Sue’s Friday Echo - Friday 12th September
Happy Friday.
This week in racing has seen the historic strike day with absolutely no racing at all on Wednesday 10th September. It’s the first time in modern history that the sport has voluntarily refused to race and it was to highlight that horse racing believes that if horse racing taxes paid by online bookmakers (15%) are increased and aligned with online games of chance (slots and casino games) (21%) it could have a destructive impact on the sport as the bookmakers are likely to fund any tax increases by cutting back on the money that they put into horse racing which helps to fund prize money, jobs and race days.
With regard to the Royal Arch Racing horses:-
Fergal O’Brien reports that CASTING ASPERSIONS is keen and working hard. Fern has been riding him and says that he is very fresh and wants to run away.
LADY DAPPLE ROSE has been training well this week on the gallops with “race type” work. She was keeping up well with the horse, Sophie Power, although she did sweat up and get a little bit anxious. But it’s early days and she has only ever run in the bumper race at Cheltenham. (For those, like me, just learning more about racing, the hyperlink gives information about bumper races)
EL ARCO has been working on his hurdling. Dom (Dominic Ruane) is working hard with him to teach him some manners (to respond to the bit and do as he is asked) and he is now behaving like a more mature horse instead of a juvenile. It won’t be long before his first hurdle race.
Royal Arch Racing would like to introduce the newest horse. He is a 3-year-old bay gelding by Highland Reel, out of Maire Banrigh (for those non racing types, like me, his mother was Maire Banrigh and his father was Highland Reel) Maire Banrigh raced 8 times, winning 6 of her races before being retired to breed. Highland Reel raced all over the world and won over 7.5 million in prize money.
This 3-year-old is absolutely gorgeous with a white heart marking on his forehead. He has a lovely temperament and with Banrigh being Gaelic for queen, he will sport a very regal name. His breeding points to him having a successful racing career. Graeme and I are so looking forward to introducing you all to him on Sunday.
Sue’s Friday Echo - Friday 5th September
Happy Friday and Happy September.
Although jumps racing (National Hunt Racing) happens all year, the biggest and best jumps meetings happen between October and April, when the ground is softer and so we are getting closer to Lady Dapple Rose and El Arco being back at the racecourses. If you’re like me and learning the facts about jump racing, this short video is great - https://youtu.be/cQo6OXLBB4s
With regard to the Royal Arch Racing horses:-
CASTING ASPERSIONS is training well and getting stronger every day. At the moment, his trainer Fergal O’Brien, is thinking that he should continue with hurdling races but perhaps extending the distance that he runs as this will build his stamina. He is working hard on the gallops and is very keen.
EL ARCO and LADY DAPPLE ROSE continue their training regime, with their trainer, Harriet Dickin, aiming for 95% race fitness by October so that she can tweak and fine tune their regimes as soon as suitable races with the right ground have been identified. As they are both young horses, it is vital that the ground is right to minimise the chances of injuries.
If anyone has a few spare hours to kill on Sunday 7th September, Trainer Harriet Dickin has her open day at her yard from 10am - 1pm, no booking required.
Finally, here’s an interesting fact for you, National Hunt horses don't even really get going in the sport until they're about the same age as Flat Racing horses are when they're at their peak. This is because horses become more robust as they get older, with stamina being equally as important as speed when it comes to National Hunt races.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————Welcome to Royal Arch Racing’s first ever edition of Sue’s Friday Echo (Friday 29th August 2025)
As this is the first edition, I would like to introduce, and give you some information about, each of the Royal Arch Racing horses, written from the point of view (mine - Sue Brown) and level of understanding, of someone who, up till now, has only really enjoyed racing from a hospitality point of view. I always used to say “I’m here to drink the champagne and wear the new dress”!
CASTING ASPERSIONS
Casting Aspersions was bred as a “point to pointer”. Royal Arch Racing bought him as a 5 year old, after him coming second in his Point to Point in January 2024, where he finished very strongly in a 3 mile race. Having run in point to point races, he was already trained to run and jump and so he was in effect, “ready to race”, and so down to us to f ind a trainer who could bring out his best.
He has been with Fergal O’Brien since the start of 2025 and now racing as a 6 year old he has won his last 3 races.
He likes good ground and so we have been able to enjoy some racing meetings right into June. We hope that he will race again in late September or early October before the ground gets too soft for him. As a good ground horse, when the rain comes and softens the going he will most likely get a winter break.
EL ARCO
Royal Arch Racing purchased El Arco from Harriet Dickin Racing as 4 year old. He is well bred and so, if his breeding is anything to go by, he should grow and train into a lovely hurdler and then chaser that will love the mud. (Bottomless soft ground)
Harriet Dickin Racing bought him from Doncaster Sales, broke him in, and is now training him, including schooling him over hurdles. His first race was at Chepstow. Sadly another horse got loose in the ring upsetting our lovely El Arco on his first ever race day experience, but he will have learnt a lot and we look forward to a next race in the Autumn, either National Hunt Flat Race (Bumper) or Hurdle Race on soft ground. (We really need rain to soften the ground for him) This week, he has been schooled by James Best. His owners have already enjoyed watching the video of this and it will be available on the website later in the week.
LADY DAPPLE ROSE
Royal Arch Racing purchased Lady Dapple Rose from Harriet Dickin Racing as a 4 year old. Harriet Dickin Racing bought her from Doncaster Sales, broke her in and is now training her, including schooling her over hurdles. She shows great spirit and potential.
She ran her first ever race at Cheltenham (the Wembley on National Hunt Racing) f inishing 6th of 18 runners, beaten by only 5 1/4 lengths, where the winner was later sold for 300,000 Guineas. As with El Arco, we need some rain and she should have her next run this Autumn.
Her owners enjoyed seeing the video clip of their Lady Dapple Rose being schooled by James Best, which will be available on the website later in the week.
I am looking forward to meeting owners and friends and family on 14th September at Harriet Dickin Racing for the open day and then attending the race day at Bath later that day.
