The bedrock. Where foundations are laid. Where journeys begin, and dreams take flight…
Point to Pointing. Tables groaning under pies and sandwiches and bubbling stews. Beer in plastic cups. Corks pulled from decent vintages. Dogs taking owners for zig zagging walks. Beer tent. The Weighing Room a billowing white marquee. Several seasons in a few hours. Warmth in the sun and then sleeting hail – England, their England….
Seasoned professionals. Young guns. Brave and bonkers as they drive down to the last. The commentator high on a scaffold about a furlong from the winning post. “Judge needed”. The announcer straight out of a 1950’s Pathe reel. “Will the contestants for the dog most like owner competition please head to the ring now….”
Four and five, and even seven, runners in the races. Bookmakers calling the odds. Odds that should have made them blush. But the queues were long. Favourites going in. The last, a three runner contest, with a market that opened up – 4/6, 4/6, 4/1….??!!
All good stripped back raw countryside fun. A decent crowd. Weather the key…
Great plans and innovations and ideas swirling around these Epsom parts. The Hill is a key factor. The weather will define. If the sun shines, they will come – and there will be atmosphere and fun and local engagement and positivity. Dark and doom laden clouds, stay away…!!
“Stripped back raw countryside fun” – take that to the Hill, and I’m sure they will come. “Take That” would help as well, but I guess that is a long shot…
Talk of us hosting potential foreign runners that might travel for the Derby Festival. No surprise that the BHA are already coming up with staggeringly onerous protocols. But we will work away as foreign runners are nothing but a positive addition to any raceday…
