Gordon Takes Carlisle By Storm

A Diary Entry

7am. The alarm clock starts blaring. However, on this particular morning it didn’t take much to get me up, as today was Big City Roller’s debut. I wasn’t going to miss it for the world! A quick coffee, glance through the Racing Post for Gordon’s price and onto the train we went.

Whilst standing on a rain-drenched train platform, it occurred to me that today was my first experience as a racehorse owner and whilst excited about this foray into ownership and the chance to see my first horse in the flesh, the reality was that I was a bag of nerves.

As we embarked on the near four-hour train journey, I tried to contain my excitement - attempts were futile. After changing at Crewe and making further inroads towards Carlisle, the heavens started to open. Barring a monstrous journey north, everything, including the weather, was falling into place...

11:30am. We stepped off the train. Whether it was a designated Old Gold Racing carriage, I’m unsure, but there was a sea of Old Gold colours scattered around from scarves to hats and more. I was again comforted by the signs. Gordon’s race was the first on the card. I wanted to be there pretty early to take in my surroundings and avoid the intense traffic that a Thursday afternoon meeting at Carlisle brings – you can never be too safe!

12:30 And we’re in. We collected our Owners and Trainers badges and were shown to the O&T room like royalty - I could get used to this! A spot of lunch brought us so close to the off, you could almost touch it.

As the horses began to walk around the parade ring, I caught my first glimpse of Big City Roller. He is a magnificent, athletic horse with a bright, yet kind eye and two white feet, you simply couldn’t miss him. Of course, the other horse the Old Golders were looking at was the stunning Killybegs Jet Lady. A first for Old Gold Racing.

Out came our two jockeys into a sea of Old Gold, both plans and instructions from respective trainers were to stay pretty handy. Derek Fox aboard Killy was happy to make the running if nobody else wanted to and Lilly Pinchin aboard Gordon was content to sit handy and make use of his stamina.

Talking done, it was time to load up and hit the track! At the off, both horses were prominent in the market but as long as they both came home safely and enjoyed themselves, that was the main thing.

They’re off. As expected, Derek Fox takes Killybegs Jet Lady straight to the front and whether intending to or not, the pair have established a healthy five-length advantage over Gordon and Lilly sat in second. Turning into the straight for the first time, the front two placings were filled with Old Gold silks, both jumping soundly and seemingly loving it.

Taking the turn past the stands for the first and final time, Killy started to race keenly and in the testing conditions, her tendency to hang slightly left wasn’t doing her any favours with Gordon stalking menacingly in behind.

Jumping the final flight down the back, Gordon strikes the front. Surely not…

Killy is still there for the time being but she looks like a sitting duck and quickly enough, Gordon powered to the front just as it was time to climb the hill. Three out, Gordon and Lilly have a slight disagreement. Making a small blunder, Lilly gives a couple of reminders for Gordon to keep his eye on the ball and within a blink of an eye, he’s back on the bridle again.

Two out. The challengers are coming. 10 set off but only four, including Gordon, now line up and have a winning chance. Nerves and excitement were rising well beyond an acceptable level - heading through the roof by this point.

Charlie Deutsch and Vincenzo, a horse purchased for €130,000, looms swinging away upsides but Gordon’s not going away. Boy has he got some heart.

Final flight and oh my word – Gordon’s pinged it and he’s still in front. At the top of my lungs and screaming like a child there I was: “GO ON GORDON, GOOO ON GORDON!”

Three in line with Jonjo O’Neill Jr now in full flight on Impatient down the outside, this was anyone’s to win. Gordon, keep going.

“AND ITS BIG CITY ROLLER GALLOPING ON STOUTLY TOWARDS THE FINISH – BIG CITY ROLLER THE WINNER!”

Oh. My. Word. What on earth has just happened? He’s done it. Gordon has only gone and won on his first start in the Old Gold Racing silks!

Sprinting down into the parade ring to greet the pair as they came in with fellow owners ecstatic after what they had just seen was a memory I won’t forget for a long time.

Now for the four-hour train ride home…