Welcome to our News Page. On here we will keep you up to date with all the news, views and events that concern The Mount Racing Club as and when they happen.
Valantino Oyster made his debut for the Mount Racing Club in a Class 3 Juvenile Hurdle at Stratford. Ridden by Barry Keniry he travelled and jumped well until half way down the back when a couple of erratic jumps by the horses in front of him and a faller besides him unsettled Valantino and Barry did well to hold on and get him back on song. He eventually stayed on well to finish 3rd, beaten by a Tim Vaughn newcomer who was rated 20lbs higher than him on the flat. Positives from the race are that on his debut Valantino beat horses that had already had experience over hurdles and he will definitely have learnt a lot from it and come on for the run.
Geoff 19/08/10
We are pleased to announce the arrival of VALANTINO OYSTER into the The Mount Racing Club. He’s a 3yo gelding that has just been purchased out of Howard Johnsons yard and it was a case of us being in the right place at the right time at the weekend as we managed to beat a couple of potential buyers to him. He has been schooled at home and jumps really well and the plan now is to go to either Stratford on the 18th or Market Rasen on the 21st August for a Juvenile Hurdle over 2m1f where he will have no trouble getting the trip.
Further details about him can be found on our Horses Page.
Geoff & Andy 17/08/10
We are pleased to say is the report from the stables on both our horses. Alphacino has schooled well and been out twice over hurdles in Juvenile Novice company finishing fourth both times, and being pipped on the line for 3rd on both occasions. He has come out of his last race really well and should be out again very soon.
Vienna Woods is very well in herself and making the most of the recent hot spell of weather by relaxing in the paddocks at the stables. We are reluctant to run her at the moment whilst the ground is especially firm as we don’t want to run the risk of injuring her. She now qualifies for a handicap mark and we think this is a sensible approach that should reap its rewards once the ground eases.
Geoff 30/06/10
Wednesday 21st at Catterick saw the first of two very pleasing runs for The Mount Racing Club. After 3 slightly below par runs on the All Weather Alphacino bounced right back to form on his beloved Turf. Given a super cool ride by Phillip Makin, Alfie made what we all thought was a race winning move at the Furlong pole only to be badly hampered by a drifting horse in front of him. Phillip Makin did well to stop him colliding with the rail and was convinced if he hadn’t of been stopped he would of won. He eventually finished 6th but was only beaten 2 ½ lengths. A reproduction of this form in his next race and he surely must go close.
Saturday 24th and our attentions switched to Ripon where Vienna Woods made her eagerly awaited debut. The drying ground and trouble in the stalls next to Vienna at the start meant early preparations didn’t go ideally to plan and when she was slowly away we were all thinking that along as she comes home safe we could live to fight another day. But midway through the race she got the hang of things and with an electric turn of foot she went from being 8-10 lengths down to actually hitting the front where she ran a bit green and finished off a very impressive 4th, beaten 1 ½ lengths by 3 horses that already had racecourse experience. She will have learnt a great deal from this run and will come on a lot for it. Jockey Kelly Harrison who gave her a super ride said she was very impressed and like us cant wait to see her out again.
Andy and Geoff 27/04/10
We have just returned from Middleham gallops and are pleased to report that both our horses are in fine order. ALPHACINO is back to his best after his exertions on the All Weather and we are now aiming him at a race at Catterick on Weds 21st April. It’s a 0-60 Hcap over 7f and we are looking for him to bounce right back to form in it. Our 2yo filly VIENNA WOODS has done nothing but please Ben and the team with her work and her progress. She has done all her training and at present we aim to debut her somewhere local around Middleham towards the end of April beginning of May. With this filly also is the added incentive of the £10,000 Yearling bonus attached to her. Considering that Ben hit the target last year 3 times with his early 2 year olds it could be exciting times ahead.
We still have shares available in both horses and more details can be found by checking out our HORSES page.
Andy 29/03/10
As from 20th Feb our trainer Patrick Haslam has decided to retire and hand over the reins to his son Ben. Ben will start his new venture at the Castle Hill stables which is a new development complete with airy American style barns. More details can be found on our Trainer Page.
As for Patrick, on behalf of everyone connected with The Mount Racing Club we would like to thank him for all that he has done for us over the years and wish him all the best as he retires from a career that has seen him send out over a 1,000 winners and become one of only 4 trainers to have had a winner at every course in the country. Happy retirement Patrick.
Geoff and Andy 09/03/10
After some serious negotiating over the Xmas period we are pleased to announce the arrival of another horse to the Mount Racing Club. A beautiful 2yo chestnut filly by Redback who was purchased at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Book 2 last year and comes with the Racing Post £10,000 Yearling Bonus attached to her.
Shares are now available in her and further details can be found on our Horses Page.
Geoff 26/01/10
Only time will tell but we think we might have pulled off a major coup for The Mount Racing Club by securing the services of Alphacino. This ultra tough and proven winning 2yo was claimed out of Mick Channons yard by Patrick who then alerted him to us. He is fit and ready to run and we fully expect him to take in a winter All Weather campaign before being schooled over hurdles.
There are still a few shares left him in but we expect them to sell fast so anyone who is interested should go to the HORSE PAGE for more details.
Andy 08/11/09
On the weekend 16th/17th January 2010 we are planning a stopover in Middleham. This gives owners the chance to arrive Saturday and have a wander around the village, maybe have a nice meal and meet up later on in the evening with the rest of the owners and have a relaxing few drinks around the pubs in Middleham. Next morning after a full English breakfast we can all visit Fleetwood Sands at the stable.
There is no set structure to the weekend but it is the ideal chance to relax and get to know other owners in the perfect surroundings of the village. Last time we stayed over we chose the Richard 3rd Hotel which has excellent food and accommodation but we can recommend anywhere in the village. More details can be found at www.middlehamonline.com.
Many thanks
Geoff & Andy 26/10/09
That was the news we got from trainer Patrick Haslam today as we watched Fleetwood Sands being put through his paces on the Middleham gallops. The plan now is to debut him on Thurs 25th June where he is entered at both Newcastle 2.30 and Hamilton 7.30. Both races are over 6 furlongs and a decision will be made nearer the time as to which if any entry he takes.
All the details can be found by clicking on the Horse Page.
We only have a limited number of shares left now and anyone who wants to get involved should contact us through the details on the Home Page.
Andy 20/06/09
Following our latest visit to see Fleetwood Sands, good reports continue to come from both the trainer and stable jockeys about our horse’s progression. Following his gelding operation he is back in full training and is working well.
Assistant trainer Ben Haslam told us he has improved a lot, getting stronger both physically and mentally, and even though you would look to start him off over 6f he should develop into a nice miler. These comments were echoed by stable jockey Paul Mulrennan who said he has a nice strong feel about him and is looking forward to riding him.
We are looking to debut with him in about 6-8 weeks and still have some shares available so now is the perfect time to get on board. See our Horse Page for further details.
Geoff 23/03/09
And we certainly hope it will be as we unveil our new official Mount Racing Club silks. Theses are the colours [right] which we hope are going to be carried into many a winner’s enclosure in 2009 and beyond.
So if you fancy joining a winning team in 2009 or have any other queries or questions then don’t hesitate to get in touch through the contact details on our Home Page.
Andy 09/01/09
January 1st saw a double celebration for our horse; firstly he is now officially a 2yo Colt, and secondly he has been named. After much discussion with our owners we decided on ‘FLEETWOOD SANDS’ because Fleetwood is our home town and Sands is after its famous Sire, the 2005 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand.
There are still shares available in FLEETWOOD SANDS and for more details go to our Horse Page.
We are pleased to report that its good news from the stables as far as our Yearlings training schedule is concerned. Head Lad Darren King told us that he has settled in nicely and has been an absolute dream to break in. He went on to say that so far our Yearling has handled all the training really well and is showing a great attitude in his work. Darren is looking forward to working with him in the coming months and thinks he could turn out to be a nice prospect.
Jockey Warren Cafferty who has been riding him told us that he was a pretty straight forward horse and he had a good feel about him, these words were echoed by fellow jockey Paddy Donaghy.
Geoff 12/11/08
When Ben Haslam said he could get us a bargain at the Newmarket Yearling sales we expected him to do well, but to say that we’re over the moon with his purchase would be an understatement. Ben managed to secure us a colt by the first season Coolmore sire Footstepsinthesand who won the 2,000 Guineas in 2005. Shares are now available and full details of prices and his pedigree are on Our Horse Page.
Andy 20/10/08
