Day 28, Level 1 (Monday 6th July): Birthdays, and the joy of Racehorse ownership

Firstly, so glad I was able to report a glorious Full Moon night last night after all - it just took a while to get going! Another nice bright clear full moon tonight - even though the day was very shabby and wet.

Up early this morning for a birthday Zoom with UK friends Jill and Peter. It's Jill's birthday.

They are actually at their second home in Mallorca, having flown there the previous day. And very thrilled to be back there - but finding the whole different "normal" vibe quite surreal after London lockdown.

They had wine, I had coffee. We yakked for two hours, had a great catch-up.

Sounds like flying from Gatwick to Palma was rather surreal - no one around and all quite different to the usual airport and Easyjet chaos.

Friend Marie also celebrated her birthday today - happily spent in Leigh.

Birthdays - a sure sign we're getting older ... it's inevitable and there ain't a damn thing we can do about it. Botox, lift, tuck, dye, deny, pretend ... time will keep ticking by and preservation is only temporary.

The weather wasn't great today, a bit off and on throughout. When I wanted to pack up the car to head back to Auckland, it absolutely poured. Heavily. And didn't let up for some time. Kept working. Then it came out sunny. Packed up and headed home. Trip back to town was swift and uneventful.

Straight out to a Racehorse Owners Assn committee meeting - so good to see everyone again, been a long time since we'd all caught up. This is such a great committee and, once business was done, there was a heap of racing catch-up to be done. We all have horses in work and trialling and getting ready to race. I think it's going to be an exciting few months ahead as our horses line up on raceday.

I'm very excited to get back to raceday at Ellerslie on Saturday 11th - I've missed my on-course racing very much. It'll be great to get back into the fold again.

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:

The ups and downs of racehorse ownership ...

While I anticipate and hope for good things ahead for the horse I currently have a share in - Saintly Way, who has won a race, is in work and will hopefully race in  September - I also reflect happily back to past horses I've had an interest in.

There have been SIX since 2008. And ALL have won - that's a 100% strike rate and that's is almost rarer than winning Lotto! The odds of having 6/6 winning racehorses wit no duds in between that didn't win a race, are - well, almost impossible. I've never met anyone with a 100% winning strike rate before.

What I now need, is for one of my horses to have a second win - and then a third, fourth, fifth ... hell, how about a Group 1 ... the Melbourne Cup ...!?!?

Mummeez Boy (gelding by Last Tycoon) - won 20 August 2008, start 5, Avondale. Sadly, he pulled up lame after his follow-up race when out in front and a winning chance; alas, never raced again due to the injury. That's racing. This boys was named as we five ladies who had a share were all Mums. And he was a boy. He was our Mumeez Boy! We were elated when he won, and devastated when he got injured.

Note: Top young apprentice James McDonald  rode him all those years ago. James is now one of the world's top jockeys, based in Sydney, riding all around the world. There's a video I took of MB's win - you've never heard shouting like it. James said he could hear us from the 600m mark! Go James!

Mummeez Boy - and 4 of the 6 mummeez who owned him!

Ramona (mare by Kashani) - won 10 December 2009, start 3, New Plymouth. It was a strong win in a big field but her form otherwise was poor. She didn't live up to early promise. Retired.

Celer (mare by Castledale) - won 17 August 2011, start 2, Te Awamutu. A superb win in heavy ground, after nearly dislodging the jockey when the horse in front of her almost fell. After a superb follow-up second, her form tailed off rather sadly. Retired.

Minerva (mare by Perfectly Ready) - won 26 April 2017, start 12. She should have won next up but got held up with no clear air. She had 8 placings in addition to her awesome win (at Wingatui, Dunedin) so did us proud and being part of her racing career was so much fun. She was trained at Riccarton and I visited her a few times. She just went off the boil, as mares can do. As I know all too well! (see above!)

Minerva - laughing! Riccarton

Popova (mare by Rock'n'Pop) - won 4 January 2019 (Cranbourne, Australia). Came back to NZ but didn't live up to early promise. Retired.

Visiting Popova, Melbourne, 2018

Saintly Way (gelding by Thewayyouare) - won 6 October 2019, start 7. He won three trials easily, then to our consternation required a wind operation which required a lengthy recovery period. He then showed great heart to go on for this very gutsy win.

He was in training and due to race when lockdown hit. Bummer. He's back in work now - and hopefully can come back and notch up another win. His stable name is Ziggy and our syndicate team of 10 loves him to bits, follows him everywhere. We have many laughs and good times - that's what it's all ultimately about. Unfortunately only two were there for his well-deserved win (and it wasn't me, boohoo). His trainer Frank Ritchie rates him highly. Watch this space ...

Saintly Way winning stylishly! Sam Weatherly aboard.

Plus ... there's a new racehorse in the wings - stable name Eliza (no racing name as yet). She's a 1yo filly by Redwood. Has just been broken in, doing well by all accounts. Redwoods take time and patience.

And I have to say, if racing has taught me nothing else, it's the value of both time and patience! (Patience wasn't my virtue as a young girl but now I fully understand its value!)

Racing is a tricky game, with so many complex layers. I've been brought up with racing, have been involved in all aspects, and "in the know" with what's going on in the industry - and the complexity still does my head in. For too long, people who have known nothing of the industry have been running it. No good. You have to have the passion and the know-how. With the new Racing Industry Bill being passed, I truly hope that racing is moving into a new and fabulous era that reflects the sport's past and looks ahead to its exciting new future.

OH, THE FUN AND STRETCHED EMOTIONS OF RACING! It simply cannot be described - only experienced. Get involved!