Former point-to-point jockey Ed Barrett, paralysed after a fall three and a half years ago, with no movement from the neck down but regaining the ability to walk short distances, completing a circuit of Newbury’s parade ring unaided
Honours being shared with nothing to separate Baron Bolt and Son Of Rest dead-heating in the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup
Richard Johnson riding his 3,500th winner in Britain and Ireland
Clive Cox trained filly Shepherd Market gaining an all the way victory in the listed Prix Coronation at Saint-Cloud
Danny Tudhope riding a treble and then reaching 100 winners for the year at Ayr
Gerald Mosse riding a treble at Newbury
Cieren Fallon winning his first race at Leicester on his third ride – the 19-year-old was watched by his six-times champion jockey father Kieren
Jockey Ben Curtis returning to the saddle nearly two weeks after dislocating his shoulder in a fall with a win at Pontefract
Racecourse commission of post-race auctions in selling races being capped at 10% by the BHA with the aim of their revitalisation – the changes come into force in October and replace possible commissions as high as 50%
Dreadful weather failing to prevent decent numbers attending day two of Newmarket’s Open Weekend sponsored by 32Red when 22 yards and various other establishments opened their doors – the weather finally relented and the day ended with Ryan Moore winning the Clipper Logistics Racing Personality show jumping
ATR’s Hayley Moore gaining the honours in Newmarket’s Open Weekend commentators’ challenge, with trainer Richard Farquhar and the Racing Post’s Lee Mottershead acquitting themselves well
Ladbrokes returning as sponsors of the All-Weather Championship after a two-year interval when they were not qualified as an authorised betting partner which required making contributions to racing’s revenue from offshore betting – as well as supporting the categories for Fillies and Mares and Three-Year-Olds, the bookmaker will be the title sponsor of Newcastle’s £100,000 Burradon Stakes on Good Friday
Newbury Racecourse reporting a 4.6% increase in turnover for the fist six months of 2018 to £7.33m, with good performance from media income, the Rocking Horse Nurseys and Lodge hotel – an operating loss of £270,000 was down £20,000 on prior year but a positive financial out-turn for the full year is expected
Gamble Aware announcing a £1.5m partnership with Citizens Advice to help advisers better deal with problem gambling through training and support tools delivered by dedicated staff in regional hubs
STEWARDS ROOM
…and what hasn’t been so good
Trainer Nick Hammond sending out his last runner after back injuries incurred in a fall on the gallops meant the 51-year-old could no longer ride out and the scale of his Worcestershire operation would not sustain an addition to the team
The number of horses disqualified so far this year in Ireland due to banned substances reaching 12 – the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board ended a 22-year partnership with Limerick-based testing partner BHP Laboratories last February and replaced them with Newmarket’s LGC Laboratory
Beverley being criticised by trainer Charlie Fellows for the conditions of its accommodation for staff having to stay overnight, flagging “no heating, stained mattress, awful smell” as example of “unacceptable” standards – the racecourse said they have rectified the situation having been made aware of it
