FIGHTING FIFTH

Newcastle races inspection at 08.00 - way after we left the hotel in freezing conditions - and . . . the races are on. Now being a Boro football supporter, Newcastle is the worst place you would ever want to go, but needs must. Liz has to be kept happy ! Don't worry I have planned a secret escape route to get away as quickly as possible.

Today is a major race meeting - The Fighting Fifth. This is the first step for a horse on the Road to Cheltenham, which will link together the three most prestigious two mile hurdlers in the country. The winner was a horse called Countrywide Flame. Watch out for it next March.

I captured the racecourse image in this Tuba, as a bandsman from the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers played on. The Fighting Fifth is named after the Fifth Regiment on Foot. Raised in 1674, the regiment took their title in 1784. Their Colonel, Hugh Earl Percy, Second Duke of Northumberland, christened them the FF and this race has been run since 1976 in memory of this special regiment.

Today I had a winner at 18/1 !!! The drinks are on me tonight !

Tomorrow - horse dressage competition - is there any chance of a horseless day soon ?
Hope you are all having a grand weekend.