Mechie Racing

We would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to all our friends and family

Like most of the country the recent wintry weather has been received rather differently here in middleham depending on who you ask. Bugsy the pony is loving his full neck rug and rooting in the snow for grass.

Billy Wedge has caught the snots from his young friend Hubble . Frustratingly this means no Newcastle racing next Saturday night but I have had a look and there are loads of options in the new year for Mr Wedge.

Gold Ring is waiting for the frost to come out the ground so he can school over hurdles on the grass.

Exciting plans are in the making for our Christmas owners open day on Saturday 30th December! Watch this space!

Introducing purchase number 2 Rodger a freshly gelded son of Rajasinghe! On the shelf and available for purchase or sindication. Currently stands us at £1800. Bred to be a 2 year old.

Busy day at Tattersalls Newmarket on Monday. Two yearlings purchased to add to the team. First up is ‘Poppy’ as the kids have named her a nicely bred Ulysses filly bought for Nicholas and Sarah Pearson.

Sadly not Billy’s night last night but Willow had a great time getting to meet who gave her his commentary notes for Billy’s race

With Billy Wedge who runs in the 7pm handicap over 7f. PJ McDonald rides.

Good luck Billy 🍀🏇

Johnston Racings recent blethering’s well worth a read, a very interesting appraisal of the state of British Racing the BHA and racing post.

Bletherings - Johnston Racing Bletherings is Mark Johnston's unique blog, where Mark offers his opinion on MJR's recent winners and all things horse racing.

Very frustrated that Billy Wedge was balloted out of both 6 and 7 furlong options at Newcastle racecourse. Entry for Wolverhampton next Saturday night will be made tomorrow. Fingers crossed we get a run he really wants one!!

Tack on, game head on.

Gold Ring washed off and settled in it’s going to be a mud bath!

Gold Ring spent Sunday evening at the salon! Clipped and his trademark pre training Rasta mane was pulled! All ready to race.

Gold Ring has been declared at Catterick on Tuesday. The 3.22 with Joe Fanning on board over 2 miles on soft ground.

watching over his pal

Coeur De Coeurs heads to our local track, Catterick today to compete in the 4.20 handicap over 2m, with Andrew Breslin on board.

Best of luck to the Pearsons 🍀🏇

Today we are at Redcar with Coeur De Coeurs who is making her yard debut today in the 5.20 handicap over 1m6f. Andrew Breslin takes the ride.

Best of luck to the Pearson family 🏇🍀

Hubble (Telescope x On Holiday) is a 5 year old unraced jumps mare.
She is a huge stamp of a horse that came to us unbroken and due to her size has been progressing slowly. Although big she is very gentle and kind and has so far taken everything in her stride. We are aiming for her to have her racecourse debut in the new year. As yet she has no official race name, but watch this space

Gold Ring, Goldie is 6 years old and runs on the flat over staying distances. He has won twice for us so far.
His stable manners leave a lot to be desired, and he much prefers being out in the field, often found eating the same blade of grass as his beloved Billy. However all that is forgiven when he is back cantering on the gallop, where he is simply as good as ‘gold’!
Goldie loves the mud and is being readied for the end of the turf season when hopefully the rain will have arrived. We will then see how he fares over obstacles.

Sycamore seeds in your paddock…. what to do?

As many of you will be aware, there was a spike in sycamore poisoning (atypical myopathy) cases across the country last autumn from the ingestion of sycamore ‘helicopter’ seeds. The increase in fallen seeds was due to a hot summer then heavy rainfall in the autumn, which will only become more common.
As a previously very rare condition, it is hard to predict what each year will bring, but we should assume that this autumn will be similar – a few cases were seen by neighbouring practices this spring, due to the ingestion of the sycamore seedlings growing from last autumns’ abundance of seeds.
We have had a large number of calls and enquiries this year about the risk sycamore trees pose to your horses. Despite the recent increase, sycamore poisoning is still a relatively rare condition, with clinical signs that are similar to far more common conditions such as colic.
Horses do not preferentially eat the seedlings or seeds, so in paddocks with plenty of grass and horses with relatively normal appetites the risks will be reduced. However ideally in the short term you should try and remove your horses from heavily affected pasture, or section off the area until they have been removed. Collecting the seeds this autumn will also reduce the seedling numbers in the spring.
If you are still worried about the immediate risks to your horses, you can send samples of the seeds or leaves to the RVC (Royal Veterinary College) to test the levels of toxins (hypoglycin A) in the individual trees. Each tree differs in the amount of poison it contains, and these levels will change each year, but testing will help guide you on how much your horses are at risk in the short term.
In the long term, the best thing you can do is remove the trees if possible, or not graze the paddocks during high risk times. Though not ideal for the general management of the countryside, large sycamores next to grazing paddocks are always going to be an issue.
Whilst considering your management options, the most important thing is to be vigilant and look out for clinical signs of sycamore poisoning in your horses. If your horse is showing clinical signs such as lethargy, stiff and low head carriage, colic, profuse sweating or red/brown urine, then please contact us immediately. Prompt intervention is essential in clinical cases.
We hope that none of you ever have to deal with sycamore poisoning, but if you are worried your horse is showing clinical signs, or have more questions, please contact the office as soon as possible.
Information on how to send off seed or leaves samples here: https://www.rvc.ac.uk/research/facilities-and-resources/comparative-neuromuscular-diseases-laboratory/diagnostic-services -horse-owners-plant-sample-for-atypical-myopathy-test-and-information

Up next is Billy Wedge. Billy is an 8 year old sprinter, bred and owned by Mr David Tate. Billy is a very sweet and kind horse and is happiest out in the field with his best pal Goldie. However when it comes to exercising on the gallop and racing he can become rather highly strung. We work hard at home to keep him as relaxed as possible aiming to be the first on the gallop in a morning and doing lots in the sand ring where he happily switches off. Billy is being aimed for a winter campaign on the all weather followed by what will probably be his swan song on the turf in spring.
We will try our hardest to ensure he bows out on a high.

With it being we thought we would introduce you all to our team…..
First up is Monticello, our 9 year old dual purpose horse. Monty runs over extended trips both on the flat and over hurdles, and although yet to win for us has been placed numerous times under both codes. Monty definitely rules the roost, no one drinks in the field before him and those who try will feel his wrath! Despite his cheeky lad persona, and certainly those first weeks of roadwork can be hair- raising at times, he is a yard favourite and when it comes to racing he knows exactly what he is there to do.
Due to a setback when being brought back into work this time you can expect to see him in the new year, and hopefully he can get that much deserved 1 next to his name.

Mossbawn heads to Newcastle today to run in the 3.20 handicap over 7f. Andrew Breslin takes the ride. 🏇

The boss looking for gold

…..with Mossbawn who runs in the 5.05pm race over 1m, with Andrew Breslin in the saddle.

Good luck to jockey and horse 🐎

Mossbawn runs at Carlisle today at 3.50pm in the Carlisle Bell over 1m with Andrew Breslin in the saddle.

Best of luck to horse and jockey 🏇🍀

Winner!! Congratulations to the Stillness partnership, Finian O’Toole who does the work with him at home and trekked down to Uttoxeter in the heat and Andrew Breslin who rides him early in the morning at home!

Largy Gift goes to Uttoxeter to contest the 5.25pm maiden hurdle over 2m. Jack Hogan rides.

Good luck to the Stillness Partnership 🍀🏇

Back in from second lot early start trying to get them out before the heat builds!

Secrets de Famille makes her debut over fences at Cartmel this evening in the 7.20 class 5 handicap over 2m1f. Stephen Mulqueen takes the ride.

The lovely Mossbawn at York yesterday, sadly not his day but great as a small yard to have our first runner at York 🏇

Mane brushed through and pulled ready for York races! Good luck Mossbawn!

We head north of the border today with Billy Wedge running at Hamilton in the 16:58 race over 6f. Andrew Breslin takes the ride.

Best of luck to all connections 🍀🏇

Meet our newest member of the Mechie racing team, Coeur de Coeurs, Squirrel’s little sister