Swindon have decided to cancel their open races scheduled for Sunday August 21 and also the Category 3 competition that was due to start on August 14.
Racing Manager Clive Oseman said: “We only stage one evening meeting each week and we had to find a slot for the Owners Bonus races. Cancelling the opens was our only option. It is slightly disappointing because they have been well subscribed in recent weeks. We have nine this Sunday coming but things will return to normal after the 21st.”
Sue Warren is hoping that entries for the 66th Two Year Old Produce Stakes will not be too badly hit by the Covid lockdown.
She said: “This year’s competition is open to 2020 whelps and breeding was definitely hit. We would normally expect to have around 100 litters entered but this year it is 55.”
Sue reminds trainers that provided the British bred litters were registered, there is a late entry option to pay for first and second stage entries. The closing date is 3pm Wednesday August 24.
Among the eligible British breds are: Ballyblack Speed, Romeo On Tilt, Witton Razl, Baggios Champ, Aidan McCoy, plus of course the brilliant litter out of Forest Natalee that includes Signets Otis, Denver and Goofy, Moments Of Magic, sleek By Design etc etc
Swindon racing manager Clive Oseman was confronted in the supermarket following the death earlier this week of local open racer Master Roo.
He said: “A woman approached me and said ‘I see you’ve killed another one’. I told her that the poor dog had almost certainly died of natural causes.”
Trainer Barry Johnson remains extremely distressed over the loss of ‘Rooster’ who is owned by Tom Steadman and collapsed after completing a hand-slip on Wednesday morning.
He said: “As he went around I shouted out ‘Rooster is back’, I was convinced he had gone well. But as we walked off he started to stagger and I had to carry him off. Vet Simon Gower gave him some injections and suggested that I phone Tom while we arranged to get him to a specialist. But within ten minutes I was told that he had been found dead in his kennel. He was lying on his back with his legs in the air, as he does when he was relaxing, so hopefully he didn’t suffer.
“It could be a heart attack but he is due for a post mortem when we will find out more. I don’t think I will ever get over it.”
The tragic loss of the kennel star has made life even more difficult for one of the sport’s most enthusiastic young trainers.
He said: “It is nearly impossible to progress. I only have four single kennels and now only two are occupied. One is a young half brother to Rooster, Grandpa Roo, plus Westcountry Lola who I am struggling to get races for. I am only a small kennel and the bigger kennels take priority. I am trying to raise a synidate for a bitch I am trying to buy in Ireland and will know later today whether I have managed it.
“I would really love to make a career in the industry but I don’t have the money for a fancy kennel and it can be very dispiriting.”
