Crosshill Pacers
Well-Known Member
Been away for a while and missed posting so thought I'd share with you all a brief update of what my girls and I are up to now that winter is on its way.
Last time I posted I'd just located my first pacer (Smokey) who I've been looking for for the last two years. The guy who owns her was looking for another broodmare and my dad was trying to sell Playmate (Star's mother). I put the two of them in touch and when I got home from my holidays last week I was told that the guy had bought her and collected her the day before. I must admit, I was upset that I hadn't had a chance to say goodbye, and having owned Playmate the longest of all my horses (eight years) it was sad knowing she'd finally gone. On the other hand, having seen how well the guy has looked after Smokey I'm glad she's gone to a good home and I'm in regular contact with the guy who likes sending me photo updates.
Star has returned home from my friend's place after I decided that racing really wasn't her thing. She re-qualified impressively at a local meeting in the middle of August and I was encouraged by the way she ran. However, at her first competitive race she did not look remotely comfortable or happy and finished much nearer the rear of the field than the front. I decided that I didn't want to put her through more disheartening runs like that purely for my friend's benefit so asked that she revert back to her jump training and give up on the racing for good. Unfortunately for reasons unknown to me my friend wasn't happy with this arrangement and Star was brought home the following weekend. Since then she's had three weeks at grass, much to her delight, and I'm planning to get her back into work soon ready to go hunting a few times this winter. If we see any small obstacles to jump we may have a pop over them if I can work up the courage!
Finally, Daisy returned home last night for the winter. During her 2yo campaign she raced competitively five times, coming 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th. She broke her maiden on the same day that I decided to retire Star from racing, which definitely brightened up my mood that day! That was the only race whereby her competition was not limited to two year olds and it was in fact her easiest run. Her best run in my opinion was the Breeders Crown where she finished third, but it was the first time she'd really been asked to motor by her trainer/driver and I was encouraged to see how quick her little legs could really move! Last weekend she was second in the Sire Stakes, but her trainer admitted she hadn't run to the best of her ability (we weren't disappointed anyway, the filly that beat her has been AMAZING this summer).
Tomorrow evening I'm heading to a friend's to work out her two Standardbred geldings before they race on Saturday. Her training is done solely under saddle and I've been lucky enough to ride out with her before, so I really can't wait. She lets me ride her own lad who has won his last two races (eight in total this season), and two weeks ago before one win he also won a Chase Me Charlie competition with her, jumping 1.20m. You know me, I can't miss an opportunity to gush about the versatility of Standardbreds!
I don't know when the next update will be, but it'll probably be about how brilliant Star is because having not ridden her for some time I'll have forgotten just how awesome she is
Over and out,
Sarah
Last time I posted I'd just located my first pacer (Smokey) who I've been looking for for the last two years. The guy who owns her was looking for another broodmare and my dad was trying to sell Playmate (Star's mother). I put the two of them in touch and when I got home from my holidays last week I was told that the guy had bought her and collected her the day before. I must admit, I was upset that I hadn't had a chance to say goodbye, and having owned Playmate the longest of all my horses (eight years) it was sad knowing she'd finally gone. On the other hand, having seen how well the guy has looked after Smokey I'm glad she's gone to a good home and I'm in regular contact with the guy who likes sending me photo updates.
Star has returned home from my friend's place after I decided that racing really wasn't her thing. She re-qualified impressively at a local meeting in the middle of August and I was encouraged by the way she ran. However, at her first competitive race she did not look remotely comfortable or happy and finished much nearer the rear of the field than the front. I decided that I didn't want to put her through more disheartening runs like that purely for my friend's benefit so asked that she revert back to her jump training and give up on the racing for good. Unfortunately for reasons unknown to me my friend wasn't happy with this arrangement and Star was brought home the following weekend. Since then she's had three weeks at grass, much to her delight, and I'm planning to get her back into work soon ready to go hunting a few times this winter. If we see any small obstacles to jump we may have a pop over them if I can work up the courage!
Finally, Daisy returned home last night for the winter. During her 2yo campaign she raced competitively five times, coming 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th. She broke her maiden on the same day that I decided to retire Star from racing, which definitely brightened up my mood that day! That was the only race whereby her competition was not limited to two year olds and it was in fact her easiest run. Her best run in my opinion was the Breeders Crown where she finished third, but it was the first time she'd really been asked to motor by her trainer/driver and I was encouraged to see how quick her little legs could really move! Last weekend she was second in the Sire Stakes, but her trainer admitted she hadn't run to the best of her ability (we weren't disappointed anyway, the filly that beat her has been AMAZING this summer).
Tomorrow evening I'm heading to a friend's to work out her two Standardbred geldings before they race on Saturday. Her training is done solely under saddle and I've been lucky enough to ride out with her before, so I really can't wait. She lets me ride her own lad who has won his last two races (eight in total this season), and two weeks ago before one win he also won a Chase Me Charlie competition with her, jumping 1.20m. You know me, I can't miss an opportunity to gush about the versatility of Standardbreds!
I don't know when the next update will be, but it'll probably be about how brilliant Star is because having not ridden her for some time I'll have forgotten just how awesome she is
Over and out,
Sarah