Track "Good To Slop".

The continuing wet weather has meant a lot of work for Paul on the gallops,

but the horses are managing to slop through it.

Lingfield Lessons.

Linda sent four horses to Lingfield this morning so that they could work on a better surface and more importantly get used to the racecourse environment.

They all seemed untroubled by the new surroundings and took no notice of the constant stream of planes overhead approaching Gatwick.  Afterwards a couple of owners who had been to watch helped with the cooling down walk.

Battling The Elements

All the staff from Linda down have been working extra hard to keep the training of the horses going through the fearsome wet weather.  Rain from the road next to the gallop has meant that Paul has had to reinstate the all weather gallop on more than one occasion.

The water flows in from the road and inundates the gallops.

The horses have had to have their tails tied up before cantering, have had talcum powder applied to stop their heels from cracking and afterwards needed extra hosing down after work.

Tail tied up for the gallops.

Well done all the Southfield team for keeping the show on the road.

Lovely Start For Oli.

Oli had his first ride as an amateur jockey today at Wolverhampton on Ebony Belle, who had run the previous day at Chelmsford.  With plenty of support at the track and good wishes from the yard in the morning, Oli made his first entrance into a parade ring as a rider.

He was loaded last into the stalls and seconds later the gates opened.  He was not able to take one of the two leading positions but got Ebony Belle travelling towards the rear of the main pack.  He held this position for the first half of the race and then encouraged her to move forward.  The partnership were a little wide around the bend but then battled on up the straight to take seventh place (a big improvement on the night before) and even earned a little prize money.

Battling to the line in 7th (yellow silks)

Everyone was really pleased with the effort of both jockey and horse.