now that I have calmed down enough to type...

[eeek]

...I can now show you photos of my very exciting day!

It was lovely to be racing again :)
Vinny thought so anyway
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6442.jpg
So did Terry
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6446.jpg
And maybe me, just a little bit (trying on my new goggles before the warm up)
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6437.jpg

Warming up. The coal dust track was nice, we decided.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6460.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6453.jpg

First race. First of a series of rubbish draws for me (having to start on the outside). But we're both happy to be on the track!
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6480.jpg
I had fast horses on my inside at the start, just my luck.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6553.jpg
Love this one! (Two of my very best friends: feral friend on the right, and an old and lovely friend from college who has cooked for me and taken hundreds of photos of my ponies for the last 5 days)
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6558.jpg

My only hope was to grab the lead, otherwise I'd be stuck on the outside for the whole race which is a terrible place to be. Luckily Vinny has quite a turn of foot and he went like a bat out of hell from the gate. By the first corner he was in the lead and on the inside. Perfect.
I am now faced with the problem of how to slow down the old fool. To cut a long story short, he wasn't having any of it.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6604.jpg
He stormed into the lead and opened up a huge gap. I couldn't hold him - although to be perfectly honest I didn't try very hard. I have a terrible tendency to get carried away.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6608.jpg
Sadly the laws of biology mean that you simply cannot go at 100% capacity for a whole mile. So gradually the others cut him back..
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6649.jpg
We ended up coming last, but not by far. I could probably have come 4th if I'd driven him more aggressively at the end but there was no point in overdoing it. He didn't seem at all tired afterwards. I just wished I could have saved him at the beginning because if I'd driven him properly he would almost certainly have been in the placings if not a winner. He went extremely well.


Second race, a sprint (6 furlongs instead of 8). I figured if I can't hold Vinny I might as well put him in a race where he can go flat out from the word go. Again, rubbish draw, on the outside of a VERY fast horse. Also Vinny was way out of his league in this one: there is a weird rule which means Vinny was handicapped as if he was a much better horse than he is, because of it being a sprint. Technically he should have started AT LEAST 10 yds in front of the one he started next to.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6677.jpg
As it was my first ever sprint I wasn't sure how to play it, so picked a friendly brain, who advised me to just go flat out from square one.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6693.jpg
Going into the start. The gate moved much faster than usual!
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6740.jpg
Wasn't sure what to do here (ERROR). Probably should have urged Vinny on and tried to take the lead but after the last fiasco I was trying to save him a bit, which was a mistake. Couldn't tuck him in behind the leading horse because he was pulling so much I was scared of running into the back of her or into a wheel, so ended up staying on the outside. Not my best move, but I'm not sure if he would have got past that leading horse. She is VERY quick, but he has a bit more stamina than her. But look at how he's flying!
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6752.jpg
Towards the end he got a little left behind. The other horses were really really quick, and classy horses too. But he was gaining on them towards the end again.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6798.jpg
We came a close 4th (out of 4, ok) and I was extremely pleased. Vinny was outclassed, but he kept up and finished well.

And THEN a VERY exciting thing happened!
Was just getting off the sulky when I heard the leading lady driver say 'will you drive Live The Dream in the Final?' I could not believe this question was directed at me, so I stared vacantly into space. Then the question came again. My heart jumped and I said 'ME?!' She said yes. I dropped everything and jumped onto the sulky seat. Live The Dream is an extremely good horse.
And I was getting a drive in a FINAL! That has NEVER happened to me before. This wasn't any final either, it was the Grade A final, the biggest race at the opening meet, so all the best horses on the track were competing. I have never raced for £500 before. The biggest race I'd ever entered before this week was only £100.
So I needed no encouragement WHATSOEVER.
He was a lovely horse, as well.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6828.jpg
We had to start 10 yds behind the leading horse, in the middle of the bunch, which is quite a rubbish place to start (can't get a clear run at the lead, can't easily tuck in on the inside).
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6879.jpg
He was extremely well-mannered and easy to drive, so luckily I managed to pull him back enough to tuck in on the inside (which is essential in a final otherwise you waste a lot of ground going wide round the corners).
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6902.jpg
Where I stayed for most of the race...
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6932.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6947.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6953.jpg
Because I then got completely boxed in and COULDN'T get out.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6980.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6989.jpg
Coming round the last corner, still boxed in, stuck behind a horse that was fading, DESPERATE TO GET OUT
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6994.jpg

FINALLY, an opening! Pulled him out and he absolutely flew up that home straight. Unlike Vinny he actually responds when you tap him with the whip...
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6996.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6997.jpg
We stormed past several horses up the home straight. Live The Dream's stablemate was way out in front and won the race. But the battle for 2nd was breathtaking. Three of us crossed the line at once. They looked at the camera for ages...
... AND WE CAME THIRD!

Absolutely delighted, took 2 days to calm down. Cannot quite believe yet that I was asked to drive in the Grade A Final AND DIDN'T **** UP. For once I am actually pleased with a drive. I couldn't have got better than 3rd with the way that race unfolded. If I hadn't been boxed in I would have certainly been second because the horse had loads left at the end (HE WAS SOME HORSE), could even have won it perhaps.
Owners seemed pleased and I got a few compliments on my drive :D

It was a great day.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6942.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/vintagelobell/eva%20steve%20may%202010/IMG_6722.jpg

Mouthful of coaldust (yum yum) to anybody who finished!

[eeek]

Forgot to say:
The sulky was POWER SLIDING round the corners in the sprint! Wow!

[Poppy and Harmony]

wowwwww I was excited just reading that! Vinny looks in excellent form, and the grey sounds excellent.
well done :D

[Susan]

Argh, I have caught your excitement! The photos are brilliant - Vinny just looks so sleek and Live the Dream is very flashy! How amazing that they just came up and offered you the drive, is that the norm? You must have really impressed! Very pleased for you that your season has got off to such a happy start!

[Pie_x]

FAB photos! Well done to you Liz!! :D It's so nice reading and seeing a post by a member who does a different kind of sport with their horse, really enjoyed it xx

[gem]

Wow what a wicked day!! Was an exciting read :D Great pics too. The season has begun!

[XenaWarriorPrincess]

Wow wow wow!! Well done Liz, Vinny and Live the dream!!
Amazing pictures and an even more amazing commentary!
xxx

[Loony]

Wow that looks so exciting and thrilling!!! You have to take me one day Liz!

Welldone :D

[adamntitch]

how can all you surposed to be horse lovers say great nice pics why do they have the staps stopping them from breaking gate to me its just cruil they are being forced to not go in to a canter by the staps its not natral and forced there is nothing good about it

[daytona]

Well done Liz you both look like you had a blast.
Whens the next race.

[Anni~Bell]

Vinny is definatly in his element here!
Well done to the both of you!

[sparkey]

Wow wow wow! That reads like fairytale! I always used to dream when I was a child that I would be at a dressage comp and one of the PSG riders would get injured all of a sudden and ask me to ride their horse! That Actually just Happened to you!! Brilliant! :D :D :D

[Burnie]

Wow I was nervous and excited for you reading that! Vinny is amazing :D

[vels mum]

WOW what a rollercoaster, how bloomin exciting, you drove the races well and Vinny did great!

And what a bonus to ride in the final!

Really loved reading this thread......cant imagine how exciting the races must have been!!!!!

[Meeny Miny Mo]

excellent pics! Vinny looks like he is really enjoying himself!

[funkyboots]

well done...hope you and VIn get the big 'W' soon!!!!!! (bet i can guess vinnies homework before next race!)

[Catg]

Wow fantastic pictures well done!! x

[Autumn]

Wow that was an exciting read & great pics, thanks for posting.

Eeek, I think i'll leave it to you to respond to Adamntitch comment in a more constructive/informative way than I would!

x

[Osci]

Eeek i felt like i was there watching when i read your post! Very exciting! Congratulations on doing so well.

[eeek]

Going to work in a sec so can't reply properly to all your lovely replies (will tomorrow) but if anybody wants a link to the video which is online for the next few days PM me!

All I can say about the cruelty side of things is
1) These horses can pace flat out without hopples. Hopples are there to balance them and help them. They are not being forced to pace, this is a movement which is bred into them and has been in the blood for generations. We used to ride pacers in this country, several hundred years ago, before they went out of fashion.
2) My horse loves racing more than anything in the world. When he knows he's going racing he drags me into the lorry, when he doesn't know where he's going he needs a push from behind. I know when my horse is happy, and he LOVES it out there on that track. So did Live The Dream. You can just tell. My 5-year-old has never raced but it is in him, if somebody comes up on his outside he instantly remembers he's a racehorse.
3) The casualty rate is a lot lower than point to pointing/NH/Flat racing. The vast majority of the horses racing in Wales are 4 or older. We don't run races for 3yos and 2yos. Many horses race for years. My boy is on his 7th season, still fit and healthy, still loving it.
4) if you want a horse to race you HAVE to give it the best of everything. Best feed, best shoes, best coats, best tack. You can't get away with cutting corners. These horses are FIT and HEALTHY. I don't consider this cruel. But each to their own.
5) Could carry on but really going to be late for work!!!!

The 'gate' you refer to (did you mean 'gait'?) is to make sure we start at the right place. As soon as the race starts that car speeds away and leaves us to it.

[Loony]

Nice calm reply Liz !!

adamntitch I'd suggest researching into some of your claims before accusing someone of being cruel to their horse.

[annmarie]

how exciting you have just woke me up liz the horses look fab as some else said to adamntitch do one lmao

[beks the artist]

My heart is just racing after that read!!!!! Well done! Sounds like a fantastic day for you and Vinnie!!!! xx

[My Crazy Clan]

I was like :scared: omg there is a fence but their going some!


Lovely photos, well done to you all x

[amandaxx1]

Wow I was so excited reading that!!!!

Sounds like a fantastic day, great pics. WELL DONE!!!

[Smurf]

OMG Liz, i loved the story! You actually had me sitting on the edge of my seat! WELL DONE VINNY!!! and well done with the grey!

[Zeitgeist Mom]

That was such an exciting read - thanks Liz :D. You guys both did so great, and it's plain to see how much you both absolutely LOVE it! glad you had such a great time. Looking forward to more of these wonderful racing posts! :)

[Lesley_78]

Well done your very brave no way you'd get me racing!

[ness]

Well done Liz-that looked fun!

[daytona]

Going to work in a sec so can't reply properly to all your lovely replies (will tomorrow) but if anybody wants a link to the video which is online for the next few days PM me!

All I can say about the cruelty side of things is
1) These horses can pace flat out without hopples. Hopples are there to balance them and help them. They are not being forced to pace, this is a movement which is bred into them and has been in the blood for generations. We used to ride pacers in this country, several hundred years ago, before they went out of fashion.
2) My horse loves racing more than anything in the world. When he knows he's going racing he drags me into the lorry, when he doesn't know where he's going he needs a push from behind. I know when my horse is happy, and he LOVES it out there on that track. So did Live The Dream. You can just tell. My 5-year-old has never raced but it is in him, if somebody comes up on his outside he instantly remembers he's a racehorse.
3) The casualty rate is a lot lower than point to pointing/NH/Flat racing. The vast majority of the horses racing in Wales are 4 or older. We don't run races for 3yos and 2yos. Many horses race for years. My boy is on his 7th season, still fit and healthy, still loving it.
4) if you want a horse to race you HAVE to give it the best of everything. Best feed, best shoes, best coats, best tack. You can't get away with cutting corners. These horses are FIT and HEALTHY. I don't consider this cruel. But each to their own.
5) Could carry on but really going to be late for work!!!!

The 'gate' you refer to (did you mean 'gait'?) is to make sure we start at the right place. As soon as the race starts that car speeds away and leaves us to it.

Good answer Liz anyone can see that Vinny has the time of his life and is in amazing condition.
Adamntitch you should see the lovely pics of Vinny pacing away with Liz onboard no hopples then and he still goes.

[sazzy925]

Aww Liz It's lovely watching you and vinny race - you've both got so much spark for it!

It's amazing how one day he can go and race like that and the next day go and do some calm schooling!

[Hannibal]

wow that looks like so much fun!! well done, i really enjoyed reading about it!

[lilholley]

Oh wow! Congrats :D I really enjoyed reading that and the pictures are fantastic. I also enjoyed reading your reply re cruelty - it was very informative :) Vinny is an awesome horse isn't he? And you have some guts!! x

[micki]

The pics look great.
Your reply about cruelty was very good and very informative. It's great to hear that there aren't any races for 2yr olds, it shows that they think more of their horses than the racehorse(tb) industry does. I'm quite glad that adamntitch brought it up as i wouldn't have just learnt that about the racing that you do.

[adamntitch]

i will take this time to say sorry for what i said i took it as the same as other types of racing and say sorry again to the op x

[bimba]

Wow Liz, Vinnie looks great and you both look so at home and happy on the track!

[MyBoyFinn]

I had goose pimples and tears in my eyes reading that. Absolutley fantastic! Wonderful commentary and brilliant pictures. Very informative reply to the negative post. First time I have ever seen this type of racing. Cant wait for more! :thumbsup:

[eeek]

Thanks everybody for the lovely replies. You are all right, Vinny and I LOVE RACING. We both had to endure 3 years of no racing and we are a new man and woman now that we're back into it! Neither of us really see the point of a life where you go slowly all the time.

Susan, it is normal for there to be horses in need of drivers in the final, because often the same driver will qualify more than one horse. It is not normal for me to be asked to drive. I used to get quite a few rides, but I've gone off the boil with my riding (combination of me being heavier than most of the other saddle jockeys, and Vinny being too small to be a good saddle horse, and I have more nerve in the sulky these days). I thought my days of catch rides were over, and didn't think anybody would ask me to drive as there are so many more experienced drivers out there. Hopefully I will start getting more drives once people realise I'm up for it!

Daytona, next race is next Saturday. Same place. I was really nervous about the prospect of racing on a hard track as it was my first time, but it is LOVELY, so next week I will be a bit braver.

Adamntitch, no worries, apology accepted :)

Like anything, I think harness racing is as cruel as you make it. I'm lucky in that the amateur circuits I race with are more geared towards fun than squeezing every ounce out of the horse. It's not the same everywhere sadly. In America (where harness racing is BIG business) there are loads of races for 2 and 3 year olds. And drugs like bute and steroids and all kinds of things are legal, so you get horses being patched together by a chemist for the sake of one more run.. A lot of pretty awful things happen in America, I'm sure it's not always like that, but the system encourages it.

The people I race against cannot afford to be replacing their horse every season. They are not rich people (most of them are working class) and their horses are not disposable commodities. I saved up for YEARS to buy both of my horses, and they are part of the family (I actually sleep in the same building as Vinny!).

Also the system means that it's in your interests to persevere with one horse, rather than having a new one every year. The first few times a horse wins he will not be winning more than £100, then it slowly creeps up to £200 max. It's not until he has won a LOT of races that he will be able to enter £1000 races. Again, very different from the system in America or with TBs here, where a horse can be racing for half a million on his 3rd start.

[Tarka the horse]

Wow Liz, what a great start to the racing season for you!!!!! Well done!!!!!

[Bek B]

I read this in nwork yesterday, but couldn't post.

Great post Liz, really enjoyed reading it.

Can't wait for the next one!!!!!!

[africa]

Wow great start to the season. Loved the way you described it all your excitement really cam through.

[Horse Mad Mum]

wowo I liveed and breathed that reading the post Liz, Vinny looks totally amamzing !!!! well done both of you ! AND driving in the final no wonder you took two days to calm down !! HMM X

[Mungo Madness]

Liz you are mental!!!

Looks WICKED though!! :D You must be soo pleased, can't wait for the next bout of photos! :D

[Puss in boots]

Fab pics, that looks like so much fun :D