Race Yard open days?

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Evie91

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Do these exist? My one regret in horsey life is that I would have loved to have ridden a race horse up the gallops!
I'm forty in Jan and being as so far no one has offer me their million pound horse to gallop, I was thinking next best thing would be to visit a racing yard.

Is this possible?
 
YES indeed, some big NH yards run open days in August so you see all the horses paraded in front of you and trainer gives you the pedigree, prospects, and so on, its for charity so pop a tenner in the bucket. Lambourn has Open Days where you can visit several yards, same deal.
To see horse on the gallops is more tricky as the trainer has to concentrate his efforts on his horses and owners usually come by arrangement, in small groups.
In Newmarket the gallops are open for training www.newmarketexperience.co.uk. Newmarket is unique in the world, the gallops are owned and run by the jockey club estates.
If you want to join the Racegoers Club there will be some stable visits. The main problem is that the horses in training need to rest a lot, the staff are always busy, and their routines are set in stone, so having crowds of watchers is difficult.
You can join Elite Racing if you want to invest a bit of cash and have a feeling of ownership without getting in too deep, I enjoyed it for a few years, they have some good brood mares and it is good fun. Stable visits and a good insight with their trainers.
There are loads of clips on Youtube, I subscribe to some of them, to get updates. There are cameos of many trainers which give you an idea, the more you can familiarise yourself before any visit, the more you will enjoy the experience.
 
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I haven't been to one so can't recommend specifically, but I'm aware of them existing, e.g. Paul Nicholls. Also, I vaguely recall seeing some You Tube clips about open days at Lambourn.

One thing I keep meaning to do is visit Newmarket as I'd like to go to the museum. I did a quick search and one of these might suit you:

http://www.newmarketexperience.co.uk/days-out

By the way, don't let being 40 put you off... I rode my first racehorse aged 44. If you don't think this can be an option for you, at least have a go on a simulator - I believe there is one at the museum at Newmarket.
 
I went to one a few years ago which was brilliant. Included was a demonstration by Micky Gavin starting a youngster in a round pen and a hog roast afterwards.
 
Newmarket open day is in September although it may be brought forward next year. Alot of the big yards (Varian, Cecil, Cumani) are open and there are star roses such as Taghrooda cantered on warren hill with commentary. The racecourse also holds some activities like jockeys vs trainers football etc
 
Fantastic response - thank you all for your replies. Off to do some research, then drop hints to husband (failing that I'll make my own arrangements). :)

Spilleta - I'd go for a gallop tomorrow if I could - but so far no one has offered me a horse. Hearing your story has given me hope :)Perhaps if I turn up in my jods - who knows!! (That always makes me smile at events, non competitors in jods, I always wonder if they are hopeful of being given a ride!)
 
Depending on where you are, there is a guy near Tewkesbury looking for someone to take his newly backed racers up the gallops! :) (I would do if I was nearer!) He does state you need to be a good rider as they will be fresh and newly backed. PM me if you wish.
 
Tern said:
Depending on where you are, there is a guy near Tewkesbury looking for someone to take his newly backed racers up the gallops! :) (I would do if I was nearer!) He does state you need to be a good rider as they will be fresh and newly backed. PM me if you wish.
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lol, when a top intenational event rider came to ride out at our yard she was started on the quieter horses, it was several weeks before riding a race fit horse, and she never progressed to the more difficlt ones. A youngster can be ruined by just one bad experience, no one in their right minds would put just anyone on a newly backed yongster.
 
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Tern - thanks for the offer, that's really kind but newly backed would be too much. I'm thinking more of an established, knows it's job kind of horse - hence why it's unlikely I'd ever get the offer!!
I wouldn't say I'm a bad rider but never ridden racing style! Think two newbies at it would be asking for trouble!
Some great replies, thanks for taking the time to contribute.

I'd love to own a race horse and an eventer - but that would be in my lottery lifestyle, so far I've only won a tenner so way to go yet!
 
Spring and Spilleta - thanks so much for the links, both look fab. Just in time too, with Christmas and birthday coming up good time to drop hints to husband. If unsuccessful will just book myself in, in January.
 
Evie91 said:
Spring and Spilleta - thanks so much for the links, both look fab. Just in time too, with Christmas and birthday coming up good time to drop hints to husband. If unsuccessful will just book myself in, in January.
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Contact the Northern Racing College, nr Doncaster. They offer jockey training and I think will also do shorter one-off course lasting a couple of days.
 
Hope you get the presents you want, Evie91!

Agree with avoiding the youngsters. I had a good few times on an ex-racehorse that was kept to 'break in' new riders before moving to ones currently racing, and even then they are the 'easier' ones.
 
Bonkers2 said:
lol, when a top intenational event rider came to ride out at our yard she was started on the quieter horses, it was several weeks before riding a race fit horse, and she never progressed to the more difficlt ones. A youngster can be ruined by just one bad experience, no one in their right minds would put just anyone on a newly backed yongster.
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I am only saying what I read, not my horses.. I don't think they are proper newly backed - they have been around for a few months getting work.

EKW said:
Trust me! Even us old racing hands wouldn't go up the gallops on a freshly backed youngster with short stirrups! Ride long live long and all that! Lol!
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The people in pictures seem to have normal length stirrups.. ;)
 
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