Category: News

New Year, Great Start! The Christmas period has been and gone and everything at Blackmore Farm is back in full swing after a quieter time. Our youngsters have had a couple of weeks off and are back in work cantering away in preparation to head to Chipley Park for a school and gallop on the Monday after racing. With them all now turning 4, we can hopefully start to plot the next few months with a couple of them and look forward to them getting on the track.    Boxing Day gave us a nice Christmas present with Lau And Shaz winning on her first start for us and owner Simon Rushworth. She had been privately purchased through JD Moore out of Gavin Cromwell’s and had some good bumper form behind her. She slotted into our system very well and it was great to see her come home in front with Josh on board. El Capitaine ran in the Pertemps Qualifier under Brendan Powell and finished a very pleasing 3rd beaten 7 ¼ lengths. Emilie Turner took both runners racing and came away with two Best Turned Outs which is great! Knock Off Soxs ran under a penalty at Taunton on the 30th December and found one too good for him and had to settle for 2nd under Harry Cobden. This was still a very pleasing run and he has already given Tom and Sally Dalley of Stables Business Park Ltd a lot of fun! The second week of January was busy with runners. Our Dylan stayed on well in heavy conditions at Ffos Las to finish 3rd under James Bowen. Diamatiste does not know how to run a bad race and finished 2nd at Exeter under Rian Corcoran by 1 length. Vol Royale reappeared at Hereford on Monday under a penalty and hit the headlines when beating a fancied JP McManus horse after it was announced Harry would be the new retained rider in the famous green and gold! He has already achieved so much for Martin Higgs and Kayley Woollacott Racing II and hopefully still has plenty more to give. We were delighted to see Lucky Bere get his head in front in a competitive handicap at Wincanton giving owner Ben Marsh his first winner! Again, ridden by Harry Cobden who has gained a great strike rate for Blackmore Farm.   On Sunday 11th January we took seven runners to Wadebridge! We hit the cross bar several times but it is great to see all the horses run well still. The last fence was taken out due to wet ground and this did change the complexion of several races. The day started off with Clondaw Drake just getting touched off into 2nd in the Conditions. Holiday Fund and Getaway Drumlee ran in the Novice Riders to repeat the form back at the previous meeting in finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.  Beacon Edge won the Mixed Open for John and Floss Symes on his first start for us having been purchased at Tattersalls HIT Sale in May. Millyellen was again the bridesmaid finishing 2nd in the Maiden when just getting in a bit close to the last fence. Impakt St Georges finished the day off with a 3rd in the Restricted which we were very pleased about considering he was carrying a penalty!    We look forward to this weekend with entries at Larkhill and Lau And Shaz holds an entry at Windsor for the Winter Millions Weekend.    Beacon Edge taken by Tim Holt Lau and Shaz winning at Wincanton Best Turned Out winner El Capitaine

Horses In Great Form! The winners have kept coming and we have really enjoyed a good run of things this side of Christmas. After a good outing at Dunsmore, the team split in two directions a couple of weekends later with one runner heading to Chaddesley Corbett and we also sent nine runners to Wadebridge, which was a huge team effort and we were well rewarded.    Our busy Sunday started off with Hoo’s The Jet making his debut at Chaddesley Corbett in the GB Pointing Bonus Young Horse Maiden under Darren Andrews. He was very professional throughout his race and came with a late run from the back of two out to finish 2nd by a head. He then headed to Tattersalls Cheltenham Sales on Friday evening where he sold for £30,000 to Darren O’Dwyer.    Down at Wadebridge, it was full steam ahead with runners in every race. Holiday Fund and Getaway Drumlee made their seasonal debuts in the Novice Riders. Holiday Fund was just touched off by a short head with Getaway Drumlee and Hannah Morgan 4 lengths behind in 3rd. Millyellen had her second run for Blackmore Racing Club in the Maiden and having had to make the running for majority of the race, she just got collared near to home to finish 2nd. Our fortunes changed with Hearts Corner and Ellie Callwood taking the Ladies Open for Becky Roach. He is a very consistent horse and won this race last year too. He had complications with a wind operation last year, so it was great to have him back to form. Al Gasparo made his yard debut in the Men’s Open and did everything comfortably and was an easy winner for John and Floss Symes. The Intermediate saw Noble Blue come out bouncing for the second time this season and won very comfortably giving Friends Of Sylvie their second winner of the season. Impakt St Georges brought up the four timer by taking the Restricted in good fashion for Kayley and Floss Symes. A very busy day for everyone involved and days like this wouldn’t be possible without the extensive team we have!   We then rolled onto Larkhill with three runners. Henriettaredheart was making her debut in the 4&5yo Flat Race for the Dragon Partnership. We have had her since going through the ring at the Store Sales and is by Dragon Dancer, who has very good statistics. She was settled under Josh before making a move when turning for home and under a hands and heels ride, came home victorious by a head. A huge credit goes to Hannah, who has put a lot of time into this filly. She is for sale and looks to have an exciting future ahead of her on the track. Cue Jump and About Time Too made their seasonal appearances, both finishing 3rd.   The National Hunt horses have been in rude health too. Vol Royale won his Maiden hurdle at Hereford when making all under Harry Cobden, continuing on Kayley Woollacott Racing Syndicates great season. He was purchased last season after winning his Maiden Point to Point at Dunsmore from Will Biddick and has settled into our system very well and has a bright future ahead of him. Another exciting prospect is Knock Off Soxs who won a Novices’ Hurdle at Taunton the following day, again under Harry Cobden for Tom and Sally Dalley of Stables Business Park Ltd. He was purchased by us as a store at Goffs UK last May and won on his debut at Trebudannon Point to Point before being purchased to stay in the yard.   We then roll onto Christmas. We step up our three year olds work before they enjoy a couple weeks off over the Christmas period. We are delighted with each and everyone of our youngsters and look forward to what they will bring in the Spring. We also have our annual Christmas Party on Saturday which the team are all looking forward to.    From everyone at Blackmore Farm, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!   Photographs from Tim Holt (timholt@talktalk.net)

Season 2025/26 is a go! Another busy month has nearly flown by and it is great to be back into the thick of both the National Hunt racing and Point to Pointing. The winter weather has well and truly hit and the team are very grateful for their Lalor waterproof trousers that Steph has spent several years working on and designing.    The National Hunt horses are in great form and we are delighted to already have 4 winners on the board. Stratton Oakmont and Diamatiste both made their seasonal debuts at Exeter on the 7th November and despite the awful weather, the team were well rewarded. Stratton Oakmont was back in the Winners’ Enclosure under a lovely ride from Jack Tudor. The Kayley Woollacott Racing Syndicate run by Martin Higgs, have been very patient with him after he lost his way last season and it was great to see him back performing as we know he should. Diamastiste also ran very well to finish 4th and backed it up 10 days later, finishing a closer 3rd over the same course and distance. James and Sean Bowen provided us with a good day at Ffos Las with James riding Stellar Stream to finish 3rd and Sean gave Sparking Duke a fabulous ride to win on his first appearance for us under rules. Sparkling Duke won for us at Maisemore in a Maiden Point to Point last season and gained plenty of confidence in doing so, which we believe has made a big difference to his performance. Our Dylan ran at Wincanton in the “Hands and Heels” Handicap Hurdle under Rian Corcoran for 4Racing Owners Club. After looking outpaced down the back straight, he stayed on really well to get the better of his opponents in a close finish. He has been a marvellous campaigner for his owners and this is now his fourth career success. Knock Off Soxs made his hurdle debut at Taunton and ran a super race to finish 2nd behind a fancied horse of Nicholls that is rated 120. Lydeard Girl also made her hurdle debut in the same race and ran with plenty of promise and will appreciate stepping up in trip.    Millyellen was our first Point to Point runner of the season at Lower Machen for the Blackmore Racing Club. She finished a very pleasing 4th in a competitive race and was up against some very expensive stores. We will look to find another Maiden for her and she should go very close on her next appearance. We headed to Dunsmore on the 23rd November, which has always been a happy hunting home for the team. Woodstock Octo got us off to a good start winning the GB Bonus Young Horse Maiden for John and Sonia Gardener. He was purchased at Goffs UK Spring HIT Sale and his back form in Ireland makes him a very exciting prospect. Noble Blue was very impressive taking the 0-110 Rated Series Race beating Kilfilum Woods easily for Friends Of Sylvie. The Intermediate Race was probably the most competitive race on the card and Talimar Pearl, as always, tried his hardest, to finish 2nd. Unfortunately, we lost Electric Jet, who was running an incredible race for us in the NWFAA Maiden before coming down at the last. Although Jet only joined us in the summer, he had been nothing but a pleasure to train and have on the yard and in a short period of time, had very much become part of the Blackmore Family. We send our deepest condolences to his owners John and Sonia and the girls who looked after him at home.    In between racing, we have been busy schooling at Worcester Racecourse for their pilot Schooling Trials, which were well supported. We took two 4 year olds to run 2 miles over hurdles and found it very beneficial for them. Dunsmore Racing Club were very kind to let us back the day after racing to school. We took some of our 3 year olds for their first away day and some older horses that are not far off a run. We are very lucky to have both NH Racecourses and P2P Courses opening their doors and it is something that needs to continue.

Eight for El Capitaine! Firstly, as I am sure most of you have heard, we are devastated to say that on Friday 17th October, we lost our yard stalwart, The Kings Writ. Words will never be able to describe how much of an impact this horse had on Kayley’s life and he was a true gentleman through and through. Many of you saw him display what energy he still had for life at our recent Owners Day, but a severe bout of colic unfortunately meant he was taken from us. He achieved a highest rating of 140 when owned by David & Steph Stevens and gave them so much fun. He then retired to the Point to Point field with Kayley and gave Josh and Hannah some fabulous wins over the past two seasons. Everyone at Blackmore Farm and beyond, will miss him deeply.   El Capitaine’s win at Newton Abbot the following day gave the team something to smile about. It was a huge achievement from a horse who won seven Point to Points last season after he was purchased by JD Moore from Chris Jones. To come out and win on his rules debut for us was incredible and he has such an exciting future ahead of him. The team were rewarded well with owner Ivan Thompson, supplying a famous Sausage Shed breakfast the following week! Lucky Bere made a pleasing seasonal debut at Worcester to finish 3rd and we are happy to report that Vol Royale is fine after being bought down at the first at Fontwell.   We are delighted to renew our sponsorship with The Firehouse again this season and were very excited to receive our FlexiChase hurdle a couple of weeks ago. We cannot thank The Firehouse enough for making this possible and it is a huge asset to our facilities here at Blackmore Farm. The Firehouse has just released their new Autumn/Winter menu which looks incredible, so please do get down there if you haven’t yet been! Please click the following to see the menu.   Our three year olds are coming along nicely and have all schooled outside over the jumping lane and the birch hurdles. We will try and get them away for a couple of outings before Christmas just to give them some more education before their small break over the New Year.   The first Point to Point is only 10 days away and it will be full steam ahead again to have a successful and healthy season.

A Sunny September! We have had a very busy September and it is crazy to think that October is just around the corner. We had our Owners Day at the beginning of the month and we soon packed up the day after and it was straight back to the normal day job come Monday!   The horses’ work load has increased and we have started planning a few targets for some of our early National Hunt horses. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for some more rain to be able to get onto the fields, but we are also enjoying the dry, crisp mornings that we are currently having, followed by some glorious sunny days!   We have started giving some of the horses a pop in the school over the barrels and hurdles. The 3 year olds had their first jump in the school and all were very good. Some initially find it easier and more natural than others, but they will do plenty of jumping between now and Christmas and it will be amazing to see how much improvement they will have in a short period of time. Some of the older horses have also had a jump and showed plenty of enthusiasm!!   All our new staff have settled in and we have a great bunch of girls going forward for the season (poor Josh!). Sydney Kedge has a great background in Eventing and Dressage and spent last season riding out at Ben Clarke’s. Georgina Pratt joins us having finished College at Hartpury and has experience riding out for Leslie Jefford. Emily Pennington has recently moved down and joined us in August having spent plenty of time hunting on Exmoor!   Kayley and Lauren are delighted to have moved into the new office, which I am sure many of you saw on our Owners Day! The electrician came in on the 15th and once the plugs and WIFI were working, it was moving in day! The fire has been lit several times and it most certainly looks like it’ll be a warm, cosy winter in the office! If you cannot find Kayley on the yard, you know where she will be!!   It won’t be long before clipping will begin and then you really know winter is upon us! The Pointing season will also soon creep around and hopefully we have another successful season ahead of us.