Faced with a hectic seven meetings per week schedule, the Henlow trainers and management like the occasional night off – to go dog racing.
‘Team Savana’ as they describe themselves, arrived mob-handed at Romford on Friday and came away with a treble for promoter Kevin Boothby and a double for the Makeit Syndicate.
Savana Ched (4-1) and Savana Bacardi (10-1) picked up the first two races for trainers Jason Bloomfield and Frank Gray. Frank also won with Droopys Beetle and Makeit Tiger. The Graham Payne trained Savana Jessica (6-4jf) picked up £500 Standard Final.
Promoter Kevin Boothby said: “There were probably about 15 or more of us. We head to the pub first for a couple of drinks and then over into the track where they always look after us.
“There is such a great atmosphere. Back at Henlow, they are in opposition, but when we go to Romford all the kennels support each other. They cheer home each other’s winners. Despite having the track, I still love going racing as an owner.
“I think the Romford lads are getting used to us now and they have realised that we can win opens with dogs graded in A6 and A7 at our own place. I really fancied Bacardi but they made him a 10-1 shot. I wish they were still running the Track Championships, we would take some beating.”
Boothby himself has more than 100 runners in training “I don’t know exactly how many, but they include some very exciting young dogs.”
The apple of her owners eye though remains TV Trophy winner Savana Winner.
He said: “She has been off for eight weeks with a neck injury but is due back shortly. We are aiming to go for the Dorando Marathon”.
