It has to be said though that the team at Ayr do their best to promote things well but their hope of a bumper crowd did not seem to materialise. This has traditionally been a big day out at the seaside for Glaswegians with 8000 at the races and throngs exiting the trains. However things are different now, the drop of mining shipbuilding and manufacture means that there is no pit or works shutdowns so people no longer have and en mass holidays. However alongside Peppa and of course her kid brother george we had an array of attractions. For example cheerleading which included a mysterious workshop section, there were few in the audience today which I would have thought lithe enough to do those birth channel stetchng splits or who you would fancy balancing on your shoulders in a pyrimid structure beloved by the Dallas Cowboys orange tango girls.Ayr United's goalkeeper turned up to promote next week's friendly against Manchester United (brilliant promoted as providing a team which may include some players who have premier league experience before musing on the fantasy of Scotland's skipper Fletcher may also make a trip Murray style with a tear in his eye no doubt) and the magic of Gary Dunn(no me neither). The racecard actually gave a timetable of events and where they would be held which you have got to say was much better communication with their customers than I have come across before. The card was sponsored by an array of local newspapers making a welcome relief from the boring 'bet on 012324567 now for best prices and guaranteed bonus returns at betyousap.com maiden filly stakes' we seam to be continually afflicted with. For the future we have a decentish band for a change rather than singalong with a fat bloke in a curly afro wig murdering Sexual Healing and a joint promoition with the new sponsors who may just take Ayr United (a sleeping giant in the Scottish game for sure) to challenge one day for europe. This was plus an after racing 'disco' yes at 5pm you can grind away to Agadoo no doubt and get into the sunshine seaside party mood. That's quite enough sracasm I think as I ahve to say this is a far far better effort to make a good day of it for the public than I find most paces.
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As a track I am not overly fond of Ayr for some reason that I cannot quite grab. There seamed to be far too make betting facilities you even had bookies bellowing out 'Ineh mure fae Yarrmuf' right bu the cafe selling mashed spud pie and chips. The stands are a bit antiquated the car park was suspension testing and the catering in general poor in quality. But the weather does help that's for sure. Perhaps I should come here in the summer....
This was the third time I had visited Ayr. The first was back in 1979 for the Ayr Gold Cup sponsored by Ladbrookes with the winner being Primula Boy in 1979 ridden by Willie Higgins and trained by Walter Bentley in his first season training having been a useful jockey beforehand twice winning the Chester Cup. The race included the useful Cree Song who was fourth from the the stable of Williams who was linked with Nigel Angus who won the Ayr Gold Cup a few years before ridden by Johnny Seagrave on-board Roman Warrior (a great big sprinter over seventeen hands tall striking chestnut with a white blaze and a single white sock was one of the very few Scottish trained winners over the past half century). The other big race here which I have also seen was the Canada Dry Shield which was won three times by Roman Warrior and on the day I was here the canada dry was won by Crimson Silk. According to one website the Ayr Gold Cup was son for Mick Easterby with the great Lochnagar ridden by Eddie Hide who was to be the 1976 July Cup Kings Stand Stakes, Nunthorpe Stakes and Temple Stakes winner a treble very few have managed to achieve. On another occasion I visited Ayr with my in-laws who for some obscure reason took to a horse called Kelpie The Celt. He pulled his way to lead and continued to do so jumping a bit erratically until falling soon after halfway. But even fifteen years later they still talk in hushsed tones of the great Kelpie and how he aould surely have won if he had stood up. To my knowledge good old kelpie ran in many subsequent races but never once won a piece of evidence which the in-laws take absolutely no head off. There is always a danger of going racing with your in-laws that something from it will drive you nuts for the rest of your natural. In our family my Dad never lived down his mother in law perpetually reliving her tip when they went racing at Kempton Park back in the 1950s. This revolved around her favourite plant’s namesake Hollyhocks who obliged unbacked at 10/1.
The great Scottish horse Roman Warrior
Primula Bot Ayr Golf Cup winner from the 1970s
Economics of horse racing
Tracks in greyhound and horseracing are always in the news as struggling with the spectre of the property developer looming particularly those in up-coming urban neighbourhoods. Here is some colour to this debate which you might like to look at based on a couple of years ago when there were doubts about the future of racing here at Ayr.
‘AYRSHIRE businessmen Alan Macdonald and Richard Johnstone announced their decision today to put Ayr Racecourse and Western House Hotel up for sale.
They cited a combination of the poor state of the housing market and the planning system in Scotland as the reasons behind their decision.
Alan Macdonald and Richard Johnstone bought the racecourse just over five years ago and have overseen a dramatic turnaround in the fortunes of Scotland’s premier racecourse.
More than £14 million has been spent on a raft of improvements including the four-star Western House Hotel - Ayrshire’s premier wedding destination, the Princess Royal Banqueting and Conference centre and upgraded hospitality facilities.
Major investment has also been made in racing, with prize money for races including the two flagship fixtures the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival and the John Smith’s Ayr Gold Cup Festival being substantially increased.
Ayr has thrived over the last five years, attendance figures have shown sustained increases, and the 2008 crowds to date boast the highest attendances at the track for more than 50 years. Advance ticket sales for this month’s John Smith’s Ayr Gold Cup Festival also sit at a record high.
Ayr Racecourse general manager William Gorol said: “It’s business as usual. We are very proud of what we have achieved, and we look forward to providing the same high standards for the new owners.
“We are immensely proud of the team at Ayr Racecourse and Western House Hotel. Over the past few years we have successfully built a reputation as Scotland’s premier leisure destination, achieving accolades for both quality of food and service. I am confident that one of the key attractions for any new owner will be the professionalism of the team and the high standards they consistently achieve.
“It’s very much a case of business as usual.”
Christie & Co have been appointed as agents to oversee the sale of the leasehold racecourse and the freehold Western House Hotel.
Ayr Racecourse chairman Alan Macdonald spoke of the decision to sell and the reasons for doing so.
He said: “Richard and I stated when we bought the course five years ago that our intentions were to restore Ayr to its former glory and to ensure a long term sustainable future as Scotland’s only Grade One track.
“Cross-funding to finance both that goal and to also bring all the facilities up to a high standard was to come from residential and commercial developments on surplus land held by the racecourse.
“The planning process took five years, considerably longer than anticipated, and we had to go to Public Inquiry, but finally in May this year the process was completed.
“We now have planning consents in place for these developments, but the property market is such that it could be a few years before value can be realised from this.
“Having already spent £14 million on taking the business to where it is now and growing our status both as a racecourse and as the operator of one of Scotland’s finest hotels, we feel the time is right to invite offers from people who feel they can take it to the next level. More importantly Richard and I need to believe these are the right people.
“Significantly both these businesses - the racecourse and the hotel - operate on a profitable basis.”
Attendances of all the major meetings at Ayr have shown dramatic increases, with the Coral Scottish Grand National Saturday topping 17,000 this year - a rise of more than 8% on 2007 - while Coral Scottish Grand National Friday was 43.5 % up, and the two Family Days up by 19% and 14%.
Ayr also staged the Saints and Sinners Racenight for the first time this year, and almost 8000 people attended.
Western House Hotel has been voted Scotland’s Wedding Hotel of the Year in 2007 and 2008 and was also awarded a Thistle Award for Customer Care by VisitScotland. The Princess Royal Centre will cater for more than 40,000 banquet covers in 2008 and a host of major conferences including the Scottish Conservative Party Conference.
“We have turned a sleeping giant into a vibrant multi-purpose business but the time is right to hand the baton over.” Alan Macdonald added’
The Racing
The adveretised going was predominantly good but with the overnight rain was dead at the start of the meeting and the severe downpour during the early part of the meeting the going had become soft. This led to a significant amount of non runners during the course of the day.
Itsraining again
First race was a seven furong maiden stakes for two year old and was won by the filly Fresa who came up from Sir Mark Prescott’s Newmarket yard to score after a couple of modest by not totally useless all weather efforts over trips short of her best. She was still a bit green which given her relative experience advantage over many of the others was not expected and also pulled a bit but she stayed on fine. Not certain this was that good a race but probably needs further and dead ground played to her stamina credentials .Newmarket raiders accounted for only three of today’s runners but they went home with one winner and two seconds so clearly when they venture up to Scotland Newmarket raiders should be not be overlooked. Joshua The First was second yet again this being the fifth consecutive time. Has been visored last two runs without any extra improvement and it has to be questioned as to his attitude to battle. Will continue to disappoint I would say. Rasputin (who looked particularly well) was ridden with enterprising tactics but again was found wanting close home being headed at the furlong pole. Cost a lot of money and maybe needs to be dropped to six as there is plenty of pace in the family. Of the rest favourite Eraada looked in good condition in the paddock but ran as if needing a mile. Very nicely bred with some top class 1m2 relatives. Cannot stay a maiden much longer and I have her as a positive if tried over the mile and may just prefer better or faster ground. Sygnature (an early Authorise gelding) was a well backed springer was very green missed the kick and was doing all his best work close home for a noteworthy debut probably needs a mile already.
Second race was a seven furlong handicap class 5 which was won by the three year old Sabratha ridden by useful female jockey Julie Burke (carried three pounds overweight to add to the pluses on a very good run) who did very well to slip through the gap when it emerged to win with this tricky hold up horse. Stepped back a furlong which seemed to suit but wins so infrequently as best left. The second Dhhamaan led everywhere bar the final stride. Is a very consistent seven furlong specialist goes fine on polytrack and appears to be best on fastish going on the turf so the dead ground may have just took the edge. Even so it was only a short head. The pair were well clear so I would suggest the others either didn’t fancy the ground or are not at their best at present. Nothing of major note here.
The rain was beginning to kick in by the time the 1m2 handicappers faced the starter in a class 5 event. It was won from off the pace by top weight Persian Peril who is suited by cut and goes in the mud. Won this with a little bit in hand but needs going his way to be a confident selection in subsequent races. The runner up was the fancied Newmarket raider Focail Maith who looked well in the paddock before hand is a three year old improver. Galloping sort who goes well at Newmarket and Yarmouth is better suited by further and another run over 10 furlongs would see him do well. Could easily make a decent hurdler if turned to that arena as looks the right build plus there has been a bit of success in that field in the family. I make him a positive on this run. The third was Free Art a big outsider who ran well and could be another improving three year old as I think August is the time when they have a bit of an edge condition and handicap wise over the older horse. The favourite was Jewelled Dagger who looked very well beforehand as usual tried to make all but was collared inside the final two furlongs and come home at one pace. He was probably beaten by better handicapped and younger competitors.
Persian Peril and Focail Maith in the winners' enclosure
Persian Peril loks a decent handicapper as he returns to the stables
The class 6 handicap over a mile produced a driving finish with three having good chances at the furlong pole. The winner Abernethy was friendless in the market, was denied a clear run himself two out but then wandered to the left away from the stick and may have squeezed up the runner up a little bit 110 yards from home but not enough to even think it was material to the result. This was the sort of result that makes you wonder why you bother looking at the form book. The third was 15/8 favourite Glenluji and although short of room I am sure was held. I still think he was eased down a touch after being slightly hampered, A consistent miler who acts on any going. The runner up Focial Eile was limited for space when trying to come between horses. Probably would have preferred it much deeper today so in the circumstances not a bad run at all so keep an eye out when the ground is heavy off this 63 mark. Also of note was fourth home Classic Descent who stayed on well without being given a particularly hard time of it. Has been running well but handicap mark has gone up a little bit. However worth mentioning that today’s 60 is a far cry from the OR of 90 he started out handicapping. No wonder he wins so infrequently as in once since May 2008 some 32 races ago. Gadabout Dancer attracted some interest but was flat to the boards from three out quickly weakening and is still a bit highly tried in the ratings.
Daniel Tudhope getting drenched before riding Glenluji
The class 6 five furlong sprint was prone to wholesale late drop outs which meant the eleven quickly reduced to nine with the soft ground. It was won by good sprint mare Wicked Wilma following up off the same mark as her recent win. She was produced to punch through inside the final furlong. Sure to get a real pasting from the ratings man now. She beat fellow mare Ballerina who looked in good nick beforehand but is on a difficult mark of 62 compared to last winning weight. I wouldn’t say much will emerge from this race in terms of future winners.
Wicked wonder (pink cap) coming to do battel with Ballarina (yellow cap)
The class 5 six furlong sprint was won by bottom weight to help Julie Burke notch a notable double. She had Royal Blade up in front from the break and won well giving the impression that provided rating is below 50 can follow up. Runner up Beckermet ran fine but is way below his best (he won the Hackwood Stakes which is a listed sprint at Newbury a good few years ago). Still always tries his best and may just prefer seven to six nowadays. Biggest disappointment was hat-trick seeking Monel who was sunk without trace early on today. Maybe needs a bit of a break as only went up six pounds for recent win. Has won with a cut so reason for poor run is not obvious.
Royal blade takes it up
The final race was a class 6 sprint over the six furlongs for three year olds. It was won by mudlark Spinatrix in an absolute canter taking firm control around 3 furlongs out and maintained a strong gallop to storm home. You could not be more impressed and his 57 rating plus the 6 pound penalty are probably going to get a severe shunt upwards., Guinea Seeker was well backed for some strange reason and then promptly was thrashed. Nothing of note amongst the rest.
Spinatrix clear
Horses noted today
Eraada (P) up £50
1 5/1
Only one race and came home. It was over today;s trip and she is likely to better over further with time. However with the end of the season in view she is binned.
Joshua The First (N) up £60
0 4 4 3 3 2
As ststed this looks a decidedly modest animal and he layed all autumn with success
Sygnature (P) down £30
0 0 4
Not matured this season although last run was a bit more positive
Focail Maith (P) up £40
0 3 0 1 8/1 3
Won oveer 10f and on a slightly lower mark. Backed when next run but up 5lbs and although ran well be tird was clear handicapped had a bit of a grip so binned
Free Art (P) down £20
3 0
Not disgraced but as season's ended he's binned
Focail Eile (P) up £150
0 1 18/1 2 2
Bit disappointing next run but them stung them as Musselburgh on good ground and won at 18/1. Up 12lbs after the two fair seconds as well and I have to now fold my hand on him