And he’s off! (From Living Northeast)

And he’s off!

11:52am Tuesday 23rd February 2010 in

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The man responsible for all the behind the scenes work at Ripon, which recently picked up the award for best small racecourse in the North, explains what happens on a typical race day.

AT THE end of a race meeting, some people go home with more money, some with less. Others leave with the memory of a great day out. And as the last of the thousands of race fans head out of the car park, and as the last few horses are boxed up and heading home the work of the racecourse employees and related staff is winding down too.

At Ripon, a small army of 200, led by clerk of the course James Hutchinson see days of effort and toil culminate in four hours of racing excitement, betting agony and ecstasy.

So what does happen during the build-up to a race meeting? Here, James takes us behind the scenes at Ripon Racecourse.

❛THE excitement begins to build six days before the meeting. One of the first jobs I do is walk the entire course to inspect the track and assess the going. This is the term given to the ground conditions on the days leading up to the meeting.

Owners and trainers follow the announcements of the ground conditions very closely – it can mean the difference between their star horse running or not. Some horses are mudlarks – they love the heavy, muddy ground of soft going, and others only perform well on good to firm going. What I officially declare six days before a race, and then again two days before and finally – with the final and official going – on the morning of the meeting hugely influences the horses that owners and trainers commit to the meeting.

Trainers assess the conditions and the going we have set and decide what horses they want to commit to the meeting. They then have to let Weatherbys – the official organisation that registers runners and riders at every meeting in the country know of their intention of racing at Ripon five days before the meeting. Weatherbys also produces the race card to accompany the race meeting, which is sent to Ripon two or so days before the meeting, and they also send us a fax the day before the meeting with the definitive running card. Once the selected horses come to Ripon, we provide the facilities to look after them to the manner in which to which they are accustomed.

Each race day we go through 200 huge bags of shredded paper or wood shavings. The shavings provide a soft bed for the horses in the stables. The grooms bring the horses to the pre-parade ring either 45 minutes before, or one race before, their own race.

Here the grooms get the horses ready for the big moment – last-minute shoe or blinker adjustments, one more check on the girths, and then they begin to walk… and walk… and walk… the horses around the pre-parade ring.

They then move in to the parade ring where they are walked… and walked… and walked… some more. Serious punters always watch the horses in the pre-parade ring as well as the parade ring. They can pick up little hints and tips by the way the horse is reacting to the groom as well as the jockey when he or she mounts up in the parade ring.

The excitement also mounts as the jockeys are called to the starting gates. They’re under starters orders...

nd they’re off! Thundering hooves, striving jockeys, the thousand-voiced shouts of the crowd. And then it’s over.

The first three horses return to triumph to the Weighing Room where the winning owner and trainer – not to mention horse and jockey – bask in the adulation of the crowd.

One thing we do at Ripon is present the winning owner and trainer with a videotape of the race and a glass or two of champagne in our Winners’ Room. The champagne is out of one of the selection of bottles sold at Ripon every race meeting. Hospitality and catering now takes centre stage.

Our catering partners, Craven Gilpin & Sons, provide around 90 staff each meeting to man the five restaurants and cafes, ten bars and various fast food outlets.

Each meeting, our racegoers plough through hundreds of sandwiches, packets of crisps, pints of beer and lager, chips, cups of tea and coffee and hot meals.

Ripon itself has its own army of staff that make sure the meeting goes smoothly. Some of our helpers have been working at Ripon for more than 20 years – the key to their longevity is the buzz and excitement of the course during a meeting.

From car park attendants, gatemen and racecard sellers through to tamper-ins – the chaps you see walking the course after each race tamping down the track – the work is varied but essential. With more than 100 years at our current location, we make sure each meeting goes smoothly for the owners, trainers, jockeys and, most importantly, the race fans.

Sadly, there is one thing we can’t control – the weather.

Standing in the rain is no fun for anyone. That’s why I hate to see rain or cold weather during a race meeting.

My goal for each race day is that everybody goes home happy.

WIN A JOINT ANNUAL BADGE TO RIPON RACES

RIPON Racecourse is offering the chance to win a Joint Annual Badge to Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse. The Annual Badges for two people – worth £215 – give unlimited access to some of the finest racing and cricket in the county. An Annual Badge gives you free admission to every fixture of the season at Ripon with the benefit of reserved car parking at the course entrance and access to an exclusive reserved bar and viewing balcony with the best of Ripon’s hospitality. Annual Badge Holders are also invited to exchange day race meetings at 18 other racecourses all around the country and ten days of Yorkshire County Cricket absolutely free. The 2010 season of 15 fixtures at Ripon opens on Thursday, April 15, and includes six weekend meetings as well as Ladies’ Day on Thursday, June 17, which always provides a fabulous opportunity to don your hats and dress up to the nines.

To win a Joint Annual Badge for you and your partner, simply answer the following question: What is the date of this year’s Ladies’ Day at Ripon Racecourse?

Send your answer to Ripon Racecourse Competition, Living Magazine, PO Box 14, Priestgate, Darlington DL1 1NF. The closing date is March 22 and usual Newsquest competition rules apply.

Further details regarding annual memberships can be found at ripon-races.co.uk