Christmas Newsletter From Edward

WHAT A YEAR

 

2023 has been a year for the Bethell Racing scrap book. There are far too many things to mention in this newsletter so I will be sure to only mention the highlights of what has truly been a season to remember. I want to take this moment to thank all my team who have all been here throughout the year, and many years for some of them! This truly would not be possible without my team who work tirelessly around the clock to keep the yard running smoothly. Keith my Assistant who has been part of the team to coming up a year now has been a huge asset to the team, the horses and to myself. I would also like to thank my parents who work very hard behind the scenes to keep everywhere looking immaculate and the daily running of everything, they are a huge support for my huge ambitions and dreams.

 

2023 started off with a bang when Skye Breeze was our first winner from our first runner, he took the honours at Newcastle with Hollie Doyle aboard. The year has snowballed into a year that we cannot believe could have happened. We were able to have winners throughout the year (those rugby enthusiasts will know it’s all about keeping the scoreboard ticking) and this is what we have managed to do this season with our winners and keeping the statistics looking healthy throughout the season. Mint Edition winning three on the bounce last winter was also a winter warmer and set us up for the fantastic season we have had.

 

The spring was just around the corner after a fantastic start too the year, the horses and staff who had braved the winter elements were just starting to turn in their coats (the horses not the staff) and suddenly they sparked to life, like I hadn’t seen them do before! March was just the beginning, Yorkshire running for Clarendon Thoroughbred Racing Syndicate winning a £20,000 Novice at Southwell was the start of his year, for him only to be stolen of first place on the line six weeks later! He has had a year on the side lines, but I see his four-year-old campaign being his strongest yet! Patience will be rewarded (hopefully).

 

Point Lynas got his season off to a flyer, he bolted up at Newcastle on his seasonal debut and he never looked back, starting the year off 90 and finishing off 100! He came to us rated 82 and has improved 18 pounds since being here. He took his very supportive owners to Royal Ascot, York Dante meeting just being chinned, and again the Ebor meeting. He finished his year off with a gallant fourth in the Group 3 Superior mile.

 

The season was only just building then, April then hit and there were no fools this time smashing in 5 winners from 19 runners, being a statistic fanatic, this made the stats look very healthy. We started Chillingham off at Thirsk and he bolted up teeing up a charge for the Copper Horse handicap at Royal Ascot, where he covered himself in glory, finishing fourth from a bad draw! I don’t think I have felt nerves like it before, on the opening day of Royal Ascot and having my first Royal Ascot runner who was third favourite. He made everyone extremely proud and we are definitely looking forward to next season with him to go up a few places!

 

Elim bolted up twice from her two starts and won a £30,000 race on the Sunday Series card up at Musselburgh, sadly only for her season to be curtailed by an injury. We hope she can come back next year bigger and stronger, she is a filly I have always been extremely excited about.

 

The year just kept getting better. Coverdale, Oviedo James McHenry both had months to remember winning substantial pots in May. With Oviedo winning the Zetland Gold Cup, the first 3 year old to do this in 27 years! It has been our best season to date, and we have amassed the most prize money thus far. All we want to do is get better and be able to buy better horses. We are operating at a healthy 22% strike rate which is second to only Charlie Appleby of Godolphin, which is an achievement in itself for a small yard like ours.

 

 

Coverdale really came into himself this year following on from his solid form from last year, he started out as he meant to go on with winning four races and running at Glorious Goodwood. This is a huge achievement for any horse to do and to be owned by Clarendon Thoroughbred Racing, our in-house syndicate that my parents set up while my father trained, for the syndicate to be thriving, and having horses of this level is fantastic to see. Coverdale’s success wasn’t going to go unnoticed by bloodstock agents, he was sold to Hong Kong which was a sad day to see him leave as he had a huge character, and he also demanded to have his mints and carrots before entering his stable which he absolutely loved.

 

 

 

I have been really impressed by some of the two year olds this season, particularly Gressington who came to me as an unbacked yearling in December, he has come on and progressed beyond all recognition, he has such a professional attitude when he is racing and is a really exciting prospect for next year. A few other 2 year olds that have caught my eye is Gundogan who I think will fill out his frame and make a lovely horse for next year. Another one I am excited about is Mickley, he is a big scopey horse with a very relaxed attitude towards his work which makes my life a lot easier when it comes to training him. Paborus is another one to keep an eye on for next year, I have taken my time with him. His owners have been very patient and I am hopeful this patient will be rewarded next season. I could go on and list a lot of them as I feel we have a really good group of 2 year olds who will progress into strong 3 year olds next year. Watch this space!

 

I also would like to mention Callum who rode a lot of the winners for me this season, having him come into ride the horses on a regular basis throughout the season I feel makes a vast difference to how the horses run as the jockey gets to know the horse and each of their characters on a deeper level than just jumping on them at the racetrack. Thank you also to the other jockeys who have added to our fantastic year, I very much look forward to working with them next year and beyond, watch this space!

 

The newsletter wouldn’t be a newsletter without the main man Regional getting a mention. Picked up for only £3,500 by myself and Tom Biggs from Blandford Bloodstock, and becoming a revelation since the move to Thorngill. He has amassed well over £400,000 in prize money and he is our first Group 1 winner! To say we are delighted, proud, and happy of this achievement would be an understatement! Not many people win Group 1’s and to have done that in our 3^rd full season is just fantastic and a lot of thanks must go to my team at home who have done a wonderful job!

 

 

I am looking forward to the winter with a small group of horses to run on the all weather, I like to keep some horses going over the winter for a number of reasons, I think it is good for the bigger 2yo’s who do not have any racing experience on the turf to have a race or two to learn what racing is all about and to prep them for the forthcoming turf season. I like to keep horses running throughout the winter as I think it keeps a rhythm going within the yard and we can hit the ground running when we come into the new year.

 

2024 will soon be upon us and I cannot wait. We have bolstered the team with a fantastic group of yearlings who I am very excited to get going with, and what the future may hold for them. The majority are now sold but as you will see in the brochure what we have available to purchase. We always continue to buy horses and there hopefully should always be something on the shelf for all parties, all varying from distances and price ranges.

 

I would also like to thank all of our owners for their unwavering support not just from this year but from previous years and looking forwards to the future with the current horses and new yearlings which have been purchased. Absolutely none of this would be possible without each and every single owner who supports Bethell Racing. You allow me to focus on the horses, the training of them as well as the placing of them. I really can’t thank you enough.

 

 

I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and New Year!

 

Edward