Latest news with #EpsomDerby
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Young horse dies during Royal Ascot as TV presenter reveals heartbreaking news during live coverage
Harry's Girl opened her lungs on her debut at Newmarket in April, before finishing fifth at York in May, but sadly could not make it round the bend in the Queen Mary Stakes The second day of Royal Ascot began on a sombre note with the untimely passing of Harry's Girl. This was only the third outing for the filly, who had secured a victory at her first race in Newmarket during April, followed by a run at York in May. Tragically, under the care of trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Sean Levey, she sustained an injury early into the five-furlong contest. Ascot Racecourse released a statement lamenting the loss: "Unfortunately, Harry's Girl suffered a fatal injury during The Queen Mary Stakes," they said. "Our thoughts go out to all connections at this time." During ITV Racing's live coverage of the event, presenter Ed Chamberlain conveyed the heartbreaking update, acknowledging that the incident 'cast a shadow' over True Love's win. He announced: "We've just had this confirmed by Ascot - Harry's Girl did suffer a fatal injury. Our thoughts go out to connections. It's desperately sad for the Hannon team after their celebration with yesterday's winner Haatem." The sorrowful news follows the recent demise of another of Hannon's horses, Norman's Cay, at the Epsom Derby meet only a few weeks prior. Meanwhile, True Love, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by jockey Ryan Moore, triumphantly claimed her first win. Coming off the back of a second-place finish behind Gstaad in Tuesday's Coventry Stakes, True Love entered the race as the 9-4 favourite and lived up to expectations. She took a while to find her rhythm in the race as Zelaina set a blistering early pace, but she rallied impressively in the final furlong to outpace 100-1 outsider Flowerhead, with Patrick Biancone's American contender Lennilu coming in third. This victory marks O'Brien's inaugural win in the Queen Mary. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Veteran horseman Tim Drake says bringing a new life into the world never gets old
KING CITY – From February through June, after a long day's work, Tim Drake might be found overnighting in a room the size of a closet at the end of the barn at Silver Duck Stable. Inside there's two battered La-Z-Boy chairs, a small TV and an array of video screens showing stalls in the barn. The no-fills nook allows the 62-year-old stable owner to be close — with an alarm set for every 30 minutes overnight to stay on point — while waiting for a mare to foal. And when he sees telltale signs on the screen, he jumps into action. 'You've got to love it. It's not something you ever get rich on. You make a living, but I do love it. I really do,' said Drake. 'People look at me like I'm nuts. Maybe I am.' The moment the mare bonds with the foal makes it all worthwhile, however. The miracle of life and motherhood wins him over every time. 'That's why I do it,' he said. 'I tell you as long as I've foaled mares, you'd think it'd get to be routine. It never ever does. Never ever … If that don't move you a little bit, you've got no heart.' It doesn't come easy. After starting work in the barn at 4:30 or 5 a.m., Drake catches a few hours sleep in the afternoon. Wife Suzanne, a trainer at nearby Woodbine, sometimes spells him for a few hours overnight, allowing Drake to catch a few hours sleep in the La-Z-Boy. 'I go home once a day and have a shower and that's the only time I see home,' said Drake. 'It's a way of life. It's not really a job,' he added. 'That's what you live for.' Jo Maglietta, the assistant farm manager, echoes that view. 'It doesn't matter how many years you've done it or how may you've seem, it always is the most exhilarating experience ever,' said the 42-year-old Maglietta, who has worked at Silver Duck for some 17 years. 'Just to see that new life and the connection the mums and the babies make, it's really cool. It's really special.' It's that kind of devotion that prompts owners to send their mares to Silver Duck Stable. 'I like to have them three weeks to a month ahead (of the due date), at least,' Drake explained. 'The reason is just so you can kind of get used to them, their habits and whatnot.' That homework helps Drake know when a mare starts acting out of character and the foal is coming. Plus the weeks in advance of the birth allow the mare to get used to him. And it helps to be on good terms with an animal weighing 1,300 pounds in a small stall. One of Drake's loyal owners is Charles Fipke, a member of both the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, who sends horses from Kentucky. But mostly he handles Ontario-bred horses these days. Fipke, whom Drake refers to as Mr. Fipke, entrusted Drake with several mares who were pregnant by Galileo, an Irish-bred star that won the Irish Stakes and England's Epsom Derby and was named European Champion Three-Year-Old Colt of 2001. Galileo's huge stud fee did not go unnoticed at Silver Duck Stable. But Drake's down-to-earth approach soon took over. 'I mean they all foal the same,' he said. 'A cheap horse foals the same as an expensive one. It's just when you've got one that's almost a million-dollar stud fee, it puts a little bit of pressure on you to get everything done right.' In the past, Drake's stable has foaled as many as 35 in a year. This year has been more manageable with Drake and Maglietta waiting on one last mare to deliver. When they arrives, the foals weigh between 90 and 130 pounds. A couple of years ago, they had four mares foal in a 24-hour period. 'It was pretty hectic,' he recalled. After foaling season is over, Drake's stable looks after horses recovering from injury or surgery. The Milton Equine Clinic, University of Guelph and the nearby King Animal Hospital all use Drake. 'Surgery's important but the after-care's just as important,' said Drake. He says there are more good days than bad days. But there are times when the birthing mare needs more help, prompting an emergency call to the vet and perhaps a trip to hospital. On rare occasion, the mare may also reject the foal, necessitating the use of a surrogate mare. The stable is located on part of Kinghaven Farms, once a thriving thoroughbred racing outfit. While the Wilmot family still has some horses, its focus now is on producing honey, eggs and greenhouse lettuce on the property, Drake has had his corner of the farm for some 12 years. Silver Duck was on the former Kinghaven Farms location for some 15 years. The stable is small but functional, guarded outside by a small statue of a jockey — not to mention Brody, Daisy and Delilah — Drake's three dogs. Vets are not usually present at the birth because they can't get there in time. Drake says if all goes well, the vet gets involved the day after. The vet adds to the tests already done by Drake. That includes checking the colostrum, the first milk produced by the mare that is rich in antibodies vital for building the foal's immune system. Drake reckons he has foaled more than 800 mares over the last 40 years or so. But he's smart enough to know there's always something new to learn. 'I still see things that I've never seen before. And I guess that's what keeps your interest in.' 'Any time you think you know it all, they'll just make you a liar,' he added with a chuckle. Drake grew up around horses in Englehart, Ont., some 540 kilometres north of Toronto. After high school, he headed west on a one-way train ticket with $40 in his pocket. The initial job never came through and he ended up working at a gas station/car wash for $1.90 an hour. Then he got a job with the late Lord Roderic Gordon, who had thoroughbred horses. He ended up at Harlequin Ranches in Alberta under the late Richard Bonnycastle. When the stable was moved to Ontario, Drake came too. When that farm was sold, Drake turned down an offer to go to England to work and stayed in Ontario, working for Jim Day, a former equestrian champion and thoroughbred trainer, and the late Gustav Schickedanz. 'I learned a lot from Jimmy. He was a pretty good horseman,' said Drake. He then opened his own stable, which at its height housed 80 or 90 horses. He chose the name Silver Duck, a nod to drake being the male duck. 'We thought it would be a little extravagant wishing for gold so we thought 'Well we'll go with silver. Keep it modest,'' he said with a chuckle. His goal is simple. Make things as easy for the mare, whose pregnancy usually last 11 months and five days, and foal as possible. Once a mare's water breaks, usually the foal shows up with a half-hour. Drake has to ensure the foal comes out the right way with the front legs and head first. If that's not the case, he literally gets hands on — and hands in — to help get the foal in the right position. Drake and helpers may then have to help pull the foal out. There are rare times when the mare rejects the foal, which in a worst-case scenario requires a nurse mare to help tend the newborn. The mare and foal will stay a few weeks at the stable for at least a few weeks before returning home. Most of the foals will end up on a racetrack. 'We sure hope so. If everything goes good,' said Drake. He looks beyond a horse's resume, however. Each one has a personality. 'Winning a cheap race to me is just as good a feeling as winning a stakes race. It's not as lucrative but your horse got there ahead of everyone else's,' he said. 'And you're proud of the work that you did. You're so proud of the horse and the work that he did. 'Because it's not always the fastest horse wins the race. A horse has got to have a little bit of heart. The trainer's got to have done his job. The jockey does his or her job. The groom and the hot-walker. It's a team effort.' And it starts with Drake. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Charlie rules the sport of kings: Royal Ascot more popular than ever
Even before the meeting starts, ticket sales for the five-day affair are an impressive 15,000 up on 2024. When Britain's Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, horse racing lost its most famous fan and some in the chattering classes reckoned it was the beginning of the end of the ancient sport – at least in the UK. Those notions were premature. Racing in some places has been in a bit of a slump, but Royal Ascot, the meeting most associated with Elizabeth – and the one she most enjoyed – is stronger than ever. On Tuesday this week, Ascot racecourse, 40km west of central London, marks the 200th anniversary of the iconic royal procession at the showpiece race meeting. Before that even takes place, ticket sales for the five-day affair are an impressive 15,000 up on 2024 – which itself set a new attendance record. Recent Epsom Derby and Cheltenhams jumps meetings saw declines in broad public interest, but the royal element of this week's extravaganza is said to have made a difference. In 1825, King George IV was the first monarch to make his way, in a horse-drawn carriage, up Ascot's one-mile straight course from his residence in nearby Windsor Castle. King Charles III will be the ninth British monarch to do so when he pitches up on Tuesday, with gentlemen in the huge crowd doffing their ridiculous top hats in respect. The Guardian newspaper, vaguely lefty and no cheerleader of monarchy, ran a surprisingly positive story about Royal Ascot at the weekend. It even highlighted the event's key role in promoting foreign direct investment and dubbed it 'a version of Davos for sovereign wealth'. 'Traditions make it special' Nick Smith, the track's public affairs director, was quoted saying: 'Royal Ascot is one of Britain's most powerful soft power assets. It is a major promotion of the British summertime overseas, and a major promotion of British sport. And if you're presented with a trophy by the king and queen, you can't replicate that experience and that means an awful lot to an awful lot of people. 'At the heart of it all, it's the traditions that make it special. The procession is broadly unchanged in 200 years, and it's the same with the dress codes, not just in the Royal enclosure but throughout the entire site. People who come to Royal Ascot know what they want to see and they know what they're going to get.' Perhaps unexpectedly, the current king and queen have been keen attendees in recent years and are booked for all five days this time. They have a sprinkling of their own runners and there is a buzz around Willie Mullins-trained Reaching High in the Ascot Stakes on opening day. Reaching High was one of the last horses bred by Elizabeth, and a son of Estimate, the mare whose success in the 2013 Gold Cup was the most cherished of all the late queen's Royal Ascot winners. Durban July So, is pomp and pageantry the way to go in promoting racing in other parts? Staunchly republican places like America and South Africa – and, dare we say, Australia – put on a bit of a show for major race meetings. Money and effort from sponsors raise the glam level on special days, but none have kings with the pulling power of the Brits – and even politicians who pose as emperors can plainly be seen to have no clothes. Perhaps true heroes can be roped in? Put Temba Bavuma in a horse-drawn landau? Set rules for elegant African attire? Have evening singalongs with patriotic, nation-building songs (no, not that one!)? Speaking of tunes, Durban July sponsor Hollywoodbets has gone an extra mile in recruiting a bunch of popular musos to perform at South Africa's most important race meeting at Greyville next month. Mafikizolo and Lira top the bill of seven acts which seems mainly aimed at a younger set – which is good, of course. As much as old-timers might enjoy belting out standards like 'My Old Kentucky Home', as the crowd does at the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, or 'Hey Jude', as it does at Royal Ascot, giving young, potentially new, punters a catchy ditty to hum as they play the ponies seems like something worth trying.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ascot can lift mood after Derby doom and gloom with five days of royal glamour, star runners and a racing spectacle fit for the world stage, writes ED CHAMBERLIN
What a difference a week will make. From the doom and gloom of Epsom and its empty hill to the promise of something quite spectacular at Royal Ascot, five days that will illustrate everything great about British racing. Why are the two occasions so different? It would have been unthinkable during the late Queen's reign for her not to be at Epsom on Derby Day but the lack of a Royal presence seven days ago certainly contributed to how flat everything felt. The occasion, for so many reasons, isn't resonating with the nation. We had an audience of 1.3million on ITV, an improvement from 12 months ago but still nothing to write home about. In contrast, when we started covering racing in 2017, our ambition was to get one million-plus watching on midweek afternoons — we hope to do that on all five days next week. People can't get enough of Ascot and that's because the course has moved with the times, making it an occasion for everyone. When the Royal procession goes down the track, it passes a complete cross section of society within 500 yards. You have the picnickers on the Heath to those dining in the restaurant of Yannick Alleno, a chef with 17 Michelin stars; you'll have students there for a good time rubbing shoulders with aristocrats. Tickets are selling fast and Ascot expect close to 300,000 across the five days. It was all doom and gloom at Epsom on Derby Day just seven days ago This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Royal procession and Ascot, a racecourse in tune with their local community, have invited 500 kids from local schools on course to see the spectacle. It remains as relevant as it has ever been. My hope is the Princess of Wales will be there with the Prince on Wednesday for the blockbuster race named in his honour. I'd love to see David and Victoria Beckham in the carriages one day, too, as they would carry racing on to the front pages. I argued on these pages last year how I would love to see places reserved in the procession for the NHS heroes and heroines, to spread the love around, but the meeting is so successful I'll leave all decisions for the powers-that-be. Ascot's biggest selling point, however, is that Felicity Barnard — the new chief executive — knows what matters. For all the pomp, pageantry and popping corks, everything revolves around horses. Everyone wants to be here, with runners arriving from America, Japan, Australia, Spain and Norway. And, at the heart of it, we will be looking for a winner. Betting will be central to our coverage and my idea of a 'good thing' is Shadow Of Light in Friday's Commonwealth Cup. I can't wait. This is Ascot: historic and in fashion — and the reason everyone will be watching. BETS OF THE WEEK: Aside from Shadow Of Light, I expect REACHING HIGH to win Tuesday's Ascot Stakes for the King and Queen. I'm also hearing positive vibes for FITZELLA in the Albany Stakes on Friday.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
How to fix the Epsom Derby: DOMINIC KING on a radical plan to revive racing's big disappointment
The debate is raging for one simple reason – people care. When an event that formed part of so many childhoods and created so many legends doesn't shimmer as it once used to, the fallout is often noisy and won't go away. This is where Epsom's Derby finds itself. Lambourn, Aidan O'Brien's eleventh winner of the ultimate flat race, has barely been mentioned since Saturday and that cannot be right. There was no luck around the colt's display of raw power and relentless galloping, he was by far the best in the field. But the reason that nobody is talking about the performance is down to the entire show. The noise on social media, the reporting in the Racing Post and the volume of emails this correspondent has received in recent days, all centred on the Derby and its relevance show the depth of feeling. Saturday, as an occasion, felt hugely disappointing. Walking around the course, it was impossible to shake the feeling that Epsom has been neglected even more so than Kempton, which always finds itself in the eye of a storm after it stages The King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. Spectators in a variety of enclosures remarked how the facilities were not up to standard; the course commentary, depending on where you were standing, was muffled or inaudible and the lack of screens to show the action was disappointing. There can be no doubt that many of the crowd who went to the races on Saturday wouldn't have been aware they were on track for the kind of race that makes you want to come back for more as they head straight to the end of the site that had a huge beer hall and later welcomed DJs. Away from The Derby, which will be sponsored by Betfred until the end of 2026, there wasn't really anything to excite. After Lambourn had secured his place in history, the quality of racing resembled a wet Monday at Redcar, not an event that attracts interest from all around the world. We argued in this space last Saturday morning that Epsom should be the only card when the Derby is being staged and nothing that happened last weekend changed that view. If anything, we should go further and be totally revolutionary. Why not have an eight-race super card, one that starts at 3pm and finishes at 7pm with the Derby as the last race – there would be a peak time Saturday evening audience tuning before the family entertainment programmes. On the card you would have the Coronation Cup, run over the same mile-and-a-half course as the Derby; Epsom could also potentially take the Temple Stakes from Haydock Park, a straight five furlong dash and sell it around the possibility of seeing the fastest horse on the planet. The straight five furlongs at Epsom descends like a ski jump and the sight and sound of sprinters thundering past crowded stands at 40mph would be breathtaking. Never forget that racing is all about the majesty and power of the horse – they are the true stars of the game. Jim Allen, Epsom's new general manager, is aware of all this. He told me this week his first challenge is to get the local community onside and make them proud of what is on their doorstep. The town centre last weekend felt as underwhelming as the course and this has to change. Allen, an enthusiastic and passionate man, is determined to tap into all the stories that have been told at Epsom. It should be a venue that feels as special as walking to Wembley, Lord's, St Andrews, Twickenham or Silverstone: it's time to write another chapter and bring back former glories. Scampering Satono has what it takes The countdown to Royal Ascot has started in earnest and what a privilege it was to be on Newmarket's July course at daybreak on Wednesday to see some of the international runners. There aren't many more picturesque settings than the July Course in full bloom and those last words certainty applied to Satono River, the Japanese contender for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on Saturday week; he's been based at the stables of James Horton. Ryan Moore made a flying visit to partner the six-year-old in his gallop and the manner in which Satono Reve scampered away at the end of his work left you very much with the impression that he has what it takes to become Japan's first winner at the 11th attempt at the Royal meeting. 'After arriving from Hong Kong, Satono Reve had some time to recover before steadily building up his training,' said trainer Noriyouki Hori. 'It's a different environment from what he's used to but he's been coming along well thanks to the support of James, his team and everyone involved.' Nori is a man of few words and didn't give the impression he wanted to engage in any small talk but the forensic level of attention he was giving to Satono Reve showed no stone has been left unturned. He's primed to run for his life. Mullins' Royal pride Regular readers will know all about the pride Willie Mullins felt when he was given the opportunity to become the first Irishman to train a horse for the reigning monarchs. Reaching High, who started his career in the care of Sir Michael Stoute, moved to Mullins's Closutton base two months ago and has been brought along slowly. The idea is to have the gelding cherry ripe for an assignment in next Tuesday's Ascot Stakes and the vibes are positive. It has been noticeable that The Queen has been an increasingly visible presence on courses – she was at Hexham last week – and her wishes is to see the Royal horses run well at the meeting that matters most. Reaching High is 10/1 currently and there would be worse each-way wagers. Rutter to expand his stable Georginio Rutter, once of Leeds United and now plying his trade at Brighton, was at Epsom on Saturday and his passion for racing is huge. His horse Bopedro, trained in Yorkshire by David O'Meara, finished sixth in one of the races at the Derby. It wasn't difficult to come to the conclusion, though, that he will be adding to his stable in the coming months. He had several conversations with the excellent Richard Hannon during the afternoon and it would be a smart move to have runners with him SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND: Competitive cards this weekend means it's prudent to keep your powder dry for Ascot. Backing BELIEVING at 4/1 for the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday would be a much more sensible course of action. George Boughey's filly is in fine form.
