Autumn 2014 Issue

After an extended summer the first signs of autumn have begun to appear and

there is the scent of National Hunt racing in the air. By the time you read this we

should have had our first runners over jumps since the spring. Getting them

ready during this dry spell has harder than usual with the hill gallop out of use for

a few more weeks than expected. However we have been able to make

alternative arrangements as you can read about in this newsletter. There are also

pieces about our successful open days and accounts of another great day out for

members of Valence Racing. We also chalked up another victory to add to the

pleasing 2014 total. The staff are also very proud that they have had a 33%

success rate in “Best Turned Out” competitions with the runners since the last

newsletter. Everyone at the yard is excited about the prospects for the next few

months and will be working hard to try to get more winners and create more

happy memories for our owners.

Linda and Karen

Winning Post

Claude Greenwood, blinkered, winning at Brighton.

Claude Greenwood at last got the victory he deserved, after going close regularly, when winning a mile handicap at Brighton (1/9/2014). Ridden by 3 pound claimer Charles Bishop, he got out from the stalls quickly and set the pace. He moved across to the stand rails entering the finishing straight, still in the lead. Though some of the field were struggling there were still a half dozen who looked a threat and it seemed that maybe he had done too much too soon, but Claude bravely held them all off, winning by a head at the line from the favourite at rewarding odds of 14/1.

Winning owners at the trophy presentation.

In The Frame

In The Money

Fleeting Indian 4th Lingfield 26/7/2014 £144

Best Turned Out

Praise And Glory £50 for Karen at Sandown 24/7/2014, Claude Greenwood £25 for

Katie (her first ever) at Brighton 6/8/2014, Praise And Glory £25 for Karen at Windsor

11/8/2014 and Claude Greenwood £25 for Emmelia at Brighton 15/9/2014, Yes I Will

£40 for Karen at Huntingdon 5/10/2014.

Celestial Ray finished runner up for the third

successive time when competing in a 1 mile handicap

on the all weather at Lingfield (24/7/2014). Ridden

this time by Kieren Fallon, he wasn't the fastest to

break and travelled in midfield on the rail for the first

half of the race. He moved into the first four coming

down the hill into the home turn at which point he hit

the front. A two horse battle ensued and they pulled

away from the rest of the field, but Richard Hughes

riding his rival just managed to get up and hold on,

winning by a neck with 8 lengths back to third place.

Fleeting Indian finished third in a Selling

Stakes at Lingfield (16/8/2014). Ridden by

Daniel Cremin he was ridden just behind the

leaders and held his position to the line against

better rated horses to satisfy his each way

backers at odds of 20/1.

Claude Greenwood returned to Brighton

(15/9/2014), the scene of his recent triumph. He

was ridden by Cam Hardie who had him prominent

throughout the race. There were several still in with

a chance entering the final furlong and, while he

couldn't quite overtake the leader, Claude took

second place just three quarters of a length behind

and a head in front of the third.

At the Owners Open Day Linda announced the retirement of stable star Rowe

Park, known in the yard as Jimmy. In all he raced 67 times, winning 11 and

finishing 2nd

or 3rd

on ten other occasions. He amassed £111 382 in career prize

money including £26 686 when winning the Dubai International Airport World

Trophy (Group 3) at Newbury in 2007. He was spotted by Paul and bought by

Linda for just £1200, a real bargain.

Rowe Park after his first win. (Lingfield November2006) Rowe Park wins The Dubai International Group 3 at

Newbury

The presentation at Newbury, then back at the yard in glory.

Rowe Park has been the flagship horse for the yard and will stay there to enjoy

his well earned retirement.

Once again Southfield Stables staged two successful Open Days, blessed with

good weather. The first was the Owners Open Day where, after being able to

walk around the boxes enjoying a glass of Pimms, the owners settled down to

watch as the horses were paraded on the lawn while Linda gave an informative

commentary. This was followed by a delicious buffet.

Some owners arrived in style! Chatting, patting and Pimms!

The parade of horses on the lawn with commentary from Linda.

The following week the yard was open for the general public. Again they were

able to wander around the boxes looking at the horses. Then they went down to

the gallops where Linda put some of the horses through their paces.

Following their trip to Goodwood in the spring, Valence Racing members had a

cracking evening out in late July when Mad About Harry ran at a sunny Sandown

Park. This was his first run for Linda and Valence Racing, after nearly a year off

the course. Valence Racing members had had a relaxed start to the evening in

the Owners & Trainers enclosure, eating complimentary salt beef and crusty

bread with pickles, drinking complimentary coffee and quaffing the odd glass of

lemonade or something stronger! Then it was off to the parade ring to see Mad

About Harry arrive and meet Daniel Cremin (the jockey).

Harry was beautifully turned out on this glorious summer's evening. He ran

encouragingly after his long lay off, only tiring turning for home, then being

sensibly eased after a large bump from another horse (stewards enquired)

knocked him out of his stride.

The evening's entertainment continued with some exciting racing from jockeys

such as Ryan Moore, Richard Hughes and Frankie Dettori. After the last race

there was a live concert by Wet Wet Wet making it a very memorable and

pleasant evening.

The owners received about £50 worth of benefits (admission, racecards, food

etc.) so Valence Racing might well be dubbed VALUE RACING!

Since Sandown Mad About Harry has given Valence Racing members two trips

to Kempton for atmospheric floodlit all weather racing.

In the parade ring. Linda with the jockey in the weighing room. Post-race feedback.

When their previous sponsors were unable to renew their contract Valence

Racing began searching for a replacement. They were delighted when C & B

Stern, the local farriers who look after all the horses at Southfield, stepped in to

take over the sponsorship. Their name will appear on the silks whenever

Valence Racing horses race, hopefully bringing further business to the Sterns.

They have also taken over the sponsorship of Valence Racing Too who race in

the same colours.

Ben Stern proudly shows the Valence Racing silks with their new sponsor’s logo.

Training Away

Taxi for the Hill Gallop Anyone?

Photo Fun

We were able to give some of the

horses a work out and change of

scenery by taking them to

Coombelands Equestrian Centre in

Sussex. Leighton Aspell joined us

to ride Yes I Will (pictured left

and right) while Karen rode

Itoldyou. The facilities were

excellent and we wouldn’t hesitate

to use them again if necessary.

Paul has recently acquired a new car. This

multi-terrain vehicle will be very popular

with visiting owners as Paul intends using

it to taxi them to the top of the hill gallop to

watch their horses work. There’s even

room for packing the full English breakfast

in the back. Unfortunately it is unlikely

that the car will still look as clean as this

when you next see it!

New tractor driver appointed!

Frankie wishes Harry good luck, or so she

claims!!

Name: Emmelia Victoria Potts

Age: 23

Why did you come into racing?

It was never intentional. When I was younger I always thought of racing as the Hollywood world of sport

where the people who worked in the industry were sport and equine Gods. So when I bought Dillon off Lin

(my little black cob) at 12 I loved helping in any way I could to get closer to the “Hollywood” lifestyle, soon

to learn that it involved a lot of mucking out! I helped out after school and at weekends in any way I could,

shadowing (and probably annoying immensely!) Karen and the stable lads. Over the years Karen and Lin

taught me the ropes and eventually I was allowed to ride one of the racehorses around the roads, if I recall

correctly it was Socks. From there I was gradually allowed to do more around the yard and on the horses.

As I learnt more, eventually I was offered a job in 2011/12 during university holidays. So I guess I grew up

into the world of racing, and have over the years become rather fond of it!

If you had a different career what would it be? Advertising or Graphic Designer

What is your best moment in racing?

Leading up my first winner, Claude Greenwood, at Brighton. It had been a little bit of a stressful lead up to

the race with a wardrobe malfunction and Claude being overly enthusiastic in the stable yard and parade

ring, firing me into the white railings. However, it was all worth it to see him sail in first and to see Lin and

his owners so happy.

After that anything involving Fleeting Indian.

What is your ambition in racing?

To be able to amalgamate every trinket of wisdom Lin, Karen and Paul have ever imparted to all of us and to

put it into practice to be as good at riding as them. That would be nice.

Do you have an ambition outside racing? I would quite like to buy a number of run down properties/ruins around the country and develop them into

modern structures with “of the past construction” work included into the new design, extreme property

developing I guess it could be called!

What has been your most amusing moment in the job? There has been a ridiculous number from people being thrown in muckheaps and synchronised falling offs

to people hiding in full water troughs to scare unsuspecting victims. However, the most recent event that had

me doubled over involves Karen, the lorry and a single manure. That is all I can say without her killing me.

Who do you admire most in racing?

I could be really boring here and say McCoy, after all who doesn’t admire him! However mine is a lady

called Linda Jewell. I keep trying to get her to write an autobiography.

Favourite racecourse and why? As a spectator – Kempton. The panoramic restaurant does the most amazing food on Boxing Day.

As an employee – Haydock. It so well maintained and the parade ring is so posh but so pretty with all the

trees and the timber effect buildings. Gorgeous course.

Favourite meal? My delicious spinach smoothies. Yum!

Favourite Music? Anything by Maroon 5

Favourite none equestrian sport? Extreme obstacle course racing and eating.

Interests other than horses? Travelling, pumping iron at the gym, playing the clarinet, shooting (skeet and target), running and cutting

some truly amazing shapes at the weekend in a nightclub with good company!

Staff Profile

The 2014/2015 competition is now up and running, though only in its very early days. Two

of last season’s competition money winners lead the way again, but with eight months to go

expect many twists and turns along the way. Name TOTAL

Pauline Reynolds 3

Sally Stanier 3

Dick Churcher 0

Penelope Harrison 0

Derek Maidment 0

Tomas Maidment 0

William Maidment 0

Jane Maltby 0

Neil Maltby 0

Alison May 0

Fiona Meekins 0

John Reynolds 0

Neil Sawyer 0

Laurel Stevens 0

Carol Watson 0

Rosemary Watson 0

Trevor Wyatt 0

Richard Young 0

TOWELS We can always use old towels here at Southfield,

so if you have any that you don’t want we would be delighted

and grateful to receive them. So will the horses!

Congratulations to Pauline Reynolds, whose entry was first out of the

hat, having correctly answered last issue’s question. Rearrange the letters

to spell one of Linda’s horses and a piece of tack:

KEN MICKS SLOBBERING

Answer :- Kingscombe & Blinkers

This issue’s question:- Plumpton hold theirs in

September, Fontwell and Brighton in August, and

Lingfield hold two. WHAT?

Once again there is a bottle of wine for the winner.

Answers to – Southfield Competition c/o R Young 17 Redsells Close

Maidstone Kent ME15 8SN

Or e-mail to richardyoung_020@fsmail.net

In the event of a tie, the correct answers will be put into a hat and the

winner drawn on January 9th 2015.