Henderson
Megalodon ( bought from pointing in Ireland)- Paul Henderson
Tzunami ( homebred) – Paul Henderson
Kylenoe Dancer ( homebred)- Paul Henderson .
I get a lot of satisfaction in finding relatively cheap horses from the pointing field in Ireland with the assistance of Aidan Kennedy, so far, I have bought 9 and only one has failed to win but he was rated 120, placed multiple times including in the stayers final at Haydock , he is now my daughters pointer as he can compete in Maidens.
What was your best/funniest experience on a racecourse?
Watching Drumstick win at the Cheltenham September meeting from the Royal Box - not surprising I was never asked back as I made a lot of noise!
What is your favourite racecourse or race meeting?
Newton Abbott, I have had a lot of success there and there is nothing quite like winning.
If you were in charge of racing for a day, what would you change?
- Adapt the race programme more towards the horse population , a substantial proportion of the horses in training are rated 100 or less although this is not reflected in the races for them.
- Come up with a standardised measure for Going , Clerks understandably want to attract entries, Trainers want to protect their charges and there is nothing more frustrating for an owner than to travel to a racecourse only to arrive and discover your horse is a non-runner because the going is not as described.
Now away from racing - if you could trade lives with one person for an entire day who would it be and why?
My son Jimmy, I would love to play football like him and it would be good for him to see things from my perspective and make sure he enjoys life to the full.
If you could invite any 5 people for dinner who would they be?
Jack Whitehall , Prince of Wales , Velodymyr Zalenskyy, Mark Harris ( partner in Drumstick),Bernard Cornwell.
Do you have a sweet tooth or a savoury tooth?
Savoury.
What is your favourite food, holiday and restaurant?
Fruit de Mer, Sicily and Chesil Rectory.
What are you most looking forward to?
Having a winner!!
DECEMBER OWNER INTERVIEW - STEVE JAGGARD
BACKGROUND – A little bit about yourself (Occupation, where do you live, family etc)
I live near Norwich, Norfolk with my wife, Deb and two dogs in a money-pit of an ancient farmhouse which we’ve been renovating and extending for 21 years. Both our daughter and son have settled back in Norfolk and we have two amazing little grandchildren of 2 and 4 years. Having sold my digital marketing business in 2020, I now spend my time mentoring young business owners and until last month, spent nine years as Trustee/Board Director of Norwich Theatres. Over the past year I have started working as a digital and creative consultant on ‘visioning’ projects for the arts, culture and leisure sector, reimagining how galleries, museums, visitor experiences can bring themselves up to date and make themselves into more engaging, exciting and immersive experiences. I love to learn new things!
How did you first get involved in Racing?
Brought up around Newmarket, we would now and again take the afternoon off school to walk down to the Rowley Mile or July Course – until one day one of the clan was spotted by his housemaster on the TV coverage! (What was a teacher doing watching racing on TV during classtime?). Also having a builder as a father meant I was helping to paint stable doors, starting stalls, even renovating houses - for trainers and jockeys including Lester Piggott, Patrick Haslam and James Fanshawe, so I suppose racing was always there. Patrick Haslam was actually kind enough to give Dad two 50% shares in two very decent horses with Patrick’s mother, which was a wonderful gesture which meant so much to Dad who could never have afforded them. God bless you, Patrick. Lester never knew as he was away, but I once knocked down his wall while climbing up it trying to get a peek at his swimming pool. (Dad was not best pleased as he came running to find me and a mate on the floor amidst a pile of bricks and mortar!) So I suppose racing has always surrounded me, but it wasn’t until I got married and moved away to Norwich with my work that I actually got the bug properly myself. Having had a few shares in very moderate flat horses, the defining moment came when I met ‘The Major ‘ – the late Richard Wilson and his wife Rachel at a dinner party who bred and owned a few horses. Richard encouraged me to get involved with him in an enormous grey called Combe Castle and I compiled the stats and we sat down together to select a good jumps trainer whose yard was accessible to us in Norfolk – not an easy one, of course. At the time, early 2000s, Kim was based near Daventry and his record spoke for itself so that’s where the story began with jumps racing and Kim Bailey Racing. We would drive the 2 hours or so fairly regularly on a Saturday morning to the yard, but soon realised that Combe Castle, gorgeous as he was, would be no world beater (even though he did get his head in front once at Towcester on bottomless ground). Two decades later, the story continues but with Kim long having moved to Thorndale, a little way further from Norfolk.
What horses are you/have you been involved with both with Kim and other trainers?
I have had shares with horses with Kim ever since the early 2000’s, the best of which came early on with another big grey chaser which Kim bought and trained for The Major (and I with a leg) named King of Gothland. Having won a couple of thrilling chases at Huntingdon it was a very sad day when Kim rang us in tears to say he had had a heart attack on the gallops. Since then I believe I have had shares in over 20 of Kim’s partnerships. In recent years, I’ve not had the best of luck shall we say – in fact, it’s amazing Kim and Peter haven’t banned me from their partnerships altogether. Lord Apparelli and Chazza were the last two that retired early without being able to show their obvious ability on the racecourse. Right now, my hopes are with the stunning Phantom Getaway, who won first time out recently at Ffos Las, following three 2nds in his first season. A lovely staying chaser in the making. Fingers crossed. While jumps are my first love, I have always had shares in flat horses with good friends in Newmarket, as well as Rachel Wilson. We have had two good ones in the past decade in the shape of the recently retired Coverham (won 8 times) and the adaptable dual purpose Wily Fox (won 5 times) including over hurdles. Both were trained by the now-retired James Eustace in Newmarket. His son, Harry, has recently taken over at Park Lodge and is an extremely smart young trainer, so we have continued with him and currently have just a young 2yo filly named ‘Between the Covers’.
What was your best/funniest experience on a racecourse?
My best experience on a racecourse has to be as a winning owner – and that very first win of King of Gothland’s in November 2005 at Huntingdon was my first – and so far – best ever jumps winner. A thrilling race he scythed through the field from last to first on the final circuit. What a thrill made more special by having The Major and Rachel there, but also my family. I couldn’t stop the tears, I have to admit. As for the funniest experience on a racecourse, well I’ve seen a few while travelling up and down the UK to watch racing, including having a horse that once veered off the racecourse to follow a tractor across a field, to screaming home Wily Fox in heavy snow at Market Rasen before going to collect my £25 from the young bookies assistant in her tiny pink mini skirt. They are a hardy bunch in Lincolnshire!
There was also my first Cheltenham, sitting in a packed restaurant in town after racing next to a table of extremely well-oiled Irishmen. One of them had literally fallen asleep in his untouched steak and chips. When the bill came the leader of their party asked to see the manager arguing that his meal should be taken off the bill. It caused quite an argument - and a stir! We were in roars of laughter as the chap slept through the whole thing and knew nothing of the fracas and was carried out by his mates having had the bill sorted.
In terms of ownership, I love to hear the jockey comments when they come back in – especially the excuses. Having a certain J Spencer ride for us at Pontefract on the flat one day, he came out with a classic after a poor showing ; ‘he obviously hated the ground but went really well over the road’ – thank you, Jamie, such helpful insight. The list of tales goes on, but I’ll stop there so as not to bore you, but that’s the beauty of racing, so many incidents, so much history, so many characters. It’s not all about the winning, but the being there.
What is your favourite racecourse/race meeting?
On one level I love my local track, Fakenham, but have never had a horse run there that could handle the tight bends. At the other, while I love the amphitheatre that is Cheltenham, Haydock and Ascot have to be favourites. They also know how to look after owners. But I have many jumps courses still yet to try.
If you were in charge of racing for a day what would you change?
An awful lot, especially for owners, which is why I have put myself forward to the ROA and have recently been asked to join two new working groups, for ‘Owners’ and for ‘Communications’. Rather than moan, which we can all do really well in the UK, especially the keyboard warriors, I thought I’d try and challenge the status quo and provide ideas for change. It's not just about prize-money, but how owners are brought into racing and once there, how they are looked after on-course and retained. You just have to look at other countries to see the difference in how they look at things regarding ownership, especially for small owners and syndicates, which have to be a big part of the future. My fear is that racing will continue to tinker round the edges rather than think out of the box and embrace the radical thinking that is so needed. The ROA is a tiny team but they now have people with fresh thinking who do want to improve things, so fingers crossed. Will recent changes in stewardship of our sport really change things? I sincerely hope so, but doubt it given the different agendas of self-preservation that continue to exist. If only we could start again with a clean sheet of paper and open minds?
Now away from racing - if you could trade lives with one person for an entire day who would it be and why?
Michael Eavis, so I can finally get myself 2 tickets to Glastonbury after too many years of unsuccessful attempts.
If you could invite any 5 people for dinner who would they be?
David O’Doherty, Jason Byrne, Kerri Godliman, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Why have a ‘quiet’ night?
Do you have a sweet tooth or a savoury tooth?
Savoury tooth - when it comes to Indian food!
Sweet tooth when it comes to great ice cream!
What is your favourite food, holiday, restaurant, tv programme?
Food: Indian
Holiday: Gili Air, Indonesia
Restaurants: ‘Core’ by Clare Smyth, London ‘La Tupina’, Bordeaux plus various in Kerala
TV programme: Afterlife
If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be?
Enjoy a leisurely day’s fishing with Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse.
What are you most looking forward to?
Racing-wise, having a runner at one of the big Festivals – Cheltenham preferably - but Aintree or Punchestown will do! Life-wise, staying happy and healthy enough to continue to share fun times with family and great friends. Keep smiling everyone!
NOVEMBER OWNER INTERVIEW - GARRY AND TRACY BETLEY
BACKGROUND – A little bit about yourself (Occupation, where do you live, family etc)
We are very fortunate to live in the beautiful village of Broadway, in Worcestershire and have been married for 33 years. I am an Estimater for a local Joinery company and Tracy works part time for a local leather retailer.
We have two grown up children, Jordan, who’s a graphic designer and lives with his fiancé Meg and our daughter Hannah who’s a primary school teacher and is married to Matt and not forgetting our cocker spaniel called Lennie.
How did you first get involved in Racing?
I have been interested in horse racing for a long time and have been a member at Cheltenham since 1985. As a young lad my dad had racing greyhounds so racing of one sort or another has always been in my blood.
What horses are you/have you been involved with both with Kim and other trainers
Phantom Getaway is our first venture into horse ownership.
What was your best/funniest experience on a racecourse?
In March 1988, we had our first visit to the Cheltenham festival together, in what is now known as The Best Mates side. Whilst standing at the back of a very rickety stand watching the Mildmay of Fleet handicap chase, we were left as the only two people in the stand, cheering as Smart Tar began to pull away from the other two challengers. Rounding off a good day £400 in profit! Still to this day the most I have ever won!!!
What is your favourite racecourse/race meeting?
It has to be at Cheltenham, Festival trials day, great racing without the festival crowds.
How did you first get involved with Kim?
Having followed Kim’s blog for many years, when we decided to get involved in racehorse ownership, Kim’s was our obvious choice.
If you were in charge of racing for a day what would you change?
It would have to be prize money and more reasonable entry fees.
Now away from racing - If you could trade lives with one person for an entire day who would it be and why?
The winning jockey of the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup, why? What a feeling it must be!
If you could invite any 5 people for dinner who would they be?
Paul Heaton, for the music, the late Barney Curley, Henrietta Knight, Peter Kay for the laughs and James Martin the Chef, what a mix!!!
Do you have a sweet tooth or a savoury tooth?
Tracy likes to bake, but thinking of my figure, I think I have a savoury tooth.
What is your favourite food, holiday, restaurant, tv programme?
Favourite food is sea food of all kinds,
Favourite holiday, our recent holiday of a lifetime to Canada and Alaska and equally nearer home walking in South Devon
Restaurants, The Hook at the Fish Hotel, and The Cricket Inn Beesands and for pub grub the homemade pie at The Star, Ashton Underhill
TV programme, horse racing of course and a good crime drama
If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be?
Bring peace to the world
What are you most looking forward to?
Phantom Getaway having a long and successful racing career and a long retirement.
OCTOBER OWNER INTERVIEW - ROY AND LOUISE SWINBURNE
BACKGROUND - A little bit about yourself
Louise and I live in Pattingham, South Staffordshire with our son Scott. Our three elder children ages 30, 35 and 37 have flown the nest. I am the MD of PBR Abrasives based in Willenhall, West Midlands
How did you first get involved in Racing?
Occasional visits to point-to-point meetings at Eyton on Severn and Weston Park sparked my interest and a chance meeting at Ludlow races with an owner was the start of owning horses back in 1999. All weather racing initially then National Hunt racing which is my passion.
What horses are you/have you been involved with both with Kim and other trainers?
Hollies Pearl (Peter Bowen) has been our best and we have just purchased her 2yo filly by Blue Bresil. Wells De Lune was a three time winner for us. Others include Deadly Move, Sam Noir, Catch The Rhythm, Casher Society, Latzod'Alm was our Cheltenham Hunterchase winner and many more.
What was your best/funniest experience on a racecourse?
Winning the mares listed bumper at Aintree on Grand National Day and winning the Cheltenham Intermediate Hunter Chase with Latzod'Alm - now a great 22yo and lives with us.
What is your favourite racecourse/race meeting?
Day one of The Cheltenham Festival is our favourite day. Our favourite racecourse is Ludlow followed by Bangor on Dee and Haydock
How did you first get involved with Kim?
Only recently in 2021. We were keen admirers from a distance. Kim has a good record with mares so we decided to send Time For Hollie to Kim. We were not disappointed as she won at Uttoxeter, placed second twice and finished third in four runs.
If you were in charge of racing for a day what would you change?
The prize money. It needs increasing drastically
Now away from racing - if you could trade lives with one person for an entire day who would it be and why?
Vladimir Putin so the dreadful war in Ukraine can stop
If you could invite any five people for dinner who would it be?
Matt Chapman, Peter Savill, Denise Coates, Sir Mark Prescott and Kim Bailey
Do you have a sweet tooth or a savoury tooth?
Savoury
What is your favourite food, holiday, restaurant, tv programme?
Food - All types of fish
Holiday - UK touring holidays in our motorhome
Restaurant - The Potted Lobster in Abersoch, North West Wales
TV Programme - Frozen Planet
If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be?
I would buy Constitution Hill and win the Champion Hurdle followed by the Gold Cup!
What are you most looking forward to?
The 2022/23 National Hunt Season proper
MARCH OWNER INTERVIEW - GILLIAN CLOUGH
BACKGROUND – A little bit about yourself (Occupation, where do you live, family etc)
Born in Wroughton, Wiltshire, many moons ago, I have spent most of my adult life overseas in South Africa and the U.S. The circle of life has brought me back to live in Prestbury, Gloucestershire for the past four years. My son, Michael and his wife Reggie live in Cheltenham and my daughter Sarah and grandkids Tyler and Meghan reside in Naples, Florida. With my semi-retired status (HR consultant) I now divide my time between my home in Naples, Florida and the lovely village of Prestbury.
How did you first get involved in Racing?
Horses are my passion in life and although my horse background is in eventing both my grandmother’s were avid horseracing fans. I have fond memories of school holidays spent with my maternal grandmother glued to the TV watching Saturday racing. She was a very knowledgeable punter and very serious about her racing! My mother shared the same passion of horseracing with her favourite horse Desert Orchid. She would call me in the US everytime “Dessie” raced.
What horses are you/have you been involved with both with Kim and other trainers
This is my first venture into racehorse ownership with Does He Know. I am thrilled to be part of a great syndicate and to watch the development of this talented young horse. I know first hand how difficult it is to train a horse and bring out the best of their abilities. How fortunate am I to find a sympathetic trainer with a superb team at Thorndale.
What was your best/funniest experience on a racecourse?
Best is very hard. But my most memorable is sharing a day of racing with my mother at Kenilworth racecourse, just outside of Cape Town, South Africa. A lovely venue with the majestic Table Mountain as a backdrop.
What is your favourite racecourse/race meeting?
Well, it has to be Cheltenham. Attending, for the first time, the first day of the Festival and to hear the roar of the crowd was exhilarating. Probably, I do prefer the quieter November meeting. Although, attending the Derby at Churchill Downs, Kentucky was very special too.
How did you first get involved with Kim Bailey Racing?
I was fortunate to meet two lovely ladies during my first raceday at Cheltenham at an October meeting. We discussed horse ownership, while visiting the Champagne bar, and although they were point to point owners they suggested I call Kim and visit Thorndale. After a tour of the yard with Kim, I met with Peter Kerr and voila! I came home that day as a racehorse owner!
If you were in charge of racing for a day what would you change?
I would endeavour to bring all the governing bodies in racing to the table to have an honest discussion about the future of the sport. Better promotion of horseracing would be a good starting point.
Now away from racing - If you could trade lives with one person for an entire day who would it be and why?
David Attenborough. What a wonderful life of travel and animals.
If you could invite any 5 people for dinner who would they be?
Rick Stein (though I might prefer him to be presiding in the kitchen)
Michelle Obama
Melvyn Bragg
Sting (for after dinner entertainment)
Mick Fitzgerald (sorry David)
Do you have a sweet tooth or a savoury tooth?
Savoury, though I love dark chocolate
What is your favourite food, holiday, restaurant, tv programme?
Fish, seafood
Mauritius, beautiful island, with beautiful people
Charleston Restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland. A fabulous fusion of French and Southern Low Country cuisine expertly cooked by Chef Cindy Wolf
I don’t watch much TV but I have enjoyed Michael Portillo’s Great Railway Journeys
If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be?
Right at this moment see the faces of my two grandkids who are experiencing snow for the first time in their lives. They set off today on a skiing trip to Vail, Colorado.
What are you most looking forward to?
Apart from continuing to be part of Does He Know’s racing career. I am looking forward to more travel adventures and sharing the exhilarating thrill of jump horse racing with my partner, a non-horse person ( a New York City guy) when he next visits the UK.
JANUARY OWNER INTERVIEW - JOE GOLDRING
BACKGROUND – A little bit about yourself (Occupation, where do you live, family etc)
I am 32 years old and live in Essex with my partner Caitlin. I currently work in the Advertising industry, where I have been working for over 10 years. Alongside racing, I enjoy playing golf, socialising with friends and try to keep fit via boxing/exercising. I also enjoy travelling and would like to do more of it, but like many have put this on hold due to the current circumstances.
How did you first get involved in Racing?
My first memory of racing was going to Kempton Park on Boxing Day to watch the King George as a teenager. I was fascinated by the excitement of the betting ring, the different jockey silk colours, horses of different shapes and sizes and the buzzing atmosphere you get at a racecourse. As my passion grew throughout my teens, I decided to enrol in an Apprenticeship Scheme in Racehorse Care, in Newmarket. This was an eye-opening experience for me, where I learnt a lot about the industry and the practical side of the sport. I now work in Advertising but have never lost my passion for racing and pore over the Racing Post most days!
What horses are you/have you been involved with both with Kim and other trainers?
This is my first venture into racehorse ownership, having bought a share in Firth Of Gold last year. I can honestly say that it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I originally thought the excitement of being an owner would all lie at the racecourse but being able to visit the yard regularly and see the continued progress of FOG on the gallops gives me great pleasure. The friendly, welcoming team at Thorndale have made me feel at home from my very first visit.
What was your best/funniest experience on a racecourse?
It would probably be my first trip to the Cheltenham festival with a good friend of mine. I was down to my last £20 on the final day of the trip, which I bullishly placed on a 40/1 horse called Medinas in the Coral Cup, who I had pencilled in all week. He had just won the Welsh Champion hurdle on bottomless ground and I knew that the Coral Cup took some getting, being run at such a fast pace. Luckily, he prevailed. The beers were on me that evening and it felt good to be standing in a pub in Cheltenham afterwards, with the readies stashed in my pocket!
What is your favourite racecourse/race meeting?
The New Year’s Day meeting at Cheltenham. In the summer it would have to be Goodwood - I don’t think you can beat that view from the stands.
How did you first get involved with Kim?
I reached out to Kim through the website and was introduced to Peter Kerr who runs the syndicates at the yard. Peter made what was initially a daunting decision easy, providing full transparency and honesty from the outset.
If you were in charge of racing for a day what would you change?
I’d try and find a way of ensuring larger field sizes throughout the season. Personally, I get much more enjoyment from watching a 20+ runner handicap with multiple form angles than a two-horse match race with an odds-on favourite.
Now away from racing - If you could trade lives with one person for an entire day who would it be and why?
Not sure… probably a professional golfer like Tiger Woods. I grew up watching Tiger in his prime and as a golfer I’d love to have his mindset and mental strength standing over a golf ball under pressure.
If you could invite any 5 people for dinner who would they be?
Aidan O’Brien (if Kim wasn’t available), A P McCoy, Ant Middleton, Ricky Gervais, Frank Bruno.
Do you have a sweet tooth or a savoury tooth?
Savoury
What is your favourite food, holiday, restaurant, tv programme?
Italian Food, the Caribbean, Piccolos (a local Italian to me), Ozark.
If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be?
Go abroad for some winter sun.
What are you most looking forward to?
Firth Of Gold running… and becoming a top class chaser. The dream is still alive…
NOVEMBER OWNER INTERVIEW - NEIL BROOKE
BACKGROUND – A little bit about yourself (Occupation, where do you live, family etc)
I am 60yrs old having recently retired after 40yrs as an electrician and have now moved to Chichester with my wife Jo. I have a son and daughter, David, and Laura along with two stepsons, David is an anaesthetist in Perth Australia and Laura is an events manager. My two stepsons Tom and Stevie are involved in finance and landscape gardening.
How did you first get involved in Racing?
During school holidays in the early seventies, I was shipped off for the summer to my grandparents in Findon, which is where the late great Ryan Price trained. I was taken by Grandad to soldiers fields where his great old horses Kilmore (who won the Grand National) and What A Myth (Whitbread Gold Cup) spent their retirement. Also, my dad took me to Lingfield, Epsom, Sandown and Kempton at an early age and I’ve been hooked ever since.
What horses are you/have you been involved with both with Kim and other trainers
With Kim, myself and Jo have two horses Percy Veering and Firth of Gold. Various others over the years include Diamond Max with David Evans, Venturatormenta (bred by Kevin Blake and won The Papin in 2020) with Richard Hannah, Aldryin with David Pipe and The Gatekeeper with Mark Johnston.
What was your best/funniest experience on a racecourse?
Attending the breeders cup at Santa Anita and seeing Richard Sambora of Bon Jovi Fame being asked to sign a photo by a fan, the photo being taken many moons previously, as he signed it, I remarked “F**k me Richie that’s a few years ago son”, he stormed off……
When Diamond Max won his listed race at Longchamp, we were all rather vocal in the winner’s enclosure, John Gosden who had won the previous Group race with Mount Abu had a massive bottle of champers, came over and said, “this is more suited to you, enjoy!” a nice touch from a true gentleman.
What is your favourite racecourse/race meeting?
Best Course: Goodwood on a dry day, the most picturesque course in the World.
National Hunt: Cheltenham
Abroad: Santa Anita, the backdrop of the San Gabriel mountains is superb.
How did you first get involved with Kim?
Viewing the website and then speaking to Peter Kerr and realising how friendly everyone was. So much so that when we visited for the first time to see Percy Veering, we returned the next day to purchase a share in Firth of Gold.
If you were in charge of racing for a day what would you change?
Without a doubt prizemoney, it must be increased now. Far too much racing so I’d reduce meetings to six races per meeting, No Sunday racing either to give the staff a day off.
Now away from racing - If you could trade lives with one person for an entire day who would it be and why?
I would trade places with Gareth Southgate then transport myself back to the euro finals night and ask myself why I left Mason Mount on for so long when Jack Grealish was available. Also why did I not put Calvert-Lewin on to take a penalty as he had scored all four he took for Everton that season. Then like Jim Carey in Liar Liar I would give myself a good thrashing.
If you could invite any 5 people for dinner who would they be?
Ian Bothan, John Gosden Dave Grohl, Sir Geoff Hurst, Nigella Lawson – great stories, hopefully some tips, music and food.
Do you have a sweet tooth or a savoury tooth?
Both
What is your favourite food, holiday, restaurant?
Favourite food: Pie, Mash and Liquor
Favourite Holiday: Perth Australia
Favourite Restaurant: 34 Bar Grill Mayfair and Rock Stein’s Seafood restaurant in Padstow
If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be?
Get rid of all electric cars!
What are you most looking forward to?
My son’s wedding in February 2023 in Margaret River Western Australia. Hopefully we will be able to travel by then. Also, Percy Veering making his racecourse debut.
SEPTEMBER OWNER INTERVIEW - NICK HOLMES
BACKGROUND – A little bit about yourself (Occupation, where do you live, family etc)
I live with my wife Mary in the Cotswolds close to Kemble which is the place where all Britsih Airways Jumbo jets seem to go for their final resting place !! . I have two grown up children one at university and the other working in financial services.
I am retired having worked in the Police for over 30years although I do have a side line in that I deliver speed awareness courses and do some Safeguarding tutoring for the FA.
How did you first get involved in Racing?
On of my first jobs was working for Weatherbys where I was involved in the Names department and certainly enlightened to some of the linguistical skills of some owners and trainers in trying to get some unsuitable names for their racehorses. One of which comes to mind was when somebody tried to name their horse Norfolk and Chance (which on first reading appears quite innocent!!!)
What horses are you/have you been involved with both with Kim and other trainers
I am currently involved with Charming Getaway however to say I have had rather a checked experience with ownership would be a bit of an understatement. My first horse with Kim was called Dansant Express who definitely looked the part on the gallops but come the racecourse was far more enthusiastic about seeing the rear of its fellow horses than actually going past them. However at least Dansant made the racecourse whilst my next Wild Presentation never made it and to be honest I have never seen David Bass work so hard on a horse to get it up Lambourn gallops!! As a consequence it was last seen on a horse box heading back to Ireland.
I hope my fellow owners don’t see me as a bit of a jinx
What was your best/funniest experience on a racecourse?
One of the funniest experiences was when I was invited by my friend as his guest to see his horse run at Newton Abbott. We arrived at the racecourse and I was informed that although the horse was not likely to win there would be a possibility that it might be placed. So of course when it came to the race I duly put some money on along with my friend with the same oncourse bookmaker and watched the race. To our astonishment the horse absolutely bolted up and even Nigel Twiston-Davis (the trainer) was a little surprised as the horse passed the line. This was the first winner for my friend and a moment to celebrate. However the day was somewhat blighted when we went to collect our winnings from the bookmaker as although I was paid out, it appeared that my friend had backed a different horse!!!!!!
As a paying customer one of the more amusing moments was when First Flow ran in a chase at Hereford about two years ago. It was a three-horse race and First Flow was odds on favourite and duly obliged with the minimum of effort. However, the horse who should have finished third was certainly not in the same class as First Flow or the other participant and was there I suspect primarily to pick up the third-place prize money.
The plan would seem to be working as the horse managed to complete most of the course albeit being a good twenty lengths if not further behind First Flow and the other horse. The problem came at the last fence where clearly either tired of continually being encouraged to complete or the fact it was a cold day at Hereford it duly decided to deposit the jockey on the floor as it attempted to clear the last fence. Neither horse nor jockey were injured but I do recall the jockeys face looking like thunder as they trudged back to the weighing room.
What is your favourite racecourse/race meeting?
Market Rasen is my favourite racecourse, and this might seem a bit of an odd choice, but it was my local racecourse when growing up and was no doubt the reason I became interested in racing. The one thing I do like about Market Rasen it does not matter where you sit or stand you have an exceptional view of the whole racecourse, something which cannot be said for all racecourses
Race meeting has to be the Grand National and I did attend the year when Hello Dandy won back in the eighties.
How did you first get involved with Kim?
I became involved with Kim through my brother buying a Birthday present for me to attend one of Kim’s Breakfast and Gallop days . It was a great experience and certainly was a key factor in me becoming involved as an owner. I would also say that meeting the rest of the team in particular Peter Kerr was also very influential in me deciding to become an owner
If you were in charge of racing for a day what would you change?
I do think over the last few years racing has realised that it needs to be more open to the public and I like the fact that Jockeys are now interviewed by the press and that cameras are allowed to view what happens behind the scenes. It starts to take the mystic out of it and certainly I see it as a way of breaking down perceived cultural barriers. I think there is still work to be done and why can’t steward enquiries be more public after all courts of law allow cameras in. I am not suggesting that the public be present but being able to view the process on TV and understand the rationale for decisions would be useful. It would need to be managed as in some instances it might not be appropriate for cameras to record enquires but I would suggest it would be very limited.
A review of handicapping process in England as regards Irish runners is clearly an area that also needs to be examined
Now away from racing - If you could trade lives with one person for an entire day who would it be and why?
I wouldn’t mind being the overseas tour manager for the England Cricket team just for one day, somewhere like Australia or the Caribbean. One day would be enough just to get the experience of what it is like to be part of a professional cricket touring party.
If you could invite any 5 people for dinner who would they be?
Phil Tufnell
Gyles Brandreth
Pam Ayres
The Prime Ministers Chauffeur!!
Luke Harvey
I doubt I would get a word in edgeways
Do you have a sweet tooth or a savoury tooth?
Very much a sweet tooth
What is your favourite food, holiday, restaurant, tv programme?
Steak and chips
Australia /New York/Iceland
Gumstool at Tetbury
The Bell Inn Sapperton
The Green Dragon Cowley
TV Programme -Vigil (submarine drama very good)
If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be?
I would hire a camper van and have a three week driving holiday around New Zealand preferably when the cricket season is on and if England were playing that would be a bonus. I have been trying to visit New Zealand for the past three years but due primarily to COVID and other factors I have been thwarted
What are you most looking forward to?
I am looking forward to Charming Getaway's first run and hopefully perhaps even getting into the winner’s enclosure.
JUNE OWNER INTERVIEW - ROBERT & NICOLA BAILLIE
BACKGROUND – A little bit about yourself (Occupation, where do you live, family etc)
We live and farm in rural Lincolnshire and our business makes haylage for horses under the name
Baillie Haylage. We supply a number of trainers, mainly in the in Newmarket area, private individuals and about 170 retail shops. We have 4 children between us and 5 grandchildren.
We play golf, tennis and ski and as we gave up riding last year we have decided to increase our interest in racing.
How did you first get involved in Racing
Robert has been a point to point steward for many years, and we became members of The Cheltenham Business Club about 20 years ago. We then became Cheltenham Full Members.
As we supplied more haylage into racing yards we became more interested and then involved
What horses are you/have you been involved with both with Kim and other trainers
Nicola joined The Cheltenham syndicate in 2018 and so was involved with the following horses:
Carolines Charm, Neil Mulholland
Diamond river, Nicky Henderson
Doc Picked Me Harry Wittington
Hes No Trouble Kim Bailey/Fergal O’Brien
Marton Abbey Kim Bailey
Robert and Nicola are in KBR syndicates with
Tantoli
Magical Escape
What was your best/funniest experience on a racecourse?
11th March 2009 Cheltenham Fred Winter Juvenile Novices Handicap Hurdle
Silk Affair won the race trained by Michael Quinlan, he was a Newmarket trainer. We knew him quite well as he was living with a good friend of ours at the time (Barbara Haynes)
As Silk Affair rounded the bend, she was going well and Robert said to Michael ‘Will she come up the hill?’
Michael replied, in his very Irish accent, ‘She’ll come up the hill!’
And she did!! She won!!
Lots of Quinlans, Haynes and Kirkbys screaming on the lawn at Cheltenham – and a great party in the car park afterwards!
What is your favourite racecourse/race meeting?
Must be Cheltenham. Queen Mother Day
How did you first get involved with Kim?
Through the Cheltenham Syndicate
If you were in charge of racing for a day what would you change?
We have thought long and hard about this, and couldn’t think of anything dramatic apart from not having queues for drinks or loos. Limiting the day to 6 races and banning people being outside designated areas with bottles and glasses
Now away from racing - If you could trade lives with one person for an entire day who would it be and why?
Robert would like to be Franz Klammer in his prime. He would love to experience the thrill of downhill racing. Franz had an appealing dare devil approach and apparently he now plays golf!
Nicola would like to be Sarah Burton (fashion designer) who would you meet? And how would you dress them?
If you could invite any 5 people for dinner who would they be?
Jeremy Clarkson, Francesca Cumani, Princess Anne, Fiona Bruce and of course Kim Bailey
Do you have a sweet tooth or a savoury tooth?
Savoury
We particularly like Cheltenham picnic food !(with a glass of champagne!)
What is your favourite food, holiday, restaurant, tv programme?
We both love shellfish, holidays anywhere in Italy.
Favourite restaurant Caraffini, 61-63 Lower Sloane Street, London
We cant watch TV at the moment due to the fact that the ceiling in the sitting room has fallen in on top of the TV (Due to a leaking bath in the room above!)
However we do watch Morning Line and Rick Steins programmes in the kitchen!
If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be?
Just go on holiday—to either Italy or Ireland (The Dunraven Arms is where we had our wedding reception)
What are you most looking forward to?
The start of the winter jumping season. Looking forward to seeing our young horses running in the future
