MARCUS WESTGATE
Our thanks to Yarmouth racing manager Marcus Westgate who – when asked for some latest news on the tracks – penned this interesting piece. Marcus may soon be challenging the Birmingham Bard alias Perry Barr’s Martin Seal who could find work as a journalist should he ever choose to sink that low. Enjoy. . .ED.
It’s been a hell of a ride so far this year, being on the new ARC service coupled with RPGTV, it feels like it’s all guns blazing at Yarmouth. We’re settling in well so far, hopefully viewers can see that we’re trying our very best to put on a good show, and the feedback so far has been relatively good.
What with the disastrous kick in the teeth that was the closure of Mildenhall, we were lucky enough to take on a few extra trainers. It’s not the way I would have liked it to happen, but we’re just happy accommodate and in turn increase the strength a little. So far, we have Derek Brighton, David Prentice, Colin Finch all coming to join the ranks, additionally from Henlow Kevin Cobbold. Keith Munnings is also joining from Mildenhall, who trialled on Tuesday just gone, and with the surprise of not having to pay for trials, generously popped £20 in to the Greyhound Homefinders pot, which as always is greatly appreciated by all of us at Yarmouth.
Our set of handicap traps are heading this way and should be with us by March, and with it a little bit more variety. Loved by some, hated by others, one things for sure the Racing Office may need a little refresher course, maybe a trip away could be the answer to refresh the memory. It’s been what seems an eternity since my friend and Ex-Racing Manager Nigel Long tried to decipher and handicap the entire qualified racing strength ready for the Bass Charrington Cup, usually at the end of September, straight after the Derby. Ah, those were the days……not. But Handicaps will mix things up a little, and why not.
Dogs to watch this month with a flash run in the A1’s are Active Recruit with a tidy 27.99 win at 6/4F and Burgess Bob beating Wordsmith in a 27.95. Both running extremely well, these dogs are as we speak being graded back in an A1 this coming Thursday. They’ll be joined by Yarmouth Championship winner Oh YesYesYes, and another top contender Irene Barnard’s Fleetwood Royal.
Shaping up nicely with an added £190 to become ‘The Henry Rogers Memorial Trophy’, Jim Daly has kindly added the extra in memory of his friend and colleague Henry. Another top gent of the game, whenever he brought dogs to the scales would announce himself as ‘William H. Rogers here!’, and we’d have a bit of banter and chat, and a laugh. William H. Rogers you are sorely missed my friend.
Keep an eye on Beaming Storm (Godsend-Finally Arrived, Aug 13) in the sprints running at the top of it’s game at the moment. The race he in on Saturday is a definite notch up in grade, and is the best graded sprint we’ve had in while. A lack of fast paced dogs on the inside has been the problem, but with Adoras Sapient now qualified back over the distance, it now means we can get back on with some top graded sprints.
Shaping up nicely is a top grade 659 S1+, they’re coming together soon and with a line up including Swift Molly, Thymelea Audrey, Droopys Eager and Burgess Bob, should be a thrill of a ride. We are getting to the point where some of the 659 runners are going to be qualified over our Marathon trip, and be joined by the very late running, Erica Samuels trained bitch, Tullymurry Beech. Always wanting more over the 659, the Crayford form has been noted along with the Drumbo marathon win over 835, albeit a couple of years ago.
To be honest I can’t wait to see this bitch run the trip, I just need to get the race together, maybe not the ‘New Year Marathon’, possibly the ‘Just After New Year Marathon’.
Two new pups to keep an eye on, both July’16, so still very young. But with Bugatti Benson (Kinloch Brae-Rubi Light) stealing the win in the A2 Thursday night, this pup seems there’s only one way to go, onwards and upwards. Another joining him in the grade will be Collswood Hawk (Top Honcho-Swift Lady) with 2 wins out of 4, and one of them beating Benson in the A2, this is another youngster steering itself in the right direction, these two are heading for a showdown this coming Thursday.
Finally, apologies to all watching RPGTV this Saturday night, Darrell Williams and camera man Richard have done a little stint filming at Yarmouth and have a few bits and pieces to show. I can barely remember my interview to be honest, keeping in mind that I like to keep a low profile with these kinds of things, it was pretty nerve racking, and I’m not sure I’m showing my best side….literally.
They spent time with trainers and staff, and hopefully got a good overview of the track and people. Mr. Ben Mannall took them for a tour around the Racing Office also, which should provide an insight in to where we are and what we do. Anyway, fingers crossed I’m cut, and to wrap things up thanks for your time!
