National Hunt trainer Kim Bailey shares his thoughts on washed-off meetings, gratitude, and Frankie Dettori’s early jungle exit
What do a farmer and racehorse trainer have in common? It is not that many of us try to do both jobs, but that we all find a reason to moan about the weather.
Last Christmas we were complaining about the lack of water from the skies, hence virtually every racecourse was watering right into late January. This year, the sport is suffering from washed-off race meetings and small fields of horses who can cope with heavy ground. It has made planning and running horses a real nightmare.
Our Grade One-winning old boy First Flow is a prime example – his season’s target was Sunday’s Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, which was washed away by rising flood water. First Flow is about to turn 12 and still seems to love his racing, but it was frustrating to miss a race in which he had a golden chance.
The weather has been testing for all, not least the clerks of the course. I was at Chepstow on Saturday, where Libby O’Flaherty achieved miracles to call her meeting on. Libby is one of the new breed of clerks of the course who really know their racecourses and she is gaining huge respect from trainers for her honest approach, which is pretty hard to achieve as trainers are an unforgiving lot!
Finding positivity
It is quite difficult to be positive about anything in either the agricultural or equine world at the moment, but to put things into perspective, we had an equine vet from Ukraine here last week. I believe he was one of a very few who, along with his young family, was allowed out of their home country.
Listening to the horror stories of what he left behind makes you realise how incredibly lucky we are that we live where we do. He could not believe how fortunate he was to be standing in the rain and cold at the Chaddesley Corbett point-to-point racecourse – to him it was a holiday and a luxury.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Perhaps we should be thankful for what we have and forget the woes racing faces, be it staff shortages, lack of prize money or financial problems due to the new gambling commission.
Racing also showed that it is not a universally popular or particularly well-known sport when Frankie Dettori was kicked out of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! He was probably surprised to be first past the post in a way he has never experienced before, as first out. The public apparently did not bond to him.
The busiest day of the sporting year
We are heading for the busy festive period and time off for our hard-working team is difficult to organise. Staff parties keep many happy for the night, but the following morning the head hurts and horses need mucking out and then of course horses buck and faff about making you feel all the worse for wear, but we know that is all part of the pleasure of the job.
Christmas is a time to be with your families, but horses have their own families and they are those who look after them. Horses don’t know what day it is, but they like routine, and need looking after 24/7. Then of course there is hunting or racing on Boxing Day – the busiest day of the sporting year.
So to finish, I would like to wish all who work with horses a very jolly and happy Christmas. Enjoy and treasure your animals as much as they treasure you. These dark, cold and wet days will soon be behind us and 2024 will bring spring in the air.
● How have you dealt with winter weather woes this year? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future edition of Horse & Hound magazine
This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 14 December, 2023
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
National Hunt trainer Kim Bailey has sent out more than 1,300 winners including triumphing in the Grand National with Mr Frisk, the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Master Oats and the Champion Hurdle with Alderbrook. Kim comes from a background steeped in jump racing and is absolutely passionate about the sport. Having started his career in leading jumps yards of Captain Tim Forster and Fred Rimell before starting on his own, he has a wealth of experience. He trains from a state of the art training facility at Thorndale Farm in the Cotswolds with an enthusiastic support team and an exciting selection of horses.
