Fourth time lucky for weather weary Newton Abbot Races

A packed crowd attended Newton Abbot racecourse on a glorious Monday for what was, sadly, the first race meeting this season.

This should have been the Devon course’s fourth fixture of 2024 but the terrible spring rainfall had led to the abandonment of the first three. The frustrated regulars sure turned out in force for this belated event.

One of the beauties of racing at Newton Abbot is that for real connoisseurs of the sport it provides the opportunity to see horses from the top stables in the country but also gives local enthusiasts the chance to come and support the horses they own and train.

Monday was no exception, with horses representing the best stables in the land sharing the stage with those representing stables within 10 miles of the track.

The big shock of the day was that that Switch Hitter, the representative of England’s top trainer, Paul Nichols, trailed in only fifth of six when a strong favourite for the Hunter chase.

Top ten trainers Fergal O’Brien and Harry Fry fared better, however, both having winners with the latter’s Winterwatch the easiest victor of the day.

The loudest cheers were reserved for the local winners. Both Lightonthewing, trained by Sue Gardner at Woodhayes Farm near Exeter, and Time to Bite, trained by former course-winning jockey Chris Honour, near Ashburton, were very enthusiastically received by the large crowd.

The noise that greeted the win of Clearance also indicated there might well have been local participation in the winning Racing for a Cause syndicate.

Pirates Tale almost eclipsed them all. Owned by the family of course chairman George Welch, trained by local hero Jimmy Frost and ridden by champion jockey Harry Cobden very nearly hung on for victory in the first race. He was just ran out of it by the well backed Fortified Fortune.

Retiring Chief Executive Pat Masterton and his team will be hoping this glorious weather continues for the course’s next fixture on Tuesday, May 29 and that the card will attract many of those potential punters holidaying during half-term week.