#DiscJockey Haydock Racecourse

Hello, Kate here future Jockey/radio presenter extraordinaire!

In the new year I shall be posting in here a lot all about my adventures as I explore the world of horse racing in a bizarre attempt to become a Jockey!

Far fetched as it may seem, so far I'm not doing too bad, in fact this weekend me and two friends Catherine & Jack visited Haydock racecourse and managed to get into the parade ring! Not too bad since it was the first official "Disc Jockey" outing! 

Now the weather was horrendously cold, wet and miserable on Saturday but the plan for the day was to take two friends who have never been racing to the races, show them how much fun it is, and to meet Racing Welfare to learn more about the fantastic work they do, as they are going to help me in my quest to become MMU Radios Disc Jockey! 

Fortunetly Haydock racecourse is only 25minutes up the East Lancs, so it's no great task getting there, except we were getting the train, and I am always running late! Fortunetly there's a Haydock bound train every 30minutes or so from Oxford road, which is very handy as I was running very late on Saturday, so much to the annoyance of my friends several trains later than planned we were on our way. 

We eventually got to Haydock, missing the first race which annoyed me a lot as a jockey-blogger (and potential rival!?) Dave Crosse was racing, and I like to watch Crosse race, as his lovetheraces.com blog is very entertaining! Dissapointed at missing the first race we gathered our bearings(headed for the bar) and braved the cold to meet the lovely people from Racing Welfare, now these are brave people, because the weather on Saturday rivalled that of Wizard of Oz proportions and they were stationed outside with only marquee for shelter! Inside their marquee was lots of information on the fantastic work the charity does to help support injured people right across the world of racing, from the unsung heroes of every yard, who may not get a mention on the racing telly, and who's injuries wont be infront of a packed grandstand or on live TV, but who risk life and limb every day for the sport, and run the risk of one day needing Racing Welfares help.

Whilst chatting to Racing Welfare I also met Barney Bamford, who before being paralysed by a fall was a race trainer, Barney will be raising money himself in May for Racing Welfare, by covering 105 miles in an adapted hand operated cycle so visit "Barneys Challange" for more info & to donate!!

After speaking to our new friends at Racing Welfare we then had to get watching some racing! 

I had a second Chance to watch Dave Crosse race as he was riding in the 3rd race on Marleno, and me proudly showing off my patter to my racing novice friends marched up to place my bet, "£2 win only, number 9" I was just being a smart Alec, there is no right or wrong way to place a bet, in fact when I write out betting slips if its a horse I like I will write the name rather than just the number which is more of the "proper way" but I like to think it's giving a nod to the horse and a bit of good luck - but I am rather silly!  Anyway for all the good my spiel did, my horse was pulled up! Fortunately I had only placed a minimum £2 bet, which at 8/1 would of only one me £16 so never mind no great loss! 

Having no look backing Dave Crosse we thought we best have a peek inside the Racing Post for a more informed idea who to back in the next race, and then headed down to the parade ring where the real excitement is.



Whilst looking at horses me and Catherine decided we'd pick a horse after having a closer look at them, and hopefully the winning horse would pick us and perhaps whinny or nod, or better yet wink at us.  This is when our new pal Richard Negus from Racing Welfare invited us into the parade ring, where we could be amidst the excitement, and possibly be more likely to catch the eye of a horse that nod at us.

Jason Maguire at Haydock

Now being in the paddock with all the horses being lead round was all a bit mad to me as only one month previously I'd was on the other side of the railing clambering to get a glimpse of my beloved Ruby Walsh and a triumphant Kauto Star in the very same parade ring I was now casually stood in. Not to mention the fact it had only been a few hours since Catherine and Jack had never been in a Racecourse and now they're in a parade ring, stood only a few feet from this years Grand National winning jockey Jason Maguire! 

Unfortunately the only photographs from the parade ring involve Jacks McDonalds toy mascot, which he had great fun coming up with puns such as "Pad-Duck" and "Hay-Duck" with.

Now as totally idiotic as these duck photographs are, they do go to show that days at the races are bloomin' good fun, nobody is too serious, and silliness is plentiful! 

Some take silliness to all sorts of extremes!

Haydock, April 2011

Despite, getting up close to the horses in the parade ring we had no look, the horse we were tipped by racing welfare and backed for a win, came second, and the horse I had taken some notion to back at 40/1 brought me no look at all, but even coming home with no winnings, and being a bit rain drenched, we still had a great day and I have to new racing fan friends in Catherine and Jack, so we're looking forward to our next outing!

There will be more exploits to come from me in the new year as I channel my inner Louix Theroux and infultrate the world of racing! I'll be airing Interviews on my radio show, making little videos for MMU Radios Youtube channel and keeping everyone updated on here when im off meeting trainers, jockeys, stable staff, visiting yards and racecourses all with my goal to become a [Disc] Jockey!

Lots of thanks again to Racing Welfare and Barneys Challenge