Month: September 2017

York stage fabulous Novice Finals

Posted on by clarissa

The Charles Owen Novice Finals were staged at York at the weekend and as always provided 2 very competitive races. Harry Davies on Little Anne won the 138 cm race and Owen Lewis riding Bongo Bay won the 148 cm race. Both were competitively fought and all the riders showed how much they had learnt and improved over the season.

William Derby, Chief Executive of York Racecourse, said the children “rode and conducted themselves with great credit”.
 


 

York Racecourse are always very welcoming hosts and made it possible for the PRA to be able to give the families, who support and drive the children around the country, a lovely day out at the races.

The Novice Series goes from strength to strength with 5 qualifiers this season leading up to the finals. All the points count towards the Charles Owen Series and therefore towards the Finals at Newmarket in October.

With only 2 fixtures left, places in the Charles Owen Finals are being hard fought for and parents will be driving as far as Bath and Musselburgh in order to gain much needed points.

 

Tom Marquand lands first Group win

Posted on by clarissa

3 years after graduating from pony racing Tom Marquand continues to hit the headlines. He was Champion Apprentice in his first year of racing, rode out his claim within the first couple of years and has now landed his first Group 1 winner for his boss Richard Hannon on Anna Nerium at Salisbury racecourse.

Hollie Doyle, who also works for Richard Hannon and started in pony racing, also rode her first Group 1 winner earlier this season.

Both Tom and Hollie work hard and have always shown determination and grit to get to the top. Even when they were pony racing – and even when they weren’t always in the winners enclosure – it was obvious to all those watching that they had the work ethic and talent to get to the top.

Pony racing is where it all started for Tom and Hollie. To see the up and coming jockeys of the future come to the Charles Owen finals at Newmarket on Future Champions Day – 14th October 2017.