Chloe and Cory Win First Time Out!

On Easter Monday Chloe McHattie had her first point-to-point ride at Corbridge on Ask Cory in the Novice Riders and Veterans race.  She made this a winning debut and sending Cory on three out, he held on strongly up the hill to win by 4 lengths in the joint fastest time of the day.   This was a brilliant start for Chloe who has been helped by Brian Harding and also Brian Hughes very kindly schooled with her after racing at Musselburgh on the 1^st March so she has had advice from the very top!

Chloe McHattie and Ask Cory winning at Corbridge

At last, we have taken delivery of our new horse box but it has been well worth the wait.  Painted in dark green with the Fitzdares logo, it has been custom made to James’s own design including fully flexible partition arrangement, extra windows for ventilation, air conditioning and camera so the horses will travel in great comfort.

The Smart New Horsebox

We are starting to do a series on social media of our owners’ experiences.   When it comes to Colin and Eileen Kesson, they are two of the very best and Thistle Ask’s win at Ayr made it their 32^nd success.

Numero Un De Solzen was the first way back in 2005 at Carlisle.   Then Open De Lisle won 6 times over the next three years.

Ascot De Bruyere was another notable six-time winner followed by many others and more recently, Hold Onto the Line, Lake Takapuna and Brayhill in the current season.

                                                       Colin and Eileen Kesson with Brayhill and Sarah McHattie after his win at Kelso

Here is the Kessons’ summary of almost two decades of ownership with James Ewart Racing

“Winning is everything! James has given us 32 winners in the 18 years he has trained our horses which is a fantastic record and we’ve celebrated every one.  Since we ventured into horse ownership at James Ewart Racing we have always had a share in at least one horse; in the past 12 months we’ve had five wins from shares in four horses. Move over Mr J.P.McManus! 

Early in 2005, Colin saw James interviewed on TV at Kelso and was so impressed by this young, eager trainer that we visited the yard the following day.  We have never doubted that decision. Since then, we have been welcomed to the yard by friendly stable staff who happily chat about the horses they are riding out and looking after.  James and Briony have been warm, welcoming and endlessly enthusiastic. Colin likes to talk with James about racing and Briony knows that I love to ‘hug a horse’ so she takes me off to the loose boxes for some therapy. 

Then there’s the race days!  By having shared ownership we have met so many like-minded people who love the horses, enjoy racing and enjoy sharing a bottle of champagne when the horse wins (you know who you are!).  The excitement starts when the horse is led into the parade ring.  The stable staff take the greatest pride in turning out the horses really well with the result that JE Racing has a brilliant record of winning ‘best turned out’.  Meeting the jockey before the race adds to the build-up. Of course, the horses don’t always win.  Sometimes James has to settle for a minor place (or even no place - shhhh!) but as owners we probably mind less than James. 

So, a big thank you to all the staff of James Ewart Racing and lots of love to James, Briony, Neil and Sally Ewart. Without you, racing would be a much poorer place – you have made it the best experience we could ever have hoped for and are looking forward to our next campaign in autumn 2023.

Eileen and Colin”

It was a great day for Scottish Racing last Saturday with Corach Rambler's win in the Grand National for Lucinda Russell and ridden by Derek Fox. This followed on from same duo's win with One For Arthur six years ago so an enviable training performance.   Corach Rambler then made a guest appearance at Kelso on Monday and Princess Anne was also there to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first race theld here on 16th April 1823 making it the oldest racecourse in Scotland with the original stand still in use!