UK racing

[Ad Lib]

Just some photos from the past few years. Unfortunately, until recently I lived about 100 miles away from the nearest racetrack, so I didn't get much chance to go.

Newbury:

Pre-parade ring
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-Prepostparade.jpg

Calypso King posing
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-CalypsoKing.jpg

Flashy Wings
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-FlashyWings1.jpg

Gravinsky
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-Gravinskybefore.jpg

Gravinsky having a post-race bath
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-Gravinsky1.jpg

Misu Bond
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-MisuBond1.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-MisuBond2.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-MisuBond3.jpg

Zafantage
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-Zafantage1.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-Zafantage2.jpg


Newmarket, May 2007:

On the gallops:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewmarketMay2007-Gallops1.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewmarketMay2007-Gallops2.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewmarketMay2007-Gallops3.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewmarketMay2007-Gallops4.jpg

At the races:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewmarketMay2007-Race1A.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewmarketMay2007-Race1B.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewmarketMay2007-Race1C.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewmarketMay2007-Race2.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewmarketMay2007-Race3A.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewmarketMay2007-Race3B.jpg

However ... we finally have a track in West Wales! Ffos Las is the first racecourse in West Wales since the 1930s, and it's only 20 miles away from me. It opened on June 18th this year.

Here's some Arab racing there on the 27th June:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-1.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-2.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-3.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-4.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-6.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-7.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-5.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-8.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-9.jpg http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-12.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-11.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-10.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-16.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-13.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-14.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasJune27th2009-15.jpg

[Ad Lib]

Forgot just how beautiful Flashy Wings was, thanks.

Some more of her:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-FlashyWings2.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-FlashyWings3.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-FlashyWings4.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/NewburySeptember-FlashyWings5.jpg

I wonder if she's had any foals?

[Afrashad]

She had a colt by Dansili this year.



Great photos! Thanks for sharing.

[Arlucea]

Thanks so much for sharing your photos with us Ad Lib, especially the ones of the gallops at Newmarket, those bring back some very happy memories. :grin:

[Ad Lib]

She had a colt by Dansili this year.

That's great! I'll be sure to look out for him.



Thanks so much for sharing your photos with us Ad Lib, especially the ones of the gallops at Newmarket, those bring back some very happy memories. :grin:

You're welcome. I love watching horses out on the gallops ... although on the few occasions I've been to Newmarket, when I've gone out to photograph them it's been grey and cloudy. :laugh:

[jjacks1]

Wow! Thanks for sharing the great photos!

[Dancing Brave]

Lovely shots Ad Lib. Makes me home sick, especially the Ffos Las shots. I've heard it's a wonderful new facility.

[Lovebigred]

Thanks for posting.

[BornToWin]

Ad Lib, those are great pictures. In the one two of the horses are "flying" --no feet on the ground! And in my next life I want to own a silver Arab...oh my gosh. If that isn't beautiful...just beautiful.

Can you tell me about the Arab racing and how it compares to TB racing? They are so beautiful.
Thank you for sharing the photos with us.

[Ad Lib]

Lovely shots Ad Lib. Makes me home sick, especially the Ffos Las shots. I've heard it's a wonderful new facility.


Ffos Las really is a wonderful racecourse. Great facilities and views of the races, and a very picturesque setting. It's built on the site of what used to be the largest open cast mine in Europe, and so it's in almost an amphitheater, with the hillside rising around it.

(This picture doesn't really do it justice - and excuse the huge line down the middle - my camera is broken)

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/Reaver_02/FfosLasSeptember13th2009-5thrace.jpg



Ad Lib, those are great pictures. In the one two of the horses are "flying" --no feet on the ground! And in my next life I want to own a silver Arab...oh my gosh. If that isn't beautiful...just beautiful.

Can you tell me about the Arab racing and how it compares to TB racing? They are so beautiful.
Thank you for sharing the photos with us.


Well, obviously, they're slower, but the main difference is that they're generally one paced, without the turn of foot you often see in thoroughbreds. But they're just as exciting to watch. And pretty. :laugh: They run over the same distances as TBs, and there are three types of races: races for pure bred arabs, races for anglo arabs & part-arabs, and 'open races', for part bred arabs and (really slow) thoroughbreds.

This is the official Arabian Racing Organization site, if you'd like to learn a bit more:

http://www.aroracing.co.uk/Information_area/history_of_arab_racing.html