Thirsk ….
The home of James Wight – better known as James Herriot, the renowned author, the birthplace of Thomas Lord – the founder of the most famous cricket ground in the world, and, according to the local website, the home to the picturesque country racecourse that stages high quality flat racing.
However, to me it has represented a particularly personal holy grail.
Since Alarico won at Lingfield on 28th January 1997, I have managed to secure at least one winner at all the currently operational racecourses in England, Wales and Scotland. And also managed to saddle winners at the now defunct Folkestone and Hereford.
This has been, until today, with one exception, Thirsk
The small town in North Yorkshire with a population of less than 5,000, is the one racecourse that had failed to provide me a winner …. and it’s not as if I’ve not tried! Since Prairie Law ran down the field in September 2004, I have sent many runners on the long road to Thirsk without success. But today, the wonderfully consistent Cruise Tothelimit completed the full set – a winner at every UK racecourse!
I, for one, cannot think of another currently licensed trainer that has managed this feat.
With my Owners Open Day tomorrow, there will certainly a few glasses raised at Dominion Racing Stables – and with my motto firmly in mind, my passion to succeed never dies, it is a case of onwards and upwards.