Thumbs-up for schooling race at Garthorpe

Britain’s first schooling race went ahead at Garthorpe on Sunday and was declared a success.

Staged as an opportunity to school young horses under race-day conditions, the event attracted nine horses (pictured above) who galloped over two and a half miles. They set off as one group, but while the majority completed the full course at a steady pace, jumped the fences in the home straight and were allowed to stretch out to the line, a couple of backward youngsters bypassed the downhill and home straight fences and came home in their own time.

No details were given as to the names or ages of the horses who took part, there was no betting or commentary and the riders wore riding-out kit rather than racing colours, but despite this a large crowd stayed behind after the point-to-point card had finished to bear witness to another first for the sport in Britain. Similar ‘races’ are commonly held in Ireland, either on racecourses or private schooling grounds.

Anna Saunders, who with clerk of the course Jim Culloty was one of the organisers, said: “We were thrilled with the result and we had very good feedback from owners and trainers. One trainer brought a very big, backward youngster with the aim of giving him a school and then turning him away for the summer, and it gave that horse’s owners a chance to see him doing something more than just cantering on a gallop at home.

“It is lovely to see young horses emerging, and this was a good way to further their education.”